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November 25, 2008

Forum: Community building with public TV

By JOE VANDERMEULEN

This past spring, many of us got a crash course in a thing called public access television. In despair over the lack of support from local governments, the Traverse Area District Library decided it could no longer host tctv 2. The only television station created by and for our community was threatened with extinction.

For a few people, that was just fine. They didn't like some of the views expressed on TV by their fellow citizens and didn't want any cable franchise fees used to support this form of democratic expression. Thankfully, lots of people see it differently.

By mid-summer, East Bay, Elmwood and Garfield Townships joined with the City of Traverse City in calling for the renewal and redevelopment of the region's only public access television station. They agreed that 30 percent of the franchise fees collected from cable subscribers and paid to local governments should be used to support public access television (cable channel 2).

The Land Information Access Association, a nonprofit community service organization, was selected to manage the public access television station and provide government access television services (cable channel 99).

LIAA is honored to have this opportunity and humbled by the importance of the task. In August, we began cablecasting as the new Up North 2 to subscribers across northwest Michigan.

Since then, we have been delighted with the strong public interest and support. Over 140 citizens throughout the Traverse City area became "producers" with Up North 2 in just three months. Already, more than 60 people have taken short courses in how to use video equipment and the Up North 2 studio to produce their own videos. These citizen producers have generated dozens of new shows, including community events, political debates, educational specials, musical entertainment and high school football games.

Public access television stations like Up North 2 can be found all across Michigan in places where people care about their communities and the civil exchange of ideas. Like an electronic park, public access stations give citizens time and space for public expression -- a place to celebrate what's special about the community and engage others in the discussion.

Unlike the wild array of Web sites and YouTube videos, public access television reflects a true place-based community. Unlike shows on commercial television, these presentations can provide more detail on community history, politics, culture, and local activities.

Up North 2 viewers are already watching new shows about local business concerns produced by the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and the activities of local nonprofits produced by the United Way of Northwest Michigan.

Public access television is also an educational resource for young and old. By making our own videos, we learn how video is created and used; we become more media-savvy. Ultimately, Up North 2 offers all of us a unique place to share information and viewpoints, providing a bit of balance to the sound bites, glitz and salesmanship of the commercial media.

We encourage everyone to participate in this creative process of making or viewing true community video.

About the author: Joe VanderMeulen, Ph.D., is executive director of the Land Information Access Association.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

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