URL Media welcomes Trenton Journal, an independently owned and operated print and hyperlocal multimedia platform, to its growing network. Recognized for its commitment to bridging information gaps, Trenton Journal serves as a crucial source of community news and information for the nearly 90,000 residents in Trenton, New Jersey — the state’s capital city.

Trenton Journal is the proud recipient of both the National Association of Black Journalists’ Black Press Grant and the New Jersey Civic Consortium grants. These accolades reflect the platform’s dedication to training local community residents to share their stories, promoting a diverse and inclusive media ecosystem while amplifying the voices of people from the community.

Founded by veteran journalist Kenneth Miles, Trenton Journal brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the URL Media network. As a founding partner of a boutique coworking space in Newark, New Jersey, Miles’ work has appeared in prominent publications such as the New York Times Syndicate, Black Enterprise, The Source, and Interview. Additionally, his active role in the Citizens’ Health and Neighborhood Growth Committee (CHANGE) — which conducts monthly meetings, reviews city policies and issues public safety advisory reports for local city officials, public schools and Trenton residents — underscores his commitment to civic engagement and community resources.

“Every time I have spoken to [Miles] over the last few years, as we set about launching URL Media, he has been smart, generous and helpful. I am so grateful to have his smarts — and the amazing work of Trenton Journal — in our network,” says Mitra Kalita, CEO and co-founder of URL Media. “A number of URL Media initiatives focus on the uplift of New Jerseyans and Trenton Journal’s inclusion in our network is a win for these communities.” 

Trenton Journal’s influence extends across multiple platforms, boasting over 8,500 social media followers. The platform engages its audience through a weekly newsletter with a 30% open rate. Additionally, the outlet has created an events calendar on its website for readers to opt in. 

“I am extremely excited that the Trenton Journal has joined URL Media,” says Kenneth Miles. “I look forward to tapping into the support network to help me grow my audience and achieve financial sustainability to better serve my community.”

Trenton Journal join URL Media partners Black Voice News, Documented, Epicenter-NYC, Native News Online, Prism, Our Body Politic, Outlier Media, palabra., Immigrantly, The Oklahoma Eagle, Sahan Journal, PushBlack, Pulso, Scalawag, ScrollStack, TBN24, La Noticia, The Haitian Times, Watch The Yard, Latina to Latina, How to Talk to [High Achievers] about Anything, and How to Talk to [Mamí & Papí] about Anything, Black Girl Times and WURD Radio.

Ariam Alula (how to say it) is URL Media’s first audience manager. She works closely with URL Media’s Editorial Director and leads the network’s social and newsletter content while further developing and executing the brand’s strategic audience goals. Alula who was born and raised in The Bronx had this to say about her work upon joining the network in the fall of 2022.

“I'm committed to helping our audience understand how issues in their own backyard impact other BIPOC communities. Also, I believe that our network's content amplification and original reporting should fully reflect and affirm the customs and cultural norms of our multicultural, multidisciplinary, and geographically diverse audiences. As BIPOC communities have and continue to be grossly misrepresented by the mainstream media, this part of the work can’t be overstated. Also growing up as a child of immigrants, community is an integral part of my identity, and it's something I bring to URL Media every day.”

Before joining the network, Alula sharpened her range of skills and interests in newsletter curation and editing, audience strategy and research, and measuring and tracking impact. In recent years Alula has worked for many organizations in the journalism support space, such as Coda Story while based in the Republic of Georgia and U.S.-based organizations like the Institute for Nonprofit News, the Public Square Team at Democracy Fund, Online News Association and Women Do News. She has also written for the American Press Institute’s Need to Know newsletter.

Alula is also a proud graduate of the engagement journalism program at the Craig Newmark Journalism School at the City University of New York, where she spent 16 long, insightful and experimental months working with family caregivers of people with autism in New York City.