We are a society of insulated subcultures. The role of money & media in elections helps establish why alternative media is needed. How do you find trusted sources of news? Do you follow one silo of opinions/editorials/commentary? Are you old enough to remember how radio or TV 1st influenced you, your ideas and opinions? Where does your influence come from now? Are you open to broader understanding?
Are you interested in helping create a broader understanding? Is it because you have seen the benefits of diverse ideas brought to bare to solve a problem or leverage an opportunity?
You can contribute in Conversation
When you bring more than passion to an idea and have a willingness to listen and collaborate you may find the following to be true:
What is Free Speech? Is it a prayer, picture, song, rap, poem, story, tweet, blog, flag, bumper-sticker, money, or video even one captured via smartphone? Is it what a politician says to followers, a preacher to those in the pews, a conversation at dinner, a lesson in a classroom, a made for TV movie? Is the message and method of delivery, analogous, or interdependent?
Is it saying whatever comes top of mind: What a bully, robber, abuser says to a victim. Or is it intentional speech? Is Parrhesia (truth-telling), as explored by French philosopher Michel Foucault, focusing on the truthteller rather than the content, important to the discourse on truth in the modern world?
Speech, Press, Assembly, petition and Religion … with INTENTION all in 1
In the beginning, our discourse was person to person, face to face or in a letter. The printing press modified speech making by both expanding the audience and creating powers inherent to those in control of the tools. Speech to more than one always came with controls: the ability to assemble people in a community with proximity or the filters of commitment, understanding or bias in the transporting of a message by word of mouth.
In the digital age, Free Speech is morphing once again, creating more challenging times for those of us committed to the ideals underpinning this freedom and the belief that the absence of speech to counter radical views is dangerous for all; that beyond a constitutional right speaking freely embodies the concept of speaking truthfully & boldly with both obligations and risks.
“once we give up on the right to offend in the name of ‘tolerance’ or ‘respect’, we constrain our ability to challenge those in power, and therefore to challenge injustice.” British author Kenan Malik argued in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre
Freeman P Quinn, 1st is the Free Speech Ambassador of WPAA-TV and Community Media Center. The slogan “Be Freeman” means to become digitally literate and be open to the opinion of others, not to adopt or follow, but to adjust your own knowing. The tag #AnyoneCanBeFreeman suggests that anyone can be an ambassador of informed free speech and participatory democracy.
Freeman P Quinn is an amalgamation (as best can be managed by volunteers) of our diversity and embodiment of the organization’s mission. Freeman is a resource to build our community at-large and the organization specifically with friend and barn raising encounters.
Freeman’s Social Media presence is the organization’s outreach. Posts, Shares and Tags are in support of local community activities. Comments include uplifting Big Blue Hugs and blue bird birthday, sympathy, and congratulations images to connect at a person-to-person level in friendship. More rigorous engagement is inclusive of content references, links, stories, graphics and ‘questions’ intended to facilitate engagement, ensure transparency and inspire deeper knowing.
Backstory: In 2008, Freeman was named via a community naming contest. S/he was originally a blue penguin-like costume of Prinny created for a comic con. The 1st venture of a costumed volunteer into the public arena identified an immediate image problem as the individual was referred to as a “big blue chicken”.
Freeman is an idealized being not any one particular person such as the Executive Director of WPAA-TV. Even Facebook can tell the difference.
Anyone can Be Freeman
About Blue Penguins: They are loyal community of flightless birds. They co-parent, have excellent hearing and are not particularly fearful of humans as maybe they should be. Each penguin has a unique voice. They perceive their environments through visual, auditory, tactile and chemical stimuli. Blue penguins are mainly nocturnal. They perform most of their activity during the night in small groups of ten or less. They are not migratory. They stay close to their colonies. Inter-penguin interactions might include offers of rocks as a gifts.
In-person and on-line today, senior women saying they are hearing the voice of Godconnected with Freeman.
This is the Home of Free Speech and the in-person visit by the resident needed to get the same access to resource usage as anyone else.
I tried to discern if she had skills to relay stories, share information in any kind of organized or persuasive manner. I confessed that I did not believe in God, had some familiarity with murder and had no true interest in her content. But I did feel compelled to inform her about the power of the tools and the risks she might be subject to.
We left it that if in further conversations with God she was still moved to make a video of something on her mind that we would provide her with a private room and camera rolling to “capture’ her story. That we were otherwise booked until April. We would prep the file for TV and have her come back in a few days to sign a media release and make plans for airing her show; unless the voice of God gave her a different message and suggests we do not proceed.
I told her the story about making a Bullying PSA that could have resulted in the Producer becoming more likely to be bullied; further sharing that together, with our understanding of the resources and her passions we create as best we can what was intended.
Within the hour Freeman gets a Friend Request: I wanted someone I could tell to help me out with something God wants me to do to the world.
Okay this ol’ bird may need some intervention of liquid spirits.
The biggest challenge to effective citizen media is not the technology or lack of funds and/or public support. It is ego.
The hosts, talent, and crew that put the story 1st, succeed. Storytelling is the original social medium for humans. At its best, it is emotional and creates personal value. It is in our DNA. You are not what makes what you are showing or exploring have value it is the connections made in the telling that create the value.
If you let you in your work be invisible; the storytelling will benefit. Apply what you know. Create a compelling open, let the images speak, take the unexpected gifts from serendipity, volunteer crew, and the unplanned with openness. Stay connected to what you are trying to share because if you lose your way so will the viewer.
Our community lost a protector, agitator, and contributor on Feb. 27th. What we at WPAA-TV will miss most is his authentic interest in the principles of democracy, love of country and desire to serve for the greater good. During Donald Robert Kennedy Mayoral Candidacy he became aware of what we do at WPAA – TV and Community Media Center.
We saw him a few times a week since. He has a tripod in his trunk on a permanent loan to be a Contributor Photographer. He captured some ‘9 at night pics’ to update Citizen Mike’s Closing Credits. He finally agreed to be credited for the still shots that help make CommUnity Conversations more informative.
He recently sat with Intern Elizabeth Tranzillo to help finalize our new mission pic that includes an image representing Bear, his service dog. Bear has a rug in the editing room ready for his visits with Brad.
He valued his friends like the motto “make new friends but keep the old” … Already missed. Big Blue Hugs to all that share our loss.
Behind every phrase of service is a powerful story.
“How can I be of help?” she asked,
“I have a good idea,” he said,
You have a story to share. “Yes, we can.”
“We’ll do it together,” they offered.
“We’ll be right here until it’s done.”
“Let’s do it this way, it is more fun!”
“It’s what we’re here for it’s no fuss.”
“You have an idea, let’s flesh it out.”
“Call us back if you should need us.”
“You need our help, no problem.”
“Oh, I’m just glad to do my part.”
“Come this way, We’ll show you the tools.”
“Goodness no, I don’t want pay.”
“You can do it, I’ll show you how.”
“You need it when? I’ll do it now.”
“If you need anything I’m right here.”
“Who am I? A Volunteer.”
“Who are you? “You can be a Contributor.”
We are here so you can Contribute to your Community’s Media.
Producer Georgian Lussier captured my story and the story of WPAA-TV in studioW which is available to view here. Yes, I am a full-time volunteer and I am not independently wealthy, just passionate about my role as a thorn.
Good Enough To Share is probably one of the most valuable local programs because our viewership, your neighbors ask us to share content they think is important to know or experience. This weekend we will be blessed by the efforts of Brattleboro Community TV who had captured the 13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert held Feb 6 featuring the Yale Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, Tufts Amalgamates, Dartmouth Aires, Skidmore Dynamics, Castleton Vocal Unrest and Tufts Beelzebubs.
13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert held Feb 6 featuring the Yale Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, Tufts Amalgamates, Dartmouth Aires, Skidmore Dynamics, Castleton Vocal Unrest and Tufts Beelzebubs .
This program 13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert is scheduled as TV for Friday, Feb 19th beginning at 8:30 PM and the 20th at 9 PM. The duration is 2 hours 15 minutes. Enjoy.
Three neighbors got the following Thanks from WPAA-TV. Irma Zola, David Burghardt, Lisa Catherine.
Thanks for your interest in the Guarantor Program Good Enough to Share at WPAA-TV.
Guarantor affiliation is handled via electronic correspondence. A reply to this email with your name replacing the text shown below in red is the process by which this content becomes Good Enough to Share. This guarantor language identifies the program, its source, any Web presence if known, and acknowledges your willingness to be publicly affiliated as the local representative of the content on WPAA-TV.
As Guarantor of “13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert ” I, “insert Guarantor Name here” accept responsibility to be the local representative of media created by Brattleboro Community TV for re-distribution by Wallingford Public Access Association Inc. (WPAATV). I agree to have my name publicly affiliated with the appearance of this program on WPAATV. I understand this program is noncommercial. I understand the content is in compliance with the policy because it was produced at the Community Access Station serving Brattleboro VT which maintains comparable creation & distribution policies.
I understand that WPAA-TV is relying upon this Agreement and its representations for the legal distribution of the named media under its Guarantor Program.
More About the Good Enough To Share Program: A Guarantor is someone 1) eligible as a registered WPAA-TV User, 2) passionate about the subject matter, or free speech, who by publicly being affiliated with the content will 3) take responsibility, for any local interest and feedback; sharing the schedule with the community via social media or word-of-mouth methods. The Guarantor’s name is added to WPAA-TV website as the individual(s) helping to bring content to Wallingford. This individual will also be identified in program promotion-related Social Media.
There are two ways to participate: 1) WPAA-TV can suggest video programs that are already in compliance with local non-commercial policy and have copyright clearance for redistribution as local TV to individuals interested in supporting the local play of informing content. All programs are of good technical quality and can be acquired at no cost to individual or WPAA-TV or 2) residents can identify content developed elsewhere and secure permissions to re-Distribute. In this instance, the User takes responsibility for compliance with all content issues including copyright.
