Registration for Spring 2026 cohort is now closed.
Location for Spring Session: Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton NJ
The “J Lab” is a free, continuing education certificate course for residents in the Mercer County, NJ area to learn basic skills of fair and balanced journalism so they can tell the stories of their communities that may otherwise be overlooked.
The 8-evening program, offered fall and spring, is led by a journalism professor and includes guest presentations from writers and editors from several community publications and national media outlets.
Class size is capped at 25. All materials are provided.
The program is sponsored by Mercer County Community College with support from the Princeton Public Library and grant funding from Journalism + Design at The New School.
Session topics include:
- interviewing strategies,
- photography tips and tricks,
- fact-checking,
- determining newsworthiness,
- handling ethical questions of community reporting,
- following basic journalistic writing practices, and more!
To qualify for the certificate, students must attend class consistently, contribute to discussions, conduct interviews outside of class, write multiple drafts and complete a publishable quality article. J Lab articles are published on The VOICE website and can be used as part of a portfolio for those seeking further publication opportunities.
Following the program, certificate recipients are equipped to contribute to their local news ecosystems. They may submit their work to newsletters, blogs, social media, or other information-sharing platforms if they choose. MCCC works with several partner publications to help facilitate this opportunity.
Thanks to the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and The New School: Journalism + Design for their financial support.
For more information about how to participate in or support the “J Lab,” email Prof. Holly Johnson at johnsonh@mccc.edu.