Through a combination of union concessions and buyouts, The Star-Ledger has managed to stay in business, but what does the future hold for the state's largest newspaper and all of the other New Jersey news organizations struggling to keep afloat? In It’s Time to Get Serious About Comedy, the Hall Institute's Richard Lee suggests that taking a lighter approach to the news may be the answer.

The Senate Race— U.S. Senate candidates Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer have agreed to square off in two face-to-face debates, but the two men have been engaged in an online exchange on the issues since July. Visit the Hall Institute Virtual Debate Page to learn where they stand on energy, health care, the environment and more.

Universal Health Care — Is universal health care all that it is cracked up to be? In HOLD THE APPLAUSE, PLEASE, Nadeem Esmail suggests that celebrating the success of the Canadian health care system may be premature.

The View— In a Hall Institute podcast, Michael Riccards talks about politics and the television show The View. Riccards discusses bias in the media and whether those on television should keep their views to themselves. Play

• Riccards on New Jersey 2008 — A blog on our state's expanded role in the 2008 presidential race.
• Rich Lee on Media — Musings on those who make the news and those who report it.
• White Papers
• Research Essays
• Op-Ed Articles
• Press Releases

The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Our weekly email newsletter is sent to organizations and individuals with an interest in the material posted on our website at www.hallnj.org.

Since its inception three years ago, the institute has emerged as a leading voice for public policy in New Jersey. More than 200 papers, on topics ranging from health care to education to property taxes, have been posted on our website.

In 2006, the institute presented an online Virtual Debate among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. At present, we are sponsoring NJ2008, a special section on New Jersey's role in the 2008 presidential campaign.

In addition to our other activities, the institute also has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on its website.

Located in Trenton directly across from the New Jersey Statehouse, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.