My rant on public broadcasting got me thinking a little. Thinking about another public service which I would say is on the decline, however, I think it may just be complete out of the picture. The device I'm referring to is public-access TV.
A few weeks earlier in the semester, we had a special guest speaker join our class to talk about involvement with independent media film making. Our guest, Tia Lessin, is an indy filmmaker herself and assisted in production of a number of monumental independent films. Two of them being, "Where to Invade Next" and "Citizen Koch"
In my opinion, the most fascinating part about speaking to such successful people in a particular field, is finding out where they started, and in what direction did they first go, that propelled them into such amazing careers today. And it's especially interesting when such fields are one I and many journalism students alike could find ourselves a part of.
The best part about Ms. Lessin's journey? — She didn't even study film or television.
She had an interest in it, and in that time, the accessibility to equipment was there. She utilized the resources through public access television and now she's using those skills to do what she loves today.
Public-access television, which is distinctly different from PBS, is a traditional form of non commercial mass media where the general public can create it's content. Some people may know how to use the equipment, some may not, but that's apart of the beauty. It gives anyone a chance to learn.
Today, it's sad to see that it is not as prominent. It is said that public-access started to decline during the rise of other technologies like the cell phone, video camera, and other new forms of media distribution accessible to almost everyone.
Although other countries(of course in typical US fashion, they like to start things, and then leave them as successes for the rest of the world) like Canada, Australia, and a few more, still utilize public access, however all channels are now for profit.
It's honestly not surprising that they are now for profit, because just like we see with PBS funding, and big companies, and cable providers are taking over. In fact this type of corporate takeover is exactly what an Los Angeles Times article expresses as why Public-access got taken over. It was due to a "new law is designed to make it easier for phone companies to enter into the lucrative cable market by relieving them of certain money-draining contractual obligations" Obligations such as public access.
It also "allows cable television providers the option of dropping their long-standing obligation of providing free studios, equipment and training to the public."
So of course it's not surprising that our old friend Time Warner chose to shut it down back in 2009.
Wow it's honestly crazy looking at what big conglomerates can do. public access got shut down, public broadcasting is barley public anymore, and now net neutrality is trying to hold its ground.
I truly hope for the sake of the public, only new things will only get better.
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