The Community Media Review’s Summer 2007 Issue, “Community Media and Social Change” is out. It is an appropriate follow-up to the last issue on “Community Media 2.0″ (see earlier post):

“Public Access media tools are just a means, not an end goal. Whether we use television access channels or new digital platforms, we should strive to advance media justice and social change. For public access to be real, it must provide access specifically to those communities that are traditionally disenfranchised and underrepresented.”

Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s Betty Yu is the issue’s guest editor. She is a community outreach and media specialist at MNN, where she “provides media making tools and resources to community-based organizations through video production training and a community media grants program” (p. 5).

The issue features many voices from the Media Justice movement including, Malkia A. Cyril (Youth Media Council), Jeff Pearlstein (Media Alliance), Jonathan Lawson (Reclaim The Media), and more.

My fellow grad student at Emerson College, Brittany Shoot wrote an excellent article with MNN’s Ivettza Sanchez, titled, “Videoblogging as Citizen Media: From Public Access to a Participatory Web” in the Issue’s third section, “Expanding Community Media Center Capacity to Advance Media Justice” (p. 32). In it, the authors provide examples of PEG Access TV centers that have embraced Internet tools to empower their communities. On Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, an PEG Access center known for its innovative work utilizing new technology, they write

“In a factory town like Lowell, home to diverse populations of Latin Americans, Cambodians, and many African descendents, LTC provides a new way for historically disenfranchised groups to share their stories, amplify their voices, and communicate more freely.” (p. 34)

In the same article, the authors respond to claims of those who argue that YouTube “eliminates the need for public access television.”

“In no way does videoblogging pose a threat to community media, or intend to replace existing structures; rather, online video distribution has become, for many, a supplement to this important community media resource.” (p. 34)

They also address issues of Intellectual Property and recommend alternative Internet platforms to the more Mainstream New Media outlets.

“Instead of allowing a larger media conglomerate or clearinghouse to hold some of the intellectual property rights over their work (which YouTube’s user agreement states), videobloggers tend to use video hosting sites like blip.tv (blip.tv), the Internet Archive (archive.org), or even their own web hosting space.thing unimaginable two years ago. While local access television provided a means to reach local audiences, the potential for global exposure pushes people toward content production as never before.” (p. 34)

For those working inside and outside of PEG Access TV interested in understanding how and why “Web 2.0″ tools can make a positive impact in their community, the Summer 2007 Issue of CMR is chock-full of case studies and examples from experts in the field. But regardless of whatever “new media” technologies may come along, Betty Yu reminds the reader in “The Last Word”,

“CMCs are no longer just cable-access TV organizations; they have become multimedia hubs. Our centers must be open to using new digital platforms and tools in the service of media justice, making these tools accessible to everyone, especially members of hard-hit communities. It’s also critical to protect and expand the physical spaces where people come together, face-to-face. In our centers people learn from each other, acquire skills, engage in collective decision-making, and envision how media can be used to advance our common dreams, goals and issues.” (p. 46)

There’s a lot of activity on MySpace these days. That’s no surprise. But, lots of activity from lots of Public Access TV stations on MySpace? Now, that’s really interesting.

Why would a cable access TV station join a social networking site? I have an idea. But, I’d definitely like to know more.

To investigate the topic, I thought I’d head over to MySpace to start my own collaborative-graduate-thesis MySpace page, Community Media in Transition.

For some background on why a PEG Access TV station or community media center might be interested in participating in online social networks, TechSoup published an article by Eileen Cruz Coleman last November, titled “How to Use MySpace to Raise Awareness.” In it, the author writes

“Designed to help like-minded individuals and organizations connect and share information, social networks are showing promise as low-cost, high-impact marketing channels because they are both highly visited and highly targeted. In particular, many nonprofits are starting to set up profiles on social-networking sites like MySpace to keep ‘friends’ up to date on the latest activities. These friends then invite more friends to join the group and so on, ultimately allowing the nonprofit to reach people well beyond its original circle.”

This is a great summary of the possibilities that MySpace and other social networking sites can provide to folks in access. It’s worth checking out MySpace to see for yourself the level of activity and participation going on with PEG Access TV online.

A PEG Access TV center, with limited resources, could even use MySpaceTV to upload and get the embed code to post video on its website. However, I would recommend using blip.tv before MySpaceTV. That’s because I heart blip.tv.

In any case, see you on MySpace.

In the Spring 2007 Issue of CMR, Alliance for Community Media Executive Director, Anthony Riddle writes

“Look at the wonderful opportunities presented by the technologies in this issue of Community Media Review. The presentations only scratch the surface of the possibilities for your PEG community. The truth is, however wonderful each is on its own, none can find its true potential unless integrated into your existing resources.

How does a cable-based live program drive an audience to your blog?

How can a blog be used to add to your viewership?

Can a website offer in-depth materials to viewers who became interested in a topic?

Can we share program materials electronically, quickly between producers and PEG centers?

Can these tools organize our communities politically?”

Felicia Sullivan has mentioned that community media centers should at least try integrating new media tools into existing resources. But, she’s also said that a center shouldn’t worry about using all tools - only those that best serve the needs of a community.

For example, a PEG TV center may use Blogger and blip.tv to distribute videos using an RSS feed and tags. But the same center may not feel that Drupal is right for them. Using a video blog alongside an existing website might just be the answer based on available resources and community needs.