Community TV: We have access; we just need to use it
email from Paul Manly: inaugural meeting of a new community TV production society.
Hello Mid Islanders
You are invited to attend the inaugural meeting of a new community TV production society in the Mid Island region. The purpose of this new organization is to provide programming, which covers social justice and environmental issues, to the community access cable station, Shaw channel 4 in the mid island region (Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville and Port Alberni).
The meeting takes place
Date: Tuesday 28th September 2010
Time: From 19:00 hrs sharp until 21:00
Place: Pacific Gardens CoHousing Community Dining Hall
347 Seventh Street Nanaimo
(Dial Entry Phone 100)
Background
In 1997 the CRTC relaxed the rules for community TV and the cable giants fired their volunteer coordinators and told their community programmers and volunteers they were no longer welcome. The cable companies professionalized the stations and used the 2% cable levy (which ads up to $116 million across Canada) as a slush fund to advertise their own services. In 2002, the CRTC reaffirmed the right to public access but the cable companies didn’t invite the community back to take on a producing role. That is something we have to do for ourselves. According to CRTC regulations, as community members we have a right to access the community channel, receive training, access to equipment and broadcast time. As a society we can access up to 20% of the broadcast time (that would take a huge commitment of time and energy and isn’t realistic at this point).
Producing community TV requires a community effort and so I’m inviting you to get involved. All kinds of different skills are required, you don’t need to know how to do the technical work but if you do, we need those skills as well. We need people for a board of directors, as well as researchers, writers, on camera talent, camera operators, editing and assistant work (logging footage, transcribing interviews, booking interviews etc.) and fundraisers. We can create programs by recording speakers who come to town, covering community events, meetings and projects, recording all candidates meetings etc. there are lots of things we could cover that are not being covered.
We have access, all we need to do is use it. I hope you can attend the meeting.
cheers
Paul Manly
paul@manlymedia.com
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