Community Media Review, Vol. 16, No. 1, Jan 1993

20 Pages·1993·11.4 MB·

A Publication of the
nce for Community Media
Volume 16, Number 1
Community
& Collaboration
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An Invitation to Join the
fmÂ
...i ncreasing awareness
Alliance Commun1Catiom Democracy
of Community Television
through educational programs Become an Alliance Subscriber for $350/year and receive detailed reports on
current court cases threatening access, pertinent historical case citations, and
and participation in court cases
other Alliance activities.
involving franchise enforcement Voting membership open to non-profit access operations for an annual
contribution of $3,000.
and constitutional questions
Non-voting memberships available to organizations and individuals at the
about access television. 9 following levels:
>A lliance Associate, $2500 - copies of all briefs and reports.
> Alliance ~u~~ort$e50r0, - copies of all reports and enclosures.
>A lliance Subscriber, $350 - copies of all reports.
Direct membership inquiries to Richard Turner, 'Olelo: the Corporation for Community
Television, 960 Mapunapuna, 2nd floor, Honolulu, HI, 96819, or phone [phone] ext.1714.
.
Voting Members: Chicago Access Corporation, Illinois Montgomery Community Television, Inc.,
Maryland Columbus Community Cable Access, Inc., Ohio. Staten bland Television, New York Boston
.
Community Access & Programming Foundation, Inc., Massachusetts. GRTV, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Tuscon Community Cable Corporation, Arizona *olelo: The Corporation for Community TV, Hawaii
Multnomah Community TV, Oregon Manhattan Neighborhood Network, New York.
Non-voting Members: City of Iowa City, Iowa North Suburban Access Corp., Minnesota Oakland
0
County Cable Corporation, Michigan Ann Arbor Community Access Television, Michigan Capital
omm mu nit^
community TV, Oregon e ~incinnatCi ommunity Video, 0hio * Alliance for ~edia,~entral
States Region Alliance for Community Media, Far West Region.
In this Issue
Columns
i? Andrew Lewis, Executive Director 1 I Alan Bushong, PublicPolicy 2 1
Karen Helmerson, International 4
JAN-.---/FEBRUARY 1993 Connections
VOLUME 16, NUMBER 1
1993 Convention I Deep Dish Spring Season 1 Central States Donates to CTR I
Call for Awards Nominations I Accessing the Affiance 3
Dirt Koning, CMn
Paula Manley, INFORMATION ~ERVICESC HAIR Community & Collaboration
lany Beer, Lynn Carillo-Cruz ,B ob Devine,
Heidi Mau, Vel Wiley, SabrinaZactery About This Issue, Dirk Koninglimai ~ a au 1 in e Promise of Progressive
EDITORS-IN-CHIBFTHISISSUB Media, Nan Rubin 5 I Responding to the '92 Cable Act & Time Warner
Dirk Koningllleidi Mau
Lawsuit, Jim Horwood 7 I NCIPBE FredJohnson 9 / Not Channel Zero,
MANAGINGEDITOR
Tim Goodwill Kim Deterline 10 I Collaboration Example Extraordinaire, Heidi Mau 11 I
Benton Foundation, Heidi Mau 11 1 Media Working Group, Dirk Koning 12 /
OPERATIONS
Sue Fitzgerald, John Haafke Recent Namac Grants, Heidi Mau 13
NATIONALOFFICE
ThdmwL ewis, Executive Director
Kelly Matthews, Operations Assistant
Spring 1991 - Nov/Dec 1992 14
AlUiUIcElorCOMMUNmMEDu
BOARD01DIIKTOIH On the cover: "TheBig Collaboration"-Photography and computer montage byJohn Haafke
Andrew Blau, CHAIRPERSON
Fernando Moreno, VICEC HAIRPEBSON
Kari Peterson, SECRETARY
Carl Kucharski TREASURER community Collaboration: A Call to Disarm
Fiona Boneham, Pamela Brown, Alan Bushong,
PaulCongo BrianGirlman, Karen Hdmerson, ly T. AndrewLeuh, ExecutiveDirector,A lliancef or Community Media
hlaimee ~s Hmodrwchooudc. kPG,a eurlray MPaaunllseev,n.. ,S Pheanroelno Mpeo Polnaecv,e.,. iondcalvu..d. eth teh en tuemrmb ears soofc niaotito-nfo, cr-c~ulriotifninto ,r f"eead nerizataitoino,n caol lnleacmtivees, cthoant-
Anthony Riddle. Maria Rocha, MarkSiiler.
wtium or congress is unfathomable! And we are pleased. Why?
GrceVawier. DavidVoeel. laMonte Ward
lecause this is evidence ofthe increasing tendency toward collaborative
efforts. And collaborative efforts are the most efficient and effective -
certainly more so than stand alone attempts at accomplishment.
Community Television Review is published bi- Could there be, then, any downside to these jointventures in the pub-
monthly, b v, the Alliance for Community Media. Inc lic interest? Unfortunately, far too frequently there is. It is a pernicious
(formerly thc Yatiunal Icderdtion of1 ncal Cable
menace from within that eats at the longevity and well being of organi-
Proeranmers) Subscriptions $25 a vedr for >ix
zations and particularly of their human engines.
issues. Send subscriptions, memberships, address
Those of us that fashion careers in public interest, community organizations are driven by com-
changes and inquiries to the Alliance for
Communitv Media, 666 11th St. NW. Suite 806, mitment to causes. These causes inevitably require infinitely more resources to resolve than are at
washington, DC 20001-4542. Phone [phone] our disposal. Thus, traditionally, not-for-profits are often peopled by unproclaimed superhumans
Fax [phone]. that are willing to work unlimited hours on unlimited numbers of formidable tasks and are unwill-
Address editorial and advertising inquiries to ing to say no to a needed effort. Historically, this formula has resulted in successes that far outweigh
Community Television Beview, 15 lonia SW, Suite the resources consumed. As one might expect, it also results in failures- the inability to satisfy the
201, GrandRapids, MI 49503-4113. Phone [phone]- skyrocketing programmatic and personal demands and expectations.
6663 Gw.6161454-6698. This is the genesis of the psychosocial menace. Our inability to accomplish all of these humanly
Bulk orders for additional copies considered and organizationally impossible goals results in a war against ourselves - a progressive devaluing of
individually. Contact the national office for our institutions and cohagues. our shortcomings, nomatter how understandable, becomes our
- .
information on rates anddelivery. subtitle. We take aim at our eollectivr selves with hattlceround fervor. We are wick to ioin in erou~
0 19% by the Alliance for Comn~unityM edia, derision of our respective organizations and efforts. A feeding frenzy ensues. We are masters at self
Inc. (formerly the Nationdl Federation of Local flagellation!
Cdhle Programmers). Prior written permission of This is not a phenomenon unique to community based organizations. How often in human his-
the Alliance for Cummunily Media required for all tory have seen and now see targets of injustice turn their arms in rage on each other. Similarly,
reprints or usage. those that are served by our organizations (fellow community residents who often are disenfran-
Produced through IhesrudiosofCityMedia,i nc. SeeCommunity Col1aboration:A Cali to Disarm- page 10
1992-93 ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Public Policy Update
ByAlanBushong, PublicPolicy Chair
AndrewBlau, Chair, At-Large Alan Bmhong Public Policy
PolicyAnalyst, Electronic Frontier Foundation Executive Director
Alliance Joins Coalition Suit
666Pe~sylvaniaAveS. E, Suite 303 Capital Community Television
washington, D.C. 20003 585 liberty Street, SE Against FCC Leased-Access Rules
202.544.9237 202.547.5481 fax Salem, 0~97301
Fernando Moreno V..i.c e-Chair. At-Lar"ee 503.588.2288 503.588.6055 fax On February 22, the Alliance joined the American
Executive Director, Quote Unquote Karen Helmerson International Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way,
1905 Lomas NW Director of Finance, FilmIVideo Arts
the Colorado-based '90s Channel and the Alliance
Albuquerque, NM87104 817 Broadway
for Communications Democracy in filing suits at
505.243.0027 505.243.5883 fax NewYork, NY 10003
Kari Petenan Secretary,At-Large 212.673.9361 212.475.3467 fax the Federal Cuun of Appeals IU challengethe con-
slilutionality of new FCC rceulations recardine
Executive Director Paula Manley Information Services
Davis Community Television Executive Director leased access. FCC rules released in early February
1623 5th Street, SuiteA Tualatin Valley Community Access require operators to censor "indecent" program-
Davis, C495616 1815NW 169thPI.ff6020 ming.
916.757.2419 916.757.2938 fax Beaverton, OR 97006 The lawsuits challenge regulations required by
Carl Kucharskl Treasurer, At-Laree 503.629.8534 503.645.8561 fax Congress in Section 10 of the 1992 Cable Act, dis-
"
Executive Director, ACTVCable 21 JulteO melchud~ Orgmhatlonal Development cussed in greater length in earlier CTR issues. The
394 Oakstreet Director coalition asserts thatthe FCC regulations require
Columbus, OH43215 Multnomah Cable Regulatory Commission
cable ooerators to censor "indecent" oroerammine
2115 SE Mortison, Rm. 236
on leased access, violating the ~irst~mendment
Portland. OR 97214
rights of producers and viewers by establishing a
system of prior restraints on constitutionally-pro-
22 West 5W TamarackDrive tected speech. The coalition has recently requested
GlenEllyn, IL60137 James Horwood the court to stay the May 11 scheduled effective
708.469.1704 708.858.8100 fax Attorney-at-law
date for the leased accessrules.
PaulCongo Southwest Regional Chair Speigel&M cDiannid
Indecent programming, defined by the FCC as
Austin CommuniNTV 1350 NewYorkAveNWHIW
1143 ~orthwestern Washineton, DC 20005 material that "describes or depicts sexual or excre-
Austin, TX78702 202.879h0 202.393.2866 fax tory activities or organs in a patently offensive man-
512.478.8600 512.478.9438 fax Maria Rocha Coalition Development ner asmeasured by contemporary community stan-
.
BrianGIrtman Northwest Regional Chair President, Lwdl1624,AFSCME dards" is wnstitutionallv, Drotected s~eechbe cause
TechnicalCoordinator 6714TampaCove it does not meet the legal test for obscenity and
Portland Cable Access Austin, TX 78723 because it often has serious political, literary or
2766 Martin Luther Kine, Jr. Blvd. 512.322.6331 512.322.6350 fax artistic value. Program issues such as gay rights,
P50o3r.t2la8n8d.1 O5R1 59 7212 503.288.8173 fax ALadMmionnistetr Watiavred D irector Equal Opportunity bsaef see sxeuxa, lslyex euxapll ihcaitr,a bsusmt aernet n aontd o abrstcse cneen. sorsh.o may.
Gem Paulsen Far West Re"ci onal Chair Tucson Community Cable Corp. An ominous sian for PEG access? The Cable Act
5110?homas Dr~e 124 E. Broadwav. Tucson. AZ 85701
of 1992 also requires the FCC to establish rules to
AuburnCA 95602
prohibit on PEG access channels "programming
916.878.2488 916.885.4182 fax
which contains obscene material, sexually explicit
Penelope Place Mountain States Reg. Chair
Fiona Boneham At-Large conduct, or material soliciting or promoting unlaw-
Executive Director. Santa Fe Public Access
SantaFe Community College 4B8r0o o6kthlyAnv, NeYn u1e1 215 ful conduct." The- A lliance -.co mm&icated
So. Richards Ave. to the FCC during the rulemakine Drocess. is that
718.7685999 718.768.5999 fax
Santa Fe, NM87502-4187 the only constitutional purpose of the regulations is
505.438.1321 505,438,1237 fax Sharon Mooney At-Lase to prevent children from viewing materials that
Executive Director
GregVawter Central States Regional Chair their parents consider inappropriate. Lockboxes,
Buffalo Commiini~Televisinn
Executive Director which allow viewers to block access to channels, are
\~'aycrosiCummunityTelcnsion the least-restrictive, and hence the only constitu-
2086Waycrosi. Read
tional means of achieving the regulations' goal.
Forest Park. 01145240
513.8252429 513.825.2745 fax Anthony Riddle At-Large The FCC position on leased-access certainly
Executive Director, MTN exceeds this level of restriction. The Alliance and
DaridVogel Southeast Regional Chair
125 SE Main Street othermembers of the coalition are prepared to chal-
General Manager, CTVof Knoxville Ch. 20
Minneapolis, MN 55414 lenge any unacceptable PEG access rules in court.
912s. GaySt.,ff600
612.3318576 612.331.8578 fax
Knoxville, TN 37902 Time warnor. Meanwhile, the Alliance and
615.521.7475 615.971.4517fax Mark Slndler At-Lam"e Peoole for the American Way have filed a friend of
Louisiana Center for Cultural Media
RIka Welsh Nottheast Regionalchair the court memorandum in Time-warnerrs lawsuit
2026 St. Charles
Executive Director, MAW in which they oppose Time-Warner's challenge to
New Orleans, LA 70130
145 Pleasant St. the constitutionality of the PEG and leased access
504.529.3366 504.523.7875 fax
Maiden, MA 02148 provisions of the 1984 and 1992 Cable Acts
617.321.641X1 617.321.7121 fax Alliance Members Rising to the Challenge.
Rob WUson MMAtlanUc Chair Throueh March. Alliance members have raised over
11406Orchard Green Court Alliance for Community Media
$12,000 for public policy initiatives. The following
Reston, VA22090 666-lllhS1 NW.Sle.806
703.442.4361 703.903.6693 fax Washington, D.C. 20001.4542
202.393.2650 202.393.2653 fax continued onp age 4
2 era
Central States Donation
Alliance for Community
to Expand CTR
Media's Annual Convention
Members will see an expanded
Sat for Atlanta
Community Television Review in
You may already know, the 1993 "railroad" motif, international Deep Dish '93 Spring the issues ahead thanks to a com-
Alliance Convention and Trade
foods and "culturally diverse" per- Season Underway mitment of $5,000 during 1993 from
Show is in Atlanta, Georgia. The formances. Deep Dish TVs 1993 spring sea- the Central States Re-g ion of the
theme is "Cultural Diversity: As an added attraction, we have son is underway, but there's still Alliance to expand the magazine to
Weaving Common Threads." We included a participatory interactive plenty of programs coming off the a minimum 32 pages by the fall.
are still working out arrangements, wearing display. Each convention bird to challenge the senses. The contribution recognizes the
firming up commitments and goer gets to tie apiece of fabric that The season, which started in importance of CTR to members
identifying some particulars, but they brine onto a mam- March, runs twice weekly through and the need for additional pages
there are some exciting moth three-dimen- July 1 on Tuesdays from 1:00 - 200 for the organization and members
events to which we
sional frame. Join p.m. with repeats on Thursdays to shareinformation and stories.
can look forward. from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. All times are
Call for Awards Nominations
Eastern.
Members should have received
comes trans- Most transmissions consist of
notice of the 1993 Alliance Awards.
two half-hour programs designed
Presented at the national conven-
to be shown either as individual
tion, they include the George
shows or back-to-back in a one-
Stoney Award for Humanistic Com-
hour slot. Tuesday transmissions
munications, the Buske Leadership
include PSAs between segments,
Award, the Jewell Ryan-White
while Thursday transmissions
Award for Cultural Diversity, and
include color bars between pro-
the Community Communications
grams.
eon keynote speaker. will stand along side The season "brings together fear- awards for Public and Institutional
Young is now co-chair less television from around the Access, and Local Origination.
of the Atlanta Committee for the Georgia Cable Television has world. From South Africa to Latin Nominations are due by April 26.
Olympic Games. He is a much gnanged to carry the pub~acc cess America to the Middle East, people If you haven't received a notice,
sought-after 5,gd at the hotel during our stay, in struggle are using video in chal- contact the national office.
and should provide convention so, yousll he able to watch forwork- lenging ways to tell the truth about Accessing the Alliance
attendees with interesting per- shops, Hometown contestants, and their lives." Jobline. For access jobs across
spectives on our theme. We are nationwide access programming Deep Dish has moved to a new America, or to post job openings,
actively pursuing President Jimmy on your hotel.py, ^ home in the sky this spring and can call (2021 393-2653.
carter, Ted Turner and Benjamin Well, 1 cony go 0" on, but be accessed off of Satellite Cl, Bulletin Board. To connect, can
Hooks for closing keynotes. We ~ ~wi~ll he1 he1re in JU~Yto see for Transponder 17. [phone], and set your com-
should know shortly.
yourself. U^nt,il ,th en, think of a pro- For a schedule of transmissions puter's modem to 300, 1200 or 2400
The convention's theme party is gm for d ^, fabric for or further information, contact baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity,
taking shape. We have secured the sharing, Deep Dish TV Network at 339 National Office. Call (202) 393-
historicUnderground Depot as the -W Chris Leonard, Lafayette Street, New York, NY 2650, fax [phone], or write
locale for the dinner, and are plan-
LocalPlanmngCon,,ention Chai, 10012. Telephone [phone], 666 11th St. NW, Suite 806, Wash-
nine afew surprises that include a
fax[phone]. ington, DC 20038-4542.
Conference, May 14,9-4 p.m. Central States Regional Conference May 13-15 (see ad)
Location: Napewille Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle, Nape~lleI,L Location: Regency Campus Inn, Ann Arbor, MI
60563 Contact:AnnArbor Community AccessTelevision (313) 769
Contact: DanLloyd, Executive Director ofNape~lleCommunity Cost: full conference $55 members, $60 non-members
Access Television, 800 West 5th Ave., Nape~kIL, 60563. Theme - "Adventures in Access''
Telephone: [phone].
1
Cost: $45 (includes lunch). Will include a hands-on training session Northwest Regional Conference, April 23-24, starts at noon Friday
where you can produce your ownvideo to bring home. Location: Red Lion Inn, Yakima, Washington
Theme - The Electronic Link: icA ccess Television in Your Contact: Paula Thorton at Agewise for registration and info (503) 282-
--~
@ ~&- ~ ,
rence, May 15-16 or 22-23 (not confirmed) AwatdiCeremony, Saturday dl 7 p 111.
ation to be determined
.
act: Kati Peterson at Davis Community Television or Gerry Mountain States Reaional Conference.. AD^ 23-
sen at (9161 878-2488. Location: ~riendshipnnC, entral and8th St., Albuquerque, NM
t: No charge
Theme - Public AwarenessDay: build alliances with communities that . .
~ ~ $50
aren't already involved. '""st: Full conference (ACM members), $75 (non-members)
me- "Speaking for Ourselves: DefendingCommunity Communications"
>avid Cmrcia of Time Baed An in Amsterdam activists, the concepts of community communi-
i~rimanco ordinator of PAMDISO). Jan Peters cation. free speech and diversity are not. There
of 0ffe"er Kanal in Hamburg, ~iles~akloefy was tr&nedous debate throughout the sympo-
By Karen Helmerson, hv Community ~ro~rammingl~ofn itht e ~RC, sium on what type of access would be best for
International Committee Chair md UweParndi-t tifOffrnt-r Kanal in Bremen. Austria The issue of content versus structure,
Austria: A Community In addition to the daily sessions, videos were which in thiscase translates to quality program-
Without Communication? shown each evening at the Freihof, a combina- ming versus free speech and diversity, created a
If you can imagine a community without tion coffeehouse and meeting place for stu- major obstacle to reaching any conclusions.
access to electronic media, cable stations with- dents, activists and the avant garde. Works from Primarily fueled by the concerns of media
out studios for local production, national broad- PARADISO, Paper Tiger, Offener Kanal, etc., artists, panel discussions revealed that of all the
cast without independent programming, and were all there and more,. .including tapes pro- options presented, no one model was entirely
alternative media centers without distribution vided by Jesikah Ross of DCTV in Davis, appropriate. Austria would have to create her
networks, then you can imagine the environ- California. ACTV Cable 21 in Columbus, Ohio, own form of access. But how?
ment for commu"ity media in~u'itria. CTV on Staten Island, and Deep Dish TV Further discussion revealed that in order to
Aside from alternative media workshons and Network out of NewYork. establish public access the alternative media
academic enclaves, there is very little evidence The title of the seminar expresses the desire in community in Austria might have to do some-
of community media activity in Austria. In con- Austria among media artists to have a "third thing it has never done before, and that is collab-
cern uf this, a svm~osiume ntitled FFRNSEHES kind" of television programming, "something orate. Many people felt that the history ofrule by
DER DRITTEN 'ART (TV of the Third Kind) was between the ORF (national broadcast) and com- monarchy was partly responsible for shaping a
recently held at the Hochschule fur Angewandte mercial cable". At present, it appears impossible society unaccustomed to the idea of collaborat-
Kunst (College of Applied Arts) in Vienna. The to obtain licensing which allows independent ing, a culture where people "receive and do not
symposium, held in January, was organized by locally produced cablecasting, commercial or send", a society of non-communicating commu-
Der ARGE FREIE FREQUENZEN - OFFENE non-commercial. The Postal Authority, branch nities. Others felt that economic conditions in
KANALE in conjunction with Dr. Hans Ulrich of the Austrian government which oversees all Austria wntributed to a sense of "false comfort",
Reck of the department for Communications communications systems, is described as that the standard of living throughout Austria is
Theow at the Hochschule. and Zeiko Wiener. as extremely monopolistic. The ORF itself is an high, and therefore engenders a culture of self
coordinator. The audience consisted primarily exceptionally closed system. Through the efforts interests and complacency. One proposal from
of students and media artists. of organizations like TRANSIT and Heidi an audience member was to create different
The ohicci çt he seminar was tu explore vari- Gmndmann, however, artists' works have been forms of access for differentg roups.
ous models for community media which might broadcast nationally during ORF program Groups such as STADTWERKSTATT and
lead to an appropriate itructure for aiwss in breaks. This type of activity has been limited ARGE, however, demonstrate another segment
Austria. STADI'\VL'RKSTATT. an alternative though, and dots nut rcflmt a general receptivity of the populace which is determined to advance
media group in Linz, was instrumental in shap- I the idcd uf lnde~endenwt ork'i on Television. the use of telecommunications within their own
ing the agenda. Having spent three months in Bordered by western Europe, which is borders. They understand the fundamentals
the United States, and having attended the first demonstrating increasing leadership in the critical to success as well. They see themselves
Video Olympics in France. Stadtwerkstatt felt development of community TV, and greatly in the position of securing a public right which
that an international perspective was critical to influenced at all levels by Germany, its immedi- is antithetical to centuries ofAustrian culture. In
the challenges facing non-commercial media ate neighbor (where Open Channels are abun- order to do so, they are beginning to realize the
interests in~ustria.Internationalm odels for dant), the Austrian community seems to be suf- value of strategic organizing, the need for coali-
facilitating community video production and fering from an odd crisis of "media identity". tion building and the importanceof legislation.
dissemination were explored as a basis for dis- While the proposal of public access is widely By the end of the symposium, two primary
. -. .
irnational guests includ, .upported by academics, media artists and camps evolved behind these talks which seem to
be at friendly odds with each other. The majority
ofparticipants agree that aneed for public access
to communications media at the local level
exists, and that the process of developing a
have wntributed $200 or more. Additional contributorswiil be listed in the next issue.
mechanism for access will be problematic. But
$200 Alex Quinn the decision as to which form of access is best,
$250 Alliance NE Illinois Chapter Shrewsbury Public Access remains a big challenge. What will it be?
$300 Central StatesRegion Tipp-Monroe Cable Access Commission Community communications centers which
incorporate rights of free speech and issues of
$400 Cambridge Community TV Alliance Michigan Chapter
diversity or community television which provides
$500 Alliance Minnesota Chapter Cincinnati Community Video
access but with perimeters that ensure "quality
Thurston Community TV Cape Cod TV programming", or both? Maybe Austria will, after
Tampa Educational Cable Consortium Malden Access TV
all, resolve these issues by creating her own form
Some~llCeo mmunity TV bigailNorman
of access, community media ofthe third kind.
City ofRaleigh-Cable Franchise New Haven Cable Advisory Council
Karen Helmerson attended Fernsehen Der
$1,000 Newton Cable Access Corporation Capital Community TV(Salem, OR)
Dritten An in January as a guest speaker and
Waycross Community Television
representative of the Alliance for Community
The Alliance will continue fundraising efforts at Spring Regional Conferences. To date, the 1992 Media For more information on the symposium
Northeast Fall Regional Conference has been the most successful fundraising event. or community media in Austria, contact: Georg
The work of each Alliance member at the local level remains a key to public policy success. When Sitter. STADTWESKSTATTKircheneasse 4. 4040
we are able to educate and empower the organizations and individuals using the community TV to Linz, Austria Telephone: [phone] a& Fax:
stand up for their communication rights, our public policy initiativeswill be successful. 07322.12.10916.
Karen is Director ofFinanceatFilmIVideo Arts,
Alan Bushong is Executive Director of Capital Community Television, 585 Liberty St., Salem, OR
817 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. Telephone
973W-2342. Telephoone 1503) 588-2288
02)6 73-9361.
4 CTR
Still Only a Promise? . .
About this issue.
The Promise of Progressive Media
Community & Collaboratio~~
By Nan Rubin
Fo r some reason collaboration doesn't seem to come
. -hen the Veatch Program invited me to research what, if any collaborations naturally to people. Instinct rules intellect and fight
existed between progressive media outlets and some of the grassroots orga-
or flight responses fracture fusion. Humankinds'
nizinggroups funded by Veatch, I was enthusiastic about the possibilities.
most shining examples of collaborative efforts seem
Most social change foundations like Veatch 'don't fund media' because they don't
to center around war. We must change that.
see it as a legitimate social change force in and of itself. To them media is only as a
In this issue, we blatantly attempt to entice you into
mechanism to support other groups engaged in "real" community organizing. But I
the notion that a more rewarding, effective and fruitful
have been a community radio activist for more than twenty years because I have an
future restsin the hands of sharing. Collaboration
unshakable belief that community-based media is a lynch-pin in both building and
needs constant kindling in our consciousness as world-
reinforcing social change movements - when the media itself understands that its pri-
wide wires and signals cinch the globe tighter. Collab-
mary mission is to serve its audience and not merely be an outlet for community orga-
oration needs to be sou-g ht unremittin-gl.y a s the amal.
nizations.
Successful media collaborations have resulted between community organizers and gam slush of blending technology splatters in our face.
community producers when there is an understanding of the dynamic connection an Collaboration taught as "religion" can insure the hege-
outlet has with its audience through its programming - a synergism most often mony of harmony,
achieved by accident rather than by design. As for the media itself, the instances of Community Media and Access Centers are in unique
community radio stations and access centers working together have been occa- spots because they serve across traditional lines of dis-
sional at best, most often because it simply doesn't occur to either the radio people or tinction. Most every human can "drink" at the well of
the video people to work together. media center services. With the continual challenges
The exceptions can be very exciting. I recently served as Local Producer for "Slow against free speech and expression and the imminent
Death in the Cities," a live two-hour radio panel and call-in focused on the urban envi- decision on the US. telecommunication infrastructure,
ronment. The program was one in a series of Radio Town Halls produced by Pacifica the need for like-minded groups to unite is more critical
Radio and distributed nationally over the public radio satellite. Because of the hot sub- than ever. Obvious cliches ring with new truth. 'There
ject, people from several access groups including Deep Dish Television, Staten Island is strength in numbers", "the whole is more than the
Community Television, and the Telecommunications Department of the Borough of
sum of its parts", "united we stand, divided we fall'.
Manhattan Community College (where the broadcast would originate) approached me
Our commercial counterparts have heeded these call
about carryingit onvideo. Thanks to the commitment of many staff andvolunteers and
with unprecedented collaborations between dozens o'
the willingness of everyone to compromise, this radio-only program was transformed
the Fortune 500 club. Phone companies are talking to
into a successful joint radioltelevision collaboration which was broadcast live nation-
cable forging a new mix called "phable". McCaw and
ally not only over public radio, but also on satellites for cable access channels and pub-
his Cellular One giant has sold off 33 per cent to AT&T
ict elevision stations simultaneously from coast to coast.
That ni"eht.. th e n.roe"ram literallv blanketed the countrv... which was enormouslv satis- a former arch rival. A low key but phenomenal group i
six mega corporations has united to form General
fying. But advance publicity had been done only for radio stations; we had no way to
publicize the much ahead of time to television and cable viewers so there was Magic, a company designed to integrate voice, distana
and software. Ted Turner has an impressive record of
no way to knowwhat outlets would be picking up the program or who might be able to
watch it. crawling into bed with any and every company that ca
It was one opportunity gained, but another one lost. Which led to the main question benefi him. Even the broadcasting big three has seet.
Veatch wanted me to examine - if the impact of .~r o-e ressivem edia on social chang-e the writing on the wall (in red ink) and decided this
movements is through its ability to expose audiences to social change issues, then how thing called cable isn't so bad and they ought to coop-
do we expand our audiences? And, once people become audience members, how do WI erate more. It'saiway amazing how ready people are
keep them? to cooperate when their back is against the wail.
Articulating Some Underlying Assumptions. With support from Veatch, I starlet One "advantage" our commercial brothers and sisters
with four basic assumntions: have in their new found zeal to cooperate is a simple
1. Compelling programming is essential. Our programming is largely driven by poli mission shared by all. "Make a lot more money than
.
tics, and from the coverage of the Gulf War to specials on the Quincentennary, audi v,o u soend!' With a bottom line conceot like that.
ences listen to our radio stations and watch our video programs because the program diverse companies can focus like a laser on ways to
mine is important to them. We can be proud of a long history of outstanding medk
share resources and power to reach that goal.
productions, but we must never lose sight of the fact that ultimately, programming is
Fortunately and unfortunately we non-profit activists
the only thing audience members care about.
have a thousand and one different missions that we
2. Political issues of grassroots organizers are rich in program possibilities, which
fight hard to achieve. We mistakenly turn against eact
means exposing these issues over our channels to thousands of potential new activists.
other some times due to a lack of "big picture shared
Conversely, constituencies already involved with social change movements seem to
mission".
provide natural pools of potential new listeners and viewers.
Read on in this issue as authors explain models of
3. People who are viewers of publi access and community Na re also likely sup-
cooperative community, detail complex efforts to shai
porters of community radio stations, and vice versa. In communities where such
resources to reach new audiences and unite diverse
multiple media outlets exist, audience building might come from cross-promotion and
collaborative projects. groups around a common cause.
4, Audiences have to know when programming will be on in order to watch or
listen. "If you air it, they will watch" -ONLY ifthey know when it will be on!! Building r
continued next paL
steady audience is based on people knowingwhat to expect, so it is a ser- . .
.grassroots organizers feel that progressive media does
vice to let viewers and listeners know when programs will air. With so
much dial twisting and channel zapping, catching audiences hit or miss not turn to them nearly enoughf or expertise, resources,
isnot enough; promotion is critical to audience-building and retention.
analysis of issues, and provocative programming topics.
Guided by these assumptions, I needed to learn what groups were
actually doing. I contacted nearly sixty organizations around the country Many organizations repeated what I heard from Lois
from three different types of groups:
Gibbs at the Citizens Clearinghousef or Hazardous Waste
community radio and television stations;
.
cable access and production centers; which works with more than 7,000 rural and low-income
grassroots groups organizing around specific social change issues
groups on issues such as fighting plant emissions and
[including de-industrialization, toxics and hazardous waste, civil rights
and racism, and women's health.! toxic mining waste, who said they were rarely, if ever, con-
I asked about their experiences working- with each other, their attitudes
tacted by progressive media producers. What contact they
about promoting their programming and their issues, and the media
campaigns they considered their most successful in terms of mobilizing have is only "a little with community access."
people or attracting new members, etc.
Hie Findings Were Mixed. Most of the responses were not surprising, the GulfWar. Whiie unanticipated, this long-term programmingun n sin-
but they do point out some major shortcomings in our operations. gle issue clearly drew in substantial new audiences.
Promotion really works to attract audiences, but it isn't done con- Cross-promotion between independently-controlled local radio out-
sistently. Media groups generally consider it expensive and time wn- lets and cable access centers or community television stations is rare
suming, and thus a low priority. Few outlets have any staff or budget and what has been done has been met with mixed success. KUVO
dedicated to promotional activity, forcing groups to look for exchanges Radio and KBDI-Win Denver do engage in occasional joint productions
and such inexpensive promotional devices as free listings or having their which include cross-promotion, but neither station feels that it has sub-
schedules included in the local weekly newspapers. When they can, stantially increased its audience. More common is the situation where
groups do take out paid advertisements in newspapers or on commercial there is no contact between the two (or more) outlets which exist in the
cable channels, but most promuliun is an iiflerthuught. same town or signal area.
Sadly, almost noneof the media outlets I spoke with used their own air
Scine Simple Changes Can Lead to Big Improvements. Most progres-
on a regular basis to promote their own program schedule. City TV of
sive media outlets are hand-to-mouth operations which have a small paid
Santa Monica, for example, has program listings distributed regularly in staff and rely heavily on volunteers for studio operations and program
their local newspapers and often buys small ads, but they don't run a reg- production. Which means that while we understand the need for sus-
ular program schedule themselves. So, while lack of funds is mentioned
tained program planning and promotion, we rarely feel we have the
frequently for not doing more promotion, in fact - our own channels, the means to institutionalize it, even on our own mediachannels.
single 'free' resource which we have most control over and which is most Combine that with an often unformed sense of who our audience is or
effective in reaching our existing audiences - isn't being used aggres-
who we would like them to be, and we still have a ways to go to become
sively at all.
less producer-driven and more audience driven in our overall activities.
Successful local [and national] joint media campaigns have been Even so, somesimple changesare well within reach
shaped by media producers approaching the political organizations Promotion must become a higher priority;
and not the other way around. Most progressive groups would be We have to use our own outlets much more consistently for promot-
delighted to have community media focuson their issue, but their ideaof
ing our programming;
'media' almost always means getting news coverage of their concerns
We need to plan longer-term program strategies to build our audi-
and little more. Successful joint programming depends on video or radio
ences;
producers to control the mediaconcept and format, while the organizing We can't wait for issues or groups to walk in the door. As media pro-
groupssupply the political content.
ducers, we should be aggressive in approaching local and national orga-
Even while most of their media efforts are aimed at commercial outlets,
nizers to help us develop timely programming initiatives responsive to
however, grassroots organizers feel that progressive media does not turn to community interests;
them nearly enough for expertise, resources, analysis of issues, and Local. outlets should be in contact with each other to encourage
provocative progr&ningtopics. Many organizations I s-po ke with opportunitiesfor cross-promotion.
reoeated what I heard from Lois Gibbs at the Citizens Clearinehouse for Based on more detailed findings from the ascertainment, the next step
Hazardous Waste which works with more than 7,000 rural and low-income
is to outline several different pilot plans for audience expansion which
groups on issues such as fighting plant emissions and toxic mining waste,
can address some of the issues outlined above. We are outlining these out
who said they were rarely, if ever, contacted bv. .~r ogressivem edia oroduc-
now, so stay tuned. The Progressive Media Promotion Project might be
ers. What contact they have is only "a little with community access." coming to YOUR town!
Constituency groups have proven to be fertile sources of new audi-
ences. When WPFW Radio in Washington D.C. produced an extended Nan Rubin has been involved with community media programming,
special on AIDS education, they worked with several local AIDS groups to policy and broadcast operationsf or more than 20 years, including having
both produce the program and help promote it in their newsletters. The built two community radio stationsandservingon thestaffoftheNationa1
roer ram, which was also simulcast on one of the local commercial radio Federation of Community Broadcasters for six years.
stations, brought a large enthusiasticnumber of new listeners to the sta- Throueh her consultingcompany, Communitv Media Services, she assists
tion as well asgarner publicity in the local press. [Keepingt hem listening, media o&nkatinns, l~ruadi..assr tu~tiwsa nd nokprofitgroups in a range of
though, is another matter ...I mf"a nizutiunul needs, inrludin"e f,e asibilitv studies.. ,n rnmutinn.. ,f utilities
Very few outlets have engaged in extended programming cam- plannine, community participation, project manawment, proflam evalua-
paigns focused on a single issue or cluster of issues. Programming, tion muikrtins, mil-~licyanalysisV.a n is a founding memberuf~heW orld
even on hot topics, is generally produced as one-time only specials or Assoication df Community Rudiu Broadcasters (,lAt1II(.) and is currently u
short-term series. Almost no outlet has sustained a long-term focus on a member of the board of the ,Vutiue American Public Broadcastin2e
single program or issue [i.e. six months or more] allowingit enough time ~onsortiuka nd WBAI Radio in New York City. She can be reached
to attract and hold an audience based on that programming. The excep- Community Media Services, 121 W 27th St., #1202A, New York, NY10001,
tion cited by both broadcasters and cablecasters wasongoing coverageof 2121463-7411 voice; 2121229-2557fm; Internet address, nanrubin@lop~.
6 CTR
Community and Collaboration:
Working with other organizations in responding to the
Censorship Provisions of the 1992 Cable Act
and the Time Wamer Lawsuit
Advantages
ByJim Horwood they may lock out any channel or program that they & Pitfalls
T choose. The FCC and the courts have previously recog-
he Alliance initiated a collaborative effort with
nized that lockboxes are an effective, content-neutral
other organizations concerned with preserving a The advantages of collabo-
way for parents to prevent their children from being
forum on cable for the public to be able to com- ~.
exposed in programmingthey deem inappropriate. ration are substantial: shar-
municate freely. The Alliance is working with the
Allhoueh the direct interests of the Alliance and the ing of resources; sharing of
Alliance for Communications Democracy, the American
Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way. ACD concern PEG access rather than leased access, the ideas; harmonizing of views
FCC Regulations. The Cable Television Consumer leased access order is important because many of the (If possible) to make a unified
findings in the FCC's orders, if allowed to stand, will
Protection Act of 1992 requires (in Section 10) that the presentation; and enhanced
impair the viability of PEG access if, as we expect, they
FCC adopt regulations designed (1) to restrict access of impact on decisionmakers of
are carried forward into PEG rules and regulations.
children to indecent programming on leased channels the views of well regarded
Another concern is that the censorship schemesforboth
and (2) to permit cable operators to prohibit the use of
leased and PEG access should be reviewed together by organizations representing
PEG access facilities for any programming "which con-
the same court in the same case because of their general significant elements of the
tains obscene material, sexually explicit conduct, or
material soliciting or promoting unlawful conduct." The commonality. We have asked the Court of A.p .p eals to publ~T. he pitfalls of the
FCC issued a single notice setting forth proposed rules stay the K:?S rulesand regulatiiinspending it. revicw. kind of collaborative efforts
Tmi Warner Lawsuit. 'Iimc Warnrr filed a lawsuit in
and regulations for both leased and PEG access and pro- involved in the FCC rulemak-
federal court in November seeking to have a number of
viding for comments on its proposals. The Alliance and ing proceeding (and appeals)
provisions of the 1984 and 1992 Cable Acts, including
the other organizations submitted joint comments that and the Time Warner litlga-
the PEG and leased access provisions, declared uncon-
the Community Antenna Television Association
stitutional. Time Wamer contends that the access provi- tion fall into two categories:
described as "exhaustive and persuasive." Our joint
sions abridge its editorial discretion by forcingit to carry first, the logistics of coordii
comments (and reply comments) were by far the most
comprehensive and complete of any of the commenters. programming it would not otherwise carry and use up nating the views (sometimes
The FCC issued rules and regulations dealing with channel capacity that would otherwise be available to it. disparate) of a number of
Among Time Warner's challenges was to Section 10(d)
leased access only on February 3, and will issue PEG (strong-willed) lawyers and,
of the 1992 Act, which eliminated the statutory exemp-
rules and regulations separately (the 1992 Cable Act second, dealing with differ-
tion under the 1984 Act from liability for programming
requires PEG rules and regulations to be issued no later
ences of positions among the
carried on access channels that "involves obscene mate-
than April 3). Throughout its report and order dealing
rial." The Alliance joined the ACD, the City of Los organizations. Because of the
with leased access, the FCC referred to and discussed
the Alliance's comments. Angeles, Richmond (Indiana) Power & Light and the size of the tasks faced by the
Thecensorship scheme adopted by the FCC requiresa Media Access Project in a friend of the court brief Alliance and the severe time
program provider requesting access on a leased access opposing Time Warner's request for a preliminary deadlines, the collaboration
injunction. Time Warner's preliminary injunction
channel to certify if its program contains any descrip- was critical to the quality and
request was denied by the federal district court, which
tion of sexual activity that could be considered offensive. effectiveness of the activities
provided for briefing and oral argument on Time
Cable operators may ban such programs, despite the
undertaken.
Warner's motion to invalidate various sections of the
provision in the 1984 Cable Act that "[a[ cable operator
Cable Acts.
shall not exercise any editorial control over any video
On February 12, the Alliance and People For filed a
programming provided" over leased access cable chan-
friend of the court memorandum in response to Time
nels. If such a program is not banned, it must be segre-
Warner's summary. .iu d-em ent reauest. areuine that the
gated onto a separate channel, whose signal is scram-
court should abstain from considering Timekarner's
bled and will only be unscrambled thirty days after a
constitutional challenge to Section 10(d) because the
subscriber's written request.
constitutionality of Section 10 as awhole should be con-
The FCC's leased access rules and regulations have
sidered by a US. Court of Appeals upon review of the
been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit in two separate actions - one by the Alliance, FCC's censorship rulemaking orders. The ACD filed a
separate memorandum arguing- that the court should
the ACD and People For, and the other by the ACLU and ..
deny lime Warner's iumrnary judgment mutiun. The
the '90s Channel (a leased access program provider ..
ACI 11. fin the iithrr hdnd. filrd in iu~nurotf the renueit
serving subscribers in six states). The principal thrust of '
to have Section 10(d)d eclared unconstitutional.
the appeals are that the FCC's order, as well as the impli-
Advantages and Pitfalls of Collaboration. The
cated portions of Section 10 of the 1992 Act, violates the .,
advantages of collaboration are substantial: sharing of
First and Fifth Amendments and is seriously disruptive "
resources; sharing of ideas; harmonizing of views (if pos-
to leased access programming and the value that it
brings to local communities across the country. sible) to make a unified presentation; and enhanced
impact on decisionmakers of the views of well regarded
Moreover, it works this mischief without adding any-
organizations representing significant elements of the
thing to the current requirement that cable operators to
make lockboxes available to all cable subscribers so that continued nextp~ff
CTR 7
For and the ACD all argue that the federal district court
continued from previousvase
should abstain from considering Time Warner's consti-
public. The pitfalls of the kind of collaborative efforts tutional challenge to Section 10(d) because that section
involved in the FCC rulemaking proceeding (and ;annot be meaningfully evaluated until the FCC adopts
Successful appeals) and theTime Wamerlitigation fall into two cat- regulations for PEG access and because the review of the
Collaborations egories: first, the logistics of coordinating the views FCC's regulations and of Section 10(d) lies solely with a
(sometimes disparate) of a number of (strong-willed) US. Court of Appeals. The Alliance and People For
lawyers and, second, dealing with differences of posi- believed it important to present the district court with
"Successful Collaborations" tions among the organizations.B ecause ofthe size of the itsviews as to why Section 10 as a whole was unconstitu-
is the title of a new column h tasks faced by the Alliance and the severe time dead- tional in case thejudge did not accept the argument that
the publication Nonprofit lines, the collaboration was critical to the quality and he should abstain from considering the constitutionalirv
World Updates, published by effectiveness of the activities undertaken. The FCC's of Section lO[d).The ACD on the other hand pointed out
the Society for Nonprofit proposed censorship regulations were released on that Section 10(d) would be constitutional "if it were
November 10, 1992, with comments and reply com- construed to grant cable operators immunity from lia-
Organizations.
H ments due on December 7 and December 21. People bility unless knowledge of obscenity is established
you have a collaboration
For and the Media Access Project located the through an operator's awareness that a particular PEG
success story you'd like to Washington, D.C. lawfirm of Shea and Gardner to pro- access program has been held to be obscene in a prior
share, contact: Editor, vide pro hono representation in preparing comments to iudicial determination in the same community that
Nonprofit World Updates, the FCC. Majorie Heins, Director of the ACLU's Arts would prevent the program from being shown."
6314 Odana Road, Suite 1, Censorship Project, Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Although none of the organizations that collaborated
Madison, Wl53719, or fax Access Project, Elliot Mincberg of People For the in filing joint comments in the FCC's censorship rule-
American Way, Joe Van Baton and I all provided input, making would be upset if any of the others' positions
at 6081274.9978.
suggestions and criticisms in what turned out to be very were accepted by the district court in the Time Wamer
The Society also offers a
forceful and comprehensive comments. An issue that case, their disagreements as to tactics for best defeating
book called Collaboration: could have divided the group was the kinds of certifica- Time Warner's frontal assault on the constitutionality of
What Mains It Work pub tions as to program content that can he legitimately access has prevented a single collaborative effort in
Medb y the Amherst H. required from programmers and whether certain kinds Time Warner. I don't believe that these disagreements
Wilder Foundation, which of programming can be zoned to later hours. It was will impair the very good working relationship that has
details six key factors irfki- unnecessary to deal with these issues in either the initial been developed. I expect that effective collaboration will
or reply comments. The ACLU is concerned, however, continue for the most part as we strive to preserve the
endng successful collabora-
that it may be necessary to address these issues in the common objective of preserving a forum for the public
fens. For more information
appeals from the FCC's censorship rules and regula- to communicate on cable.
on the book. contact the tions. Because the ACLU's position on the outer edges of ' The initial time constraint in Time Warner was even more
Society's Resource Center issues would likely be different from the views of many
sewre lhan in the K Cc ensorship rulemaking prowding Ihe
at 80014247367. members of the Alliance and ACD, separate appeals brief in opposition 10 the motions for preliminary injunction
were filed so that separate positions could be taken in wasdue [and filed1 on Novrmbcr 24, with he Van bum idking
court if deemed necessary. The coalition that has been the lead in representing the interests of the Alliance and its cd-
established will try to worktogether tominimize, and we labomtors.
hope avoid, differenceso r inconsistencies.
The different positions taken in Time Warner1 were Jim Horwood is a partner in the Washington, D.C. law
due to disagreements as to tactics. The ACLU's decision firm of Spiegel & McDiarmid, 1350 New York Avenue,
to seek an injunction of the enforcement of Section N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005-4798. Telephone: BO2)
10(d) was considered unnecessary and risky by the 879-4002. He has served on the Board of Directors of the
Members of Deep Dish col- Alliance, People For and the ACD. The Alliance, People nee for Community Media since 1989.
laborated with students and
community residents to pro-
duce a video on the theme of
immigration/htegration that
was screened h site-speciik
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
installations along with other
which deal with telecommunicationsi ssues
Paper Tiger videos.
The project was presented
The House of Representatives: Energy and Commerce Commltte
h collaboration with h e r - -Room 2125 Rayburn HouseOffice BIdg , Washington, DC 205154
ville Community Access
Television and funded h part
The House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance
by the Somuvillo Arts . Markey, Chairman - 316 Ford House Office Bldg., Washington DC 20515,
Council and the Access Â
Consortium, whose members The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
hdude Somerville, Cape Cod I. Hollings, Chair - Room SDOB-508 WashingtonDC 20515 (202) 2;
Community Access, Maiden
Community Access, New TV, The Senate Communications Subcommittee
Boston FiiNieoF ounda-
tion, and the Space Gallery.