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from: Scripps News

Youth journalists talk about public access TV

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The FCC recently announced its recommendations on video franchising, allowing more companies into the cable television market. Its stated goal is to create more competition among companies, and savings per customer. But some people worry that the change could cause public access stations to lose the funding.

Youth journalists from Children's PressLine, a news agency that works with kids ages 8 to 18, spoke to young people involved with producing segments for their local public access stations.

Max Gilles, 15, Grand Rapids Community Media Center, Grand Rapids, Mich.: "The show that I work on is called 'Because.' It's a talk show with a panel of kids, ages 8-18, and we talk about news stories and topics in front of the camera live. One time there was this school teacher who was getting in big trouble for teaching about how racism affects our lives. . . Sometimes we talk about when kids get caught in school with drugs or that we have a poor school system. I've been doing the show for about three or four years now. . . .Without the show, it would be a lot harder for me to get into filming, producing and directing stuff that I really like. I started when I was 11 but some kids that are on there are 8 and so it shows me that even if you're really young, you're really amazing."

Jennifer Lombard, 19, Manhattan Neighborhood News Youth Channel, New York City: "Our channel covers important issues that are important to the youth that regular cable TV does not point out. The people on it are actually from your community. They want to express the issues that mean something to their community. . . .My documentary is about mainstream media's affect on my community. Before my first interview to interview a high school media teacher, MNN Youth Channel helped me get together my equipment and then quickly, in like 10 minutes, they showed me how to use all the equipment. What is really cool about it is that when my documentary is done, not only will MNN Youth Channel air it on television but they also prepare a screening.

Alyson Caillaud-Jones, 16, Grand Rapids Community Media Center, Grand Rapids, Mich.: "We have a program called, "Future Cultures." We have kids here from 13 to 21 years old. All of us do the filming, some of us are on the stage, some of us are editing and then it airs on the channel. People start on stage and then they learn from the older people how to do the different jobs. . . .Public access TV is important because it really supports people who wouldn't have the opportunity to get their work out and it gets other opinions out there. Anyone can come in and pay $20 to take a class. Once they have that class, they can check out materials which would be worth thousands of dollars.

Bethany Crews, 16, PeopleTV, Atlanta: "The show that I work on, "Neo Soul," is a spoken word variety show. I've been working on the show for 5 years. It takes two months to produce one show. It's hard; it's very hard. You have to invite the guests and schedule how your show is going to run. I'm the producer, the cameraman and the editor. . . It's real important for me to keep my show. It gives me something to do well and I'm giving out opportunities to other youth who want to come on my show instead of getting into trouble."

For more information about Children's Pressline visit www.cplmedia.org or e-mail feedback(at)cplmedia.org."