Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Media
Annual Report 2016
Table of Contents
Board of Directors
Staff
Production Report
11
Financial Report
14
18
Board of Directors
Steven Brewer - President, Board appointed, term expires 2019
Matt Heron Duranti - Secretary, Member elected, term expires 2019
Rick Hood - School Committee representative, term expires 2016
Mat Lebowitz Board appointed, term expires 2018
Leo Maley Board appointed, term expires 2018
Lynn Pasquerella - Higher Education representative, term expires 2016
Ed Severance - Treasurer, Member elected, expires 2017
Demetria Rougeaux Shabazz Vice-President, Member elected, term expires 2019
Josh Stearns - Member elected, term expires 2017
Adrienne Terrizzi - Select Board Representative, term expires 2017
Joseph Wronka - Member elected, term expires 2016
Staff
Jim Lescault, Executive Director
Nick Ring, Director of Media Technologies
Ari Hayes, Director of Interns and Productions
Joe Ameur, Director of Programming
Live Meeting Signal Path
Current and Proposed
Production Report
Make no mistake about it, the viewers of Amherst Medias channels 12, 15 and 17 often referred
to as PEG programming have their preferred channels and high expectations.
But rest assured we have a wide variety of shows for people who have caught up on their
government boards and committee meetings and want to know what else is happening in the
greater Amherst Area. Heres a quick glimpse of the type of programming created this past year
by our members, interns and staff of Amherst Media.
Children and adults alike have been raving about Dorothy Cresswells Curious Giraffe, and the
Reader to Reader shows.
Science continues to be offered by Makers @Amherst Media, introducing middle school age
students to new technology gadgetry and helping bring families together through our after
school program., expertly led by Christine Olson.
Makers has evolved into a true by-product of a positive Town/ Gown relationship with many of
its steering committee members being faculty and students from area colleges.
A milestone was passed this year when long time local producer Bruce Smith, often referred to as
the man on the couch, reached over 100 programs. New member Rev. Anita Morris has already
produced 30 shows in her series Theological Devotional.
Bruce also covers the Boys High School Basketball games. Others have covered local Boys Hockey
as well as the dynamic play of Roller Derby
Our college connection continues with Western Mass Media Justice Network highlighting
community efforts such as UMass journalism students teaching in SpringYield schools or National
Yigures discussing cutting edge technology issues on the 5-College Digital Humanities lectures.
Our viewers witnessed the passing of the torch when former Mt. Holyoke President Lynn
Pasquerella, introduced, Demetria and Amilcar Shabazz as the new hosts of her DifYicult Dialogue
Series.
This past year saw a spike in the number of special government forums. The topics ranged
from Solar Energy to the assessment of needs for additional parking in downtown to multiple
meetings per day on the proposed Wildwood School reorganization, multiple Town Manager
interviews to a joint Town and Community Forum on Homelessness.
We must not forget to thank the many residents who came out to testify at the Comcast
Ascertainment Hearings. We appreciate your continued support as we strive to build a new
facility in the very near future.
Local coverage continued with the Historical Societys lunchtime series History Bites as well as
Charter Commission meetings and forums on Black Lives Matter.
Amherst Media was there to cover the events.
With six candidates vying for the Third District s State Representative seat, Amherst Media
covered 5 forums, co-sponsoring one with the Amherst Education Foundation.
We have continued to produce the videos for the Chamber of Commerces Annual Awards Dinner,
honoring John Musante and State Representative Ellen Story among others. These videos have
become one of the highlights of the event.
Another special tribute video was made for long time and truly loved Amherst Regional Public
School teacher Brian McNamara in the Story of MAC.
We were pleased to be asked to produce a 10 minute video for 5-College Inc for their 40th year
celebration being convened in Northampton.
Viewers have come to appreciate the thoughtful and provocative conversations Marcie Sclove
brings into her show Going Deeper, and Joe Wronkas series, Creating A Human Rights Culture.
New this year was Western Mass Calling: where national, statewide and regional ofYicials discuss
issues and policies confronting the region.
Local Culture was fully on display with the Magic Triangle Jazz series Panel discussion on Wild
Lines about Emily Dickinson and those inspired by her work.
Community gatherings and celebrations such as the Taste of Amherst and Merry Maples have
been greatly enhanced with the successful addition of the BIDs Block Party. Where policies and
positions are left aside for communal celebration.
The last annual event to mention is the Amherst Rotarys Auction, now in its ninth year. Amherst
Media is proud to have been selected this years recipient by the Rotary. The money raised this
year will be the foundation to our New Building Fund Drive.
Our deep gratitude and thanks to the many volunteers and supporters who strive to make this
community inclusive and diversiYied. From many voices comes true democracy.
10
11
Forums
Amherst Housing Forum: 9-30-15
Route 9 Public Forum 10-5-15
Amherst Elementary Forum 12-08-15
North Amherst Village Center Intersection Public Forum: 12-08-15
Town Manager Community Forum 01-19-16
Amherst Elementary Building Project Forum: 1-13-16
School Building Forum 04-07-16
Amherst Warrant Review: 10-13-15
TMCC-LWV Warrant Review 4-12-16
Elections
League of Women Voters Charter Commission Candidates Night: 3-14-2016
League of Women Voters Amherst Candidates Night: 3-22-16
Live Coverage - Amherst Town Elections: 3-29-16
Amherst Survival Center Candidates Debate 6-15-16
State Rep. Debate Town Hall 6-21-16
Amherst Town OfYice Candidate Statements 2016 (8)
Charter Commission Candidate Statements 2016 (18)
Special Government Programming July 2016-December 2016
Meetings
Charter Commission Meetings (18)
Jones Library Design Subcommittee: 7-19-2016
Jones Library, Inc. Design Subcommittee 10-26-16
Zoning Board of Appeals 12-1-16
Zoning Board of Appeals 12-8-16
Charter Listening Session PSA
Forums
Homelessness Forum 7-14-16
Town Meeting Warrant Review 10-25-16
Elections
AEF State Rep. Candidates Forum on Education 7-26-2016
2016 Hampshire County Sheriffs Candidate Statements (3)
2016 State Representative Candidate Statements (6)
NAACP Candidate's Forum 8-8-16
LWV: Candidate's Forum 8-25-16
State Rep. Candidates Forum on Climate Change 8-29-2016
Amherst Media Produced Programming
(108 Shows)
2015 Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce A+ Awards
2015 AEF Trivia Bee
12
13
Financial Report
Jun 16
Ordinary Income/Expense
Income
COMCAST FUNDING
COMCAST Quarterly Payment
Total COMCAST FUNDING
FUNDRAISING
Fundraiser Income
Total FUNDRAISING
MEMBERSHIP
Non Prot
Member
LifeIme Members
Total MEMBERSHIP
SERVICES & WORKSHOPS
ProducIon Income
Other Service Income
Equipment Rental
Dubbing & Technical Svces.
Sales of Computer Media
Facility rental
Total Other Service Income
Digital Media Sales
Sales of Digital Media
Total Digital Media Sales
Courses
Apple Training
Master Class &Workshop TuiIon
Course TuiIon
Total Courses
Total SERVICES & WORKSHOPS
OTHER REVENUE
Interest Earned
Total OTHER REVENUE
Jul 15 - Jun 16
100% of year
Annual
Budget
$ Over
Budget
% of
Budget
0.00
311,511.36 304,415.98
7,095.38
102.33%
0.00
311,511.36 304,415.98
7,095.38
102.33%
275.00
4,655.00 10,000.00
-5,345.00
46.55%
275.00
4,655.00 10,000.00
-5,345.00
46.55%
100.00
500.00
1,000.00
-500.00
50.0%
230.00
1,265.00
2,265.00
-1,000.00
55.85%
0.00
250.00
330.00
2,015.00
3,265.00
-1,250.00
61.72%
11,841.00 15,000.00
-3,159.00
78.94%
0.00
0.00
450.00
600.00
-150.00
75.0%
300.00
1,734.00
1,700.00
34.00
102.0%
0.00
0.00
200.00
-200.00
0.0%
0.00
800.00
500.00
300.00
160.0%
300.00
2,984.00
3,000.00
-16.00
99.47%
0.00
66.00
100.00
-34.00
66.0%
0.00
66.00
100.00
-34.00
66.0%
250.00
500.00
5,000.00
-4,500.00
10.0%
0.00
0.00
800.00
-800.00
0.0%
95.00
425.00
1,000.00
-575.00
42.5%
345.00
925.00
6,800.00
-5,875.00
13.6%
15,816.00 24,900.00
-9,084.00
63.52%
645.00
27.89
288.04
280.00
8.04
102.87%
27.89
288.04
280.00
8.04
102.87%
GRANTS/DEVELOPMENT
ContribuIons, Unrestricted
Grants & Contracts
0.00
5.00
500.00
-495.00
1.0%
0.00
850.00 10,000.00
-9,150.00
8.5%
Total GRANTS/DEVELOPMENT
0.00
855.00 10,500.00
-9,645.00
8.14%
14
Total Income
Expense
Restricted Project Expense
Maker Space
Archiving
Total Restricted Project Expense
PROGRAMMING
Democracy Now
Total PROGRAMMING
INSTRUCTION COSTS
Apple Training InstrucIon Cost
Apple MarkeIng Cost
Apple Training Center Costs
Master Class & Workshop Exp.
Total INSTRUCTION COSTS
STATION STAFF
Government Prod. Coordinator
Media Access Coordinator
Development Coordinator
Director's Salary (Exe.Dir.)
Instructor
Program Manager
Total STATION STAFF
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
PAYROLL TAXES
FICA
Medicare
SUTA
Total PAYROLL TAXES
Health Insurance-Net
Health Insurance Premiums
Total Health Insurance-Net
Worker's CompensaIon
Total EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
EQUIPMENT
Equipment Rental
Interest Expense
Equip.Maint.& Repair
Equip.Maint.& Repair - Other
Total Equip.Maint.& Repair
1,277.89
94.84%
0.00
396.06
0.00
0.00
1,000.00
-1,000.00
0.0%
0.00
396.06
1,000.00
-603.94
39.61%
53.10
664.24
560.00
104.24
118.61%
53.10
664.24
560.00
104.24
118.61%
0.00
0.00
5,000.00
-5,000.00
0.0%
0.00
0.00
200.00
-200.00
0.0%
0.00
75.00
0.00
0.00
1,600.00
-1,600.00
0.0%
0.00
75.00
6,800.00
-6,725.00
1.1%
2,851.20
37,190.50 37,065.60
124.90
100.34%
3,771.12
49,365.44 49,024.50
340.94
100.7%
9,000.00
-318.97
96.46%
66,816.33 66,891.29
-74.96
99.89%
0.00
5,145.48
0.00
8,681.03
300.00
2,730.76
31,017.70 40,367.25
-9,349.55
76.84%
14,498.56
193,371.00 202,348.64
-8,977.64
95.56%
833.84
11,204.43 12,084.29
-879.86
92.72%
195.01
2,620.37
2,803.56
-183.19
93.47%
-1.88
997.16
1,769.08
-771.92
56.37%
1,026.97
14,821.96 16,656.93
-1,834.97
88.98%
2,786.01
22,039.02 22,000.00
39.02
100.18%
2,786.01
22,039.02 22,000.00
39.02
100.18%
700.00
88.00
112.57%
37,648.98 39,356.93
-1,707.95
95.66%
0.00
3,812.98
788.00
75.96
265.56
150.00
115.56
177.04%
0.00
0.00
250.00
-250.00
0.0%
0.00
30.53
2,000.00
-1,969.47
1.53%
0.00
30.53
2,000.00
-1,969.47
1.53%
15
Technical Supplies
Digital Media Expense
Total EQUIPMENT
CONTRACTED SERVICES
Consultant
Bookkeeper
Janitorial Services
Engineer
So^ware Consultant
Freelance Services
ProducIon Asst.
Freelance Services - Other
Total Freelance Services
Workstudy
Total CONTRACTED SERVICES
OUTREACH & MARKETING
Special Events Cost
AdverIsing & PromoIon
Total OUTREACH & MARKETING
BUILDING EXPENSES
Gray St Landscaping
Gray St Mortgage Interest
Building Maintenance & repair
Building Supplies
Rent
UIliIes
Total BUILDING EXPENSES
OFFICE EXPENSE
Comcast Audit Cost
Travel
Paypal Fees
Website Maintenance
Lodging
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Insurance - D&O/EPLI
Meals
Legal Fees
Bank Card Service Fees
AccounIng Fees
Bank Service Charges
0.00
175.86
1,000.00
-824.14
17.59%
0.00
59.90
300.00
-240.10
19.97%
75.96
531.85
3,700.00
-3,168.15
14.37%
0.00
300.00
230.00
4,582.50
5,500.00
-917.50
83.32%
300.00
2,700.00
2,600.00
100.00
103.85%
0.00
0.00
300.00
-300.00
0.0%
0.00
0.00
150.00
-150.00
0.0%
0.00
1,933.00
2,500.00
-567.00
77.32%
0.00
0.00
8,000.00
-8,000.00
0.0%
0.00
1,933.00 10,500.00
-8,567.00
18.41%
0.00
1,556.37
5,000.00
-3,443.63
31.13%
11,071.87 24,050.00
-12,978.13
46.04%
530.00
83.52
900.02
1,000.00
-99.98
90.0%
0.00
0.00
1,500.00
-1,500.00
0.0%
83.52
900.02
2,500.00
-1,599.98
36.0%
160.00
1,463.98
1,000.00
463.98
146.4%
11,517.38 11,064.00
453.38
104.1%
999.01
97.50
932.00
1,100.00
-168.00
84.73%
0.00
14.97
100.00
-85.03
14.97%
20,880.00 20,880.00
0.00
100.0%
7,400.00
-773.94
89.54%
41,434.39 41,544.00
-109.61
99.74%
1,740.00
621.64
3,618.15
6,626.06
0.00
200.00
119.70
149.30
40.00
109.30
373.25%
0.00
15.51
250.00
-234.49
6.2%
0.00
106.12
1,200.00
-1,093.88
8.84%
0.00
403.21
900.00
-496.79
44.8%
0.00
2,990.00
3,000.00
-10.00
99.67%
0.00
998.00
1,000.00
-2.00
99.8%
107.47
596.41
700.00
-103.59
85.2%
0.00
760.00
2,000.00
-1,240.00
38.0%
12.33
378.88
650.00
-271.12
58.29%
0.00
5,200.00
6,500.00
-1,300.00
80.0%
0.00
34.00
16
Book Purchases
Dues and SubscripIons
Insurance
Oce Equipment
Oce Furnishings
Oce Supplies
Payroll Service
Postage and Delivery
Oce PrinIng
So^ware - Oce
Tax Filing Fees
Telephone
Internet Services
Total OFFICE EXPENSE
0.00
31.83
20.00
11.83
159.15%
27.72
1,719.04
800.00
919.04
214.88%
0.00
1,575.00
3,550.00
-1,975.00
44.37%
0.00
0.00
250.00
-250.00
0.0%
0.00
0.00
300.00
-300.00
0.0%
1.00
1,521.10
2,000.00
-478.90
76.06%
30.00
896.27
700.00
196.27
128.04%
0.00
354.69
400.00
-45.31
88.67%
0.00
0.00
100.00
-100.00
0.0%
0.00
419.17
0.00
143.50
150.00
-6.50
95.67%
139.18
1,648.90
1,700.00
-51.10
96.99%
61.50
176.34
100.00
76.34
176.34%
20,317.27 26,310.00
-5,992.73
77.22%
498.90
0.00
23,171.17
-21,893.28
502.70
500.00
2.70
100.54%
864.19
2,500.00
-1,635.81
34.57%
440.00
1,000.00
-560.00
44.0%
1,806.89
4,000.00
-2,193.11
45.17%
811.95
5,000.00
-4,188.05
16.24%
86.52%
26,110.88 -3,808.59
0.01
0.13
0.01
0.13
0.01
0.13
0.01
0.13
29,919.47 -685.58%
17
18
JONES LIBRARY
NORTH AMHERST LIBRARY MUNSON MEMORIAL LIBRARY
September 15, 2015
Cable Advisory Committee
Amherst Town Hall
4 Boltwood Avenue
Amherst, MA 01002
Dear Committee Members:
I am writing this letter in support of Amherst Medias services.
We at the Jones Library have long recognized Amherst Medias contributions to the greater Amherst
community. Here are some of the benefits of our association with Amherst Media:
Library events, conferences, and seminars have been taped by Amherst Media volunteers and
aired, enlarging the audience.
Often, the above events have been posted online for more viewing opportunities.
Amherst Media has provided access to equipment so that the Library can create podcasts.
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are aired by Amherst Media, contributing to the quality
of life in Amherst.
All Amherst residents can utilize training programs, including Apple certified training programs,
enabling them to master the art of videography and editing.
I heartily endorse Amherst Media as an essential service to the Town of Amherst. I honestly dont know
what this community would do without them.
Sincerely,
Sharon Sharry
Sharon A. Sharry,
Library Director
138 Sunderland Road P.O. Box 9629 North Amherst, MA 01059 Tel. 413-549-3968 Fax. 413-549-5860
www.amherstsurvival.org!
Sean Hannon
IT Director
Town Hall
4 Boltwood Ave.
Amherst, Ma. 01002
Dear Sean,
The Rotary Club of Amherst would like to voice our strong support for Jim Lescault and the staff
of Amherst Media for their invaluable help with our Annual Rotary Auction.
After 7 years of promoting, producing and broadcasting our annual rotary auction they have
helped us raise over $225,000 that we have been able to use to fulfill a great deal of needs in our
community.
With the addition of this fundraising event we have been able to continue our support to many
local non profit agencies in our community and offer scholarships to deserving students going on
to higher education. It has also allowed us to offer for the first time a large community grant of
$25,000.00 to one worthy project per year. To date we have been able to help build a new
playground for the Crocker Farm School, the new kitchen in the Amherst Survival Center's new
facility, equipment for our local public radio station, cafeteria upgrades at the Wildwood School
and the new Hitchcock Environmental Center.
Their help has also given our club more presence in our community and gives us an opportunity
to reach members of the community that were previously not aware of the good work we do in
the area.
As we move toward negotiations for a new contract with Comcast and Amherst Media please
understand the importance of what their work means to us all in Rotary and to everyone in the
community.
Anna Holhut
President
Rotary Club of Amherst
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
AMHERST
Integrative Learning Center, third floor
650 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01003-9278
Communication
voice: 413.545.1311
fax: 413.545.6399
September 24, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
Im writing as Chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in
strong support of Amherst Media in the context of the current public hearings between Comcast and the
Town of Amherst. Im sorry Im not able to attend the hearings to share my comments in person.
It is abundantly clear to me that Amherst Media is a tremendous resource to the community, including to the
students, faculty, and staff of the Department of Communication at UMass. Indeed, Amherst Media is a
longstanding community partner of our academic department, a site of multiple, long-term, mutually
beneficial collaborations that solidify town-gown relations, strengthen our campus land grant outreach
mission, and provide an invaluable opportunity for the creation and distribution of hyperlocal programming
produced in association with the personnel of the Department which results in viewing options for the public
not found in any other media outlet. Examples include the filming and broadcasting of interviews with
prominent guest speakers whom we bring to campus, typically carried out through interviews with our guests
conducted by our faculty in Amherst Medias studios; our faculty serving as hosts of public affairs
programming at Amherst Media; and our faculty and graduate students having a central role in the creation
and maintenance of the Makers Space at Amherst Media, in which members of the public can come learn
digital media production and engage in creative self-expression. Amherst Media has also been host to a large
number of interns from our Communication undergraduate student population over the years, providing
them a richly valuable experience in hands-on production, programming, and community relations. Indeed, I
know of at least one former intern Communication major who was hired for a paid position by Amherst
Media after graduation.
We are pleased and proud to have had such a vital role in collaborating with Amherst Media over the years to
help produce the type of programming and services that provide the towns residents with a uniquely local
source to serve their needs and interests as citizens. We look forward to many more years to come in the
partnership of Amherst Media and the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts
Amherst.
Sincerely,
Erica Scharrer
Professor and Chair, Department of Communication
scharrer@comm.umass.edu
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
AMHERST
Cable!Advisory!Committee!
Town!of!Amherst!
Town!Hall,!4!Boltwood!Ave.!
Amherst,!MA!01002!
Communication
Amherst,!October!4,!2015!
RE: Comcast!Ascertainment!Process!!
Dear!Committee!Members,!
!
I!write!this!letter!as!a!media!technology!policy!scholar!and!active!member!of!this!community,!to!
express!my!unreserved!support!for!continuous!and!robust!funding!for!Amherst!Media!
operations!in!the!context!of!ongoing!deliberations!for!the!renewal!of!the!local!licensing!
agreement!with!Comcast.!!
!
Since!I!joined!UMass!Amherst!seven!years!ago,!I!have!collaborated!with!Amherst!Media!in!
community!service!learning!courses!that!serve!undergraduate!and!graduate!students!as!well!as!
in!research!projects!of!community!media!services!that!explore!information!and!communication!
needs!of!local!audiences!in!the!emerging!digital!media!environment.!In!all!these!projects!
Amherst!Media!has!impressed!me!an!innovative!community!media!organization,!and!a!vital!
source!of!local!information!that!significantly!contributes!to!the!civic,!cultural!and!economic!life!
of!the!Town!of!Amherst,!and!the!region!as!a!whole.!!
!
A!program!evaluation1!of!Amherst!Media!services!I!conducted!in!2012!revealed!that!the!
organization!serves!and!connects!diverse!publics!of!Amherst,!the!region!and!beyond!through!
the!cable!system,!online!video!services,!and!through!multiple!events!hosted!at!their!community!
center.!Although!there!has!never!been!a!comprehensive!study!of!PEG!organizations!
performance!in!the!country,!I!found!that!Amherst!Media!indeed!follows!most!of!the!best%
practices!of!local!PEG!operations!as!identified!by!the!Federal!Communication!Commission;2!
Amherst!Media!meets!these!standards!by!supporting:!!
Digital%and%civic%literacy%training,!through!community!education!workshops!such!as!
Video!Vanguards,!AM!MakerXspace,!and!the!Five!College!Learning!Retirement!
community,!all!of!which!engage!and!serve!citizens!of!different!ages!and!backgrounds;!
Vocational%training,!combining!traditional!video,!camera!and!editing!classes!to!new!
classes!like!certified!Apple!trainings,!while!hosting!more!than!60!internships!for!college!
students!every!year;!
1
!Access%360:%Building%Engaged%Communities%in%the%Digital%Age.!A!report!for!Amherst!Media!by!
Martha!FuentesXBautista!(Dec!2012)!Available!at!
https://amherstmedia.org/sites/default/files/building_engaged_communities_in_a_digital_age
_X_amherstmedia.org_X_executive_summary.pdf!!
2
!Information%needs%of%Communities:%The%changing%media%landscape%in%a%broadband%age.!A!
report!for!the!Federal!Communication!Commission!prepared!by!Steve!Waldman!(see!173X174)!
Available!at!!https://www.fcc.gov/infoXneedsXcommunities.!!
Government%transparency,!our!study!also!revealed!that!Amherst!Media!facilitates!
local!governmentXcitizens!relations!by!informing!the!public!on!local!governance!issues,!
while!enabling!unfiltered!citizen!monitoring!and!deliberation!of!those!issues;!
Local%and%national%connections,!Amherst!Media!serves!as!the!local!hub!for!the!
production!and!distribution!(through!the!cable!system!and!online)!on!current!event!
programming!such!as!Difficult!Connections,!the!Western!Mass!Media!Justice!Series,!
and!Democracy!Now;!and!
Providing%open%access%to%communications%infrastructure!and!digital!equipment!for!
citizens!of!Amherst.!
!
It!is!important!to!point!out!that!in!recent!years,!and!amidst!the!technical!and!financial!
challenges!of!the!digital!transition!of!broadcasting,!many!communities!across!the!country!have!
lost!their!PEG!access!organizations.!Although!the!impacts!of!these!changes!have!yet!to!be!
systematically!studied,!national!survey!data!shows!that!local!broadcast!media!play!a!critical!role!
in!keeping!Americans!informed.!As!studies!of!the!Pew!Research!Center3!indicate,!more!than!
70%!of!Americans!identify!local!television!and!cable!as!their!top!source!of!local!news!and!
information.!The!importance!of!cable!PEG!channels!cannot!be!understated!as!they!bring!
unfiltered!information!of!local!government!and!community!events!not!regularly!covered!by!
commercial!news!media!outlets.!In!a!changing!digital!environment,!securing!resources!and!
funding!for!PEG!access!projects!for!the!longest!term!possible!of!the!franchise!is!not!only!smart!
but!also!critical%for!the!fiscal!and!operational!sustainability!of!these!efforts.!Likewise,!more!
attention!should!be!paid!to!operational!cost!of!revamping!and!upgrading!community!content,!
and!outreach!and!training!programs.!
!
In!sum,!I!would!like!to!express!my!unreserved!support!to!Amherst!Media.!Their!work!truly!adds!
to!the!civic!life!and!prosperity!of!the!Amherst!community!and!Western!Massachusetts.!I!look!
forward!to!seeing!these!contributions!recognized!through!the!allocation!of!necessary!resources!
for!the!continuous!operation!of!their!digital!community!access!center!and!programs.!
!
Respectfully,!
!
!
Martha!FuentesXBautista,!Ph.D.!
Director!of!Engaged!Research!&!Learning!
Department!of!Communication!&!Center!for!Public!Policy!and!Administration!(CPPA)!
Integrative!Learning!Center,!Room!N372!
650!North!Pleasant!Street!
Amherst,!MA!01003X1100!
mfuentes@comm.umass.edu!!
3
Miler!et!al.!(Sep!26,!2012).!How%people%get%local%news%and%information%in%different%
communities.!A!report!of!the!Pew!Research!Center!Internet,!Science!&!Technology,!available!at:!
http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/09/26/howXpeopleXgetXlocalXnewsXandXinformationXinX
differentXcommunities/
2
UNIVERSITY of MASSACHUSETTS
AMHERST
Dept. of Communication
Mari Castaeda, Ph.D.
Professor
Voice: 413.545.1307
Fax: 413.545-6399
www.umass.edu/communication
Dear Friends,
I would like to write to let you know what a valuable service Amherst Media is to
this community. My role as a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts
has allowed me to see how vital Amherst Media is to the ongoing education of
students in grade schools, high schools, and in the Five College Consortium.
Several undergraduates of mine have learned about television production, the
role of the media to contribute to civic engagement, and media literacy through
internships at Amherst Media. I have spoken to groups of young people and their
parents about the need for local production and the way Amherst Media has
developed programs to include minority interests and persons of different cultural
backgrounds. One of my graduate students is currently involved in the Makers
Space project, which invites community members to Amherst Media to explore
new media in bold and creative ways.
I have also used many of the programs created at Amherst Media in my classes,
such as the multi-cultural events programs and interviews with visiting dignitaries.
From interviews with governors and civic leaders to influential authors, Amherst
Media has developed a valuable corpus of programming that enhance learning,
not only in my classes at UMass, but in the many schools in the area and across
the globe. I have a colleague at City University of Hong Kong who regularly
accesses Amherst Media programs over the Internet for his classes and for his
programs in intercultural communication.
I should also state that I have hosted some programs at Amherst Media; the
"Technology Matters" series in which we spoke with Commonwealth policymakers about Governor Patrick's "Creative Economy" initiatives, and some of the
"Encounters" programs with visiting authors from other parts of the world whose
work is of interest to a number of people in the community. I know that these
programs have also had an impact on localities outside of the Amherst region,
because I am occasionally contacted by the press or scholars who want to know
more about specific subjects, and other resources available through Amherst
Media.
In my estimation, Amherst Media is one of the finest local origination
programming facilities in the country. It is much more than community television;
it is a community center that reflects the values of this unique community, and
actively reaches out to people to hear their voices and tell their stories. In recent
years my estimation of the organization has only grown in positive ways. Amherst
Media is a valuable resource that connects different members within the
geographic area by mind and heart. And, it has been a valuable resource to the
community by publicizing the quality of life and the characteristics that make our
region so inviting to others. I'll even go so far as to say that Amherst Media is the
pulse of this region.
I support Amherst Media with no reservations, and hope that every effort is made
to keep this extraordinary organization a vital part of our community.
Sincerely,
Jarice Hanson, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Communication
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Teatro V!da
September26. 2015
James J. Lescault
OFFICE
Executive Director
Amherst Media
246 College Street
PHONE
413.330.8210
EMAIL
Amherst, MA 01002
Dear Jim,
Ensemble@activist.com
WEB
www.teatrovida.com
Im writing as the Artistic Director and Co-founder of Teatro V!da, the first and only Latin@
theater in the history of Springfield, MA.
On behalf of our ensemble and supporters, I wish to extend our deepest thanks for the countless
ways that you and you staff have made our work possible. From training our youth members in
digital media, to documenting our projects, workshops and events since 2007; to sponsoring
diverse and intergenerational regional collaborations in Amherst and Springfield; to offering us live
audience performance venues; to putting our programs on-line and extending our reach, and for all
your creative collaborations for our live, multi-media performances, we will always be grateful.
Amherst media has been an integral part of our success and national recognition in arts and
education. The vast archive you have created with is will be permanently housed at the Thomas J.
Dodd Research Center, at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, and will be available in perpetuity,
not only to those scholars interested in our history, but to anyone with a library card.
You have also supported us in our collaborations with internationally acclaimed composers such as
the late Harvard Arts Medal recipient, Fred Ho, and composer, Taylor Ho Bynum. You supported us
in bringing the legendary actor, Janis Astor del Valle to join us as we packed the house at CityStage
in Springfield, and again in her live performance at Amherst Media with our adult womens
ensemble.
Since the beginning, our students and members of all ages have felt welcome and safe to express
themselves creatively, with our most recent AM/TV collaboration of an all young womens poetry
CD, (Un) Spoken Words, where they felt safe to record work that dealt with issues many would
fear to express in a public venue.
You have always been there for us, and we will always be there for you. Please let us know how
we may be of service in supporting the continuation of Amherst Media, not only a bastion of the
First Amendment, but a hub where diverse people from throughout the region may creatively
express those things in life of which they are passionate.
You dont just tout social justice, you activate it. Please dont hesitate to contact me if you ever
need us to activate our supporters on your behalf. They know that Teatro V!da thrives because of
Amherst Media.
Sincerely,
Town of Amherst
cable@amherstma.gov
Re: Licensing of Comcast as cable provider to the Town of Amherst: For
Amherst Media
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is a pleasure to write in support of Amherst Media's extraordinary contributions
to the calibre of life in the Amherst area.
In addition to its indispensable role in facilitating Amherst civic life, Amherst
Media is essential to the life of the arts in the Valley. For instance, it has been
instrumental during the past year or more in making Amherst Ballet much better
known throughout this area.
AB is more than 40 years old. It lives its commitment to Ballet for All! in many
ways. It welcomes dancers of every age and physical configuration, and
produces professional-quality shows annually, with complimentary tickets for
senior centers and pre-school programs. It regularly sends young dancers on to
train with such academies as that of Gelsey Kirkland and the Harlem Dance
Theatre, as well as sending graduates to study a wide variety of subjects at, e.g.,
Brown, Fordham, and the University of Chicago.
In addition to the young dancers' poise and self-discipline, they are also really
nice and encouraging to one another, as well as to us adult dancers.
Upon joining the board in 2013, however, I discovered that Amherst Ballet was
not generally known. Amherst Media has been a tremendous help in changing
this.
Last fall, Amherst Media started showing videos of AB productions, including
intriguing behind-the-scenes footage. The interest that this generated helped to
fill more than 525 seats in Bowker Auditorium for last December's Amherst Ballet
production of Cinderella!
Then, in the spring, Amherst Media was instrumental in publicizing the visit to the
Pioneer Valley of Bolshoi Ballet master Ilya Kuznetsov. A grant from the
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts brought Kuznetsov here to
teach classes throughout the Valley in which more than 150 dancers, from a
dozen dance programs, participated.
Amherst Media offered its facilities to broadcast and record the kickoff program, a
dialogue about Ballet for All! between Kuznetsov and Amherst Ballet board
September 30, 2015
To whom it may concern:
I first walked into Amherst Media eight years ago, when I was 13 years old -- and all I wanted to
do was make movies. I had made one short film with a few friends of mine a few months earlier, but we
had no training, no mentors, and no real equipment. Over the following five years, our small team grew to
more than 40 teens across the Pioneer Valley, and together we produced three more short films, one of
which was featured in a national film festival, along with a youth-run news show (Student News) and a
sketch comedy show (Lights Up From Youth in the Valley). Those experiences prepared me to become the
lead filmmaker and video editor for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee for three years right
out of high school and work in National Content Development at WGBH this summer.
Those shows, films, and invaluable experiences are all thanks to Amherst Media. Where else
could a rag-tag band of 14-year-olds with no monetary backing go to start their own monthly news show?
What other organization would have looked us in the eye, placed a little faith and a lot of support in us,
and landed us in the living rooms of families across our local community?
On Student News, reporters and anchors interviewed hundreds of students, parents, teachers,
community members, and numerous public officials including Amherst school committee members, state
senators, and U.S. Congresspeople. When it felt like the teen perspective was rarely valued and often
disregarded in public and private spheres, Amherst Media has gave us a voice a place where we could
speak our minds, cover our news, and hold our representatives, public officials, and communities
accountable to our interests. They allowed us to get our issues out there. Thats powerful stuff.
But Amherst Media did not just provide us with the equipment and the airtime for the two shows.
It also provided us with support to make those shows the best they could possibly be. Amherst Media
provided trainings on using the studio and field equipment, nonlinear editing software like Final Cut Pro,
filming and lighting techniques, and special workshops on video reporting by local multimedia
journalists. Whenever we asked Amherst Media for support or advice, their friendly and knowledgeable
staff were right there to help us.
Numerous times, Amherst Media also went above and beyond the call of what public access
stations are obligated to do. Over the years, Amherst Media has gone to great lengths to update its
facilities and provide its programs with the best equipment possible to produce great video. This is
perhaps best exemplified by Amherst Medias purchase in 2010 of an expensive set of teleprompters, the
use of which made Student News look more professional and made the show more enjoyable to watch. In
addition to the teleprompters, the existence of all these films and programs is due in large part to Amherst
Media for the other innumerable equipment loans and updates, including wireless microphones in the
studio, state-of-the-art editing software, and field equipment.
However, Amherst Medias incredible successes as a resource for the community have been won
in spite of some serious obstacles. In the age of HD video, the fact that Amherst Medias broadcasting is
limited to standard definition severely limit the audiences public access television can attract, and detracts
from the overall quality of the programming. Furthermore, programs repeatedly face the challenge of
viewers not knowing when to watch, due to the fact that the program schedule does not appear in
Comcasts calendar. Amherst Medias staff do all they can to elevate the voices of everyday community
members -- but without significant shifts to allow for HD programming, video on demand, and easy
access to the public access schedule, it will remain difficult for these voices to be heard
Amherst Media is one of our towns real treasures. We ought to wholeheartedly support their
efforts to empower the people of Amherst and train the next generation of media-makers.
Sincerely,
Joshua Wolfsun
Amherst Regional High School 12
404 State Street, Amherst MA 01004-3227 Phone: (413) 687-1809 Fax: (888) 539-4616
www.riverwolfproductions.org
amherstmedia.org
Amherst, MA 01002
413-259-3300