Boston Neighborhood Producer's Group, Inc.

Movie Title: Public Access Television

Length: 1 min. 3 sec.

File Size: 16KB

File Format: QuickTime

Recommended browser is Firefox

By Ada Robinson, BNPG member

I’m sure you’ve heard the statement: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Most of us know from practical experience that there must have been a noise when that tree hit the ground. However, unless someone was there to hear it, or better yet record it, the sound of that tree’s final crash will be lost forever. What does that tree have to do with us?

Everyday the mainstream media (e.g. TV, Radio, Newspapers, etc.) documents the issues and events that define our lives. Unfortunately, most of the themes that are important to our communities are of little interest to media decision makers. Like cars that are powered by gas, major media outlets need money to operate. To satisfy their advertisers, they resort to covering topics that draw the largest audience of readers, viewers or listeners. Subjects of interest to small constituencies are often overlooked. Without large financial resources, marginalized people and communities - like that tree - remain undocumented. Public Access TV changes that dynamic. Public Access offers anyone the tools to document and disseminate information to their local community. Rather than depending on ‘The Media’ to tell us what’s important, we can define our issues for ourselves.

Although Public Access TV does not currently have the reach or the power of mainstream media, it is important to keep Public Access alive and available so our voices will not be muted. Free speech is very much like the fall of that tree. You can say what you want, but if no one can hear you, your words will be lost forever.