A Question and Answer Session with Mercy Connections on Community Media

Channel 17/Town Meeting TV Outreach and Training Coordinator, Meghan O'Rourke visited with a Mercy Connections class to answer their questions about community media.  These were the jumping off points for a fruitful discussion of how to make your own TV and spread messages important to you as a community member.

How can I make a film or series about the day to day life experiences of High School Students?

Plan!  Talk out the project with a friend, then find someone in the field to discuss the project.

Take notes and plan to write a ’script.’ When you have a plan, contact your local community media center.  Work back from the end goal to determine what skills you will need to get the job done.  

Camera skills, phone calling, interview skills, editing?

How can you reserve a spot for airtime?

If you have a program or program idea, bring it to us (community media centers) If you want to make a program in our studios, contact us to set-up the time. Learn how to use equipment.

How do you set up a press release?

Who, What Where When and Why.

Make sure you know your facts.

Make it personable with quotes from people involved or affected.

Can you connect the relevancy of your topic with something ‘newsworthy’ or ‘timely?’

You may create a generic release for ALL media outlets, but following up with a specific phone call or email to the few you think might be really interested is always a good idea.

Establish contact with media outlets you might send releases to regularly.  What day is the best day for them to get a press release? 

How you can be an effective advocate for your community by using television, radio and print media?

Use public access to tell untold stories and create a voice for people who are usually silenced.

Be courteous to the media, even when they don’t always get the story right.

Don’t count on ‘mainstream’ media to always see the story the same way you see the story, likewise, remember that the story they are telling may be limited in its scope.

Be your own media maker, use community TV, radio and the internet. Find the people who need to hear your message.

Know the action you want people to take or how you want them to be moved.  Walk backwards from there.

How can I increase my understanding of print and electronic media- how it works and how to access it?

Don’t be afraid to go visit local radio, TV and the news media and ask them about what they do.