Community Media Review, Vol. 15, No. 4, Jul 1992

16 Pages·1992·8.9 MB·

A Publication of the
National Federation of
Local Cable Programmers
Volume 15, Number 4
COMMUNITY TELEVISION REVIEW
-
1992 National
Convention
St. Paul, Minnesota
rDid You Miss Us9.
Did you see us at the 1992 NFLCP national convention in St. Paul? If not, call and find out what you missed.
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PRODUCERS FOR
NFLCP YELLOW PAGES
An indispensable directory of
Cable Consultants and Attorneys
Video Production Equipment Vendors
with information that includes
I NFLCP Organizational Members I NFLCP Public Volunteers are wanted to produce segments for this
Policy Platform I19 84 Cable Act  Senate Com- national award winning show.
munications Subcommittee  House Communications
This video magazine features the stories and successes of
Subcommittee IFe deral Communications Commis- people with developnlental challenges such as mental retardation
sion IInd ependent Media Producers and Distributors cerebral palsy and autism.
IRe lated Organizations I Recommended Maga- For more information call or write:
..."
ines/Publications Ian d "GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES
ATTENTION MAGGIE LEE
4801 WEST PETERSON AVE SL'ITE 500
CHICAGO. 11.60646
[phone]
Winner of National Education Film and Video Feslival Silver Apple
AGE Award Nominee
l i mVi deo Feslival Gold Piauue Award
JULYIAUGUST 1992
2 Public Policy Update, Alan Bushong
VOLUME 15, NUMBER4
Video Dial Tone, Electric Shopping Malls and You.
CTREDITORIALBOARD
DirkKoning, CHAIR 3 Connections
Paula Manley, INFORMATSIEORNV ICCEHS AIR
Larry Beer, Lynn Carillo, BobDevine Critical Media Symposium, Trainers Newsletter, Video
Heidi Mau, Vel Wdey
Festivals, Deep Dish Fall Season.
4 International Update, Karen Helmerson
MANAGINGEUTOR International Reception, News, and Networking.
Tim Goodwin
5 1992 NFLCP National Convention
OPERATIONS
Sue Fitzgerald, John Haafke 1,012 Gather along the Mississippi in St. Paul, Minnesota.
NFLCP NATIONALOFFICE
T. Andrew Lewis, Executive Director 6 Convention Keynotes, Jack Schommer
ShirleyA . Carter, Office Manager
Excerpts, Pictures and More.
NFLCPBOARDOF DIRECTORS
Andrew Blau, CHAIRPERSON 10 National Community Network?, Dirk Koning
Fernando Moreno,V~cC~H AIRPERSON
Kari Peterson, SECRETARY A CTR Interview with NCN President James W.D ickson.
Carl Kucharski, TREASURER -
Fiona Boneham. Pamela Brown. Alan Bushone. 11 Hometown USA Video Festival
Brian Ginman Kdnm Helmerwn Idme ilnnvDod,
Paula Mdnk'v Shdrun Mwnes. Jul~cOnlclchuck. The Winners, thestory, the Bicycle Tour
Gerrv ~aulsPke neiooe place. Anthonv Riddle.
Community Television Review is published bi-
monthly by the National Federation of Local Cable
Programmers. Subscriptions $15 a year for six
issues. Send subscriptions, memberships, address
chanees and inauiries to the NFLCP. 666 11th St.
NW,S uite 806, washington, DC 20001-4542. Phone
2021393-2650. Fax [phone].
Address editorial and advertising inquiries to
Community Television Review, 15 lonia SW, Suite
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Bulk orders for additional copies considered
individually. Contact the national office for
information on rates anddelivery.
c 1992 by the National Federation of Local Cable
Programmers, inc. Non-profit organizations may
reorint items from CTR (with excevtion of
materials copyrighted hynthersl, p v i d i & ~is ~ ~
rediifd 2nd [hi; NFiCP noufird ufreprintinr All
others must obtain advance written per&ssion.
Produced through thestudiosofCityMedia, Inc.
1
1992-93 NFLCP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Public Policy Update
IO FFICERS 1 Karen Hehnerson byAlan Bushong, PublicPolicy Committee Chair
International CommitteeChalr
Electronic Frontier Foundation Director of Finance. FilmNideo Arts Video Dial Tone, Electric
817 Broadway
666PennsylvaniaAve. SE, Suite 303 Shopping Malls and You
NewYork, NY 10003
Washington, D.C. 20003
212.673.9361 212.475.3467 fax Imagine a highway system that looks like this:
202544,9237 202.547.5481 fax
Fernando Moreno Vice-Chair,&-Latge Paula Manley Information Services Chair every time you drive your car to the end of your
... Executive Director driveway, you throw change into a money basket
Training Coordinator, Quote Unquote
TualatinValley Community Access and a gate rises to allow you entry onto your street.
1905 Lomas NW
1815 NW 169thPI. 116020 You continue to pay tolls each time you seekentry
Albuquerque, NM87104
Beaverton, OR 97006 to anew street or highway. You have no alternative:
505.243.0027 505.243-383 fax
503.629.8534 503.645.8561 fax all ofthe streets and highways have tolls. The longer
KariPeterson Secretary, At-Large
Executive Director, Julie Omelc-h uck and the farther you drive and the more gateways
Oreanlzational DeveloomentC hair you pass, the more you pay.
Davis Community Television
1623 5thStreet. SuiteA Director Toll rates are set by a private company which
Davis, CA 95616 Mulmomah Cable Regulatory Commission ownsnot only your street, but every street and high-
916.757.2419 916.757.2938 fax 2115 SE Morrison.Rm236 way in your community and the region. This gigan-
Portland, OR97214 tic monopoly is regulated at the federal level by an
Cad KncharskI Treasurer, At-Large
503.248.3576 503.248.3048 fax
Executive Director, ACTV Cable21 agency with little time, interest or resources for
394 OakStreet - oversight. In addition, this monopoly is allowed to
Columbus. OH 43215 James Horwood Leaal Affairs compete with you and others and sell additional
Attorney-at-law transportation services without reputation. The pri-
Speigel&M cDiarmid vate street monopoly wants even more: the ability to
Pamela 0. Brown Midwest ReeionalChair 1350 NewYorkAve NW111100 have unlimited ownership of buses and trucks using
22 West 500 Tamarack Drive " Washington, DC 20005 the streets.
Glen Elh. 160137 202.879.4000 202.393.2866 fax Sound far fetched? Prone to conflict of interest
708.469..1704 708.469.1704 fax Maria Rocha CoalItIon Development and special privilege? Naive? Dangerous? Like you
Brian Girtman Northwest RegionalChair President. Local 1624, AFSCME have no say in the use of streets critical to every
Technical Coordinator 6714 Tampacove aspect of your life?
Austin, TX 78723
Portland Cable Access It sounds like the FCC's video dial tone policy.
512.322.6331 512.477.2962 fax
2766 Martin Luther King, Ir. Blvd. With the use of relatively new technologies such as
Portland OR97212 LaMonte Ward Equalopportunity fax, modems and teleconferencing, our society is
503.288.1515 503.288.8173 fax Administrative Director increasingly moving information instead of people.
Tucson Community Cable Corp.
Gerry Pauben Far West Regional Chair 124 E. Broadwav.. Tucson. A7.85701 We would not tolerate the scenario described above
5110 Thomas Drive . for our streets and highways, yet we face an equally
602.624.9833 602.792.2565 fax
Auburn CA 95602 dangerous control of our information highway sys-
916378.2488 916.885.4182 fax tem of the future.
Penelope Place Mountain States Reg. Chair Fiona Boneham
~xecutiveD irector, Sinla Fi; ~ublic~&ss The Electronic Shopping Mall
4806thAvenue
Santa FC Commun~tyC ollrge Brooklyn, NY 11215 Nearly 100 national conference participants at St.
So. Richards Ave. 718.768.5999 718.768.5999 fax Paul spent several crowded sessions learning about
SantaFe, NM87502-4187
ShamnMooney At-Large video dial tone as outlined by the FCC, and brain-
505.438.1321 505.438.1237 fax
Executive Director storming potential responses to sketchy yet omi-
Greg Vawter Central States RegionalChair
Buffalo Community Television nous details. According to information available in
Executive Director
101 IaSalle Avenue July, video dial tone would create an "electronic
Waycross Community Television
2086 Waycross Road Buffalo, NY 14214-1494 shopping mall" in which a private monopoly, the
Forest Park. OH 45240 716.838.8196 716.838.0221 fax telephone company, would own the communica-
513.825.2429 513.825.2745 fax Anthony Riddle At-Large tions network and sell time and channel space for
DavidVogel SoutheastRegionalChair Executive Director, MTN any voice, video or datause. The community would
Gmerai Manager. CIV of Knoxvillr Ch. 20 125 SE Main Street continue to own the cable right of way, the "prop-
Minneapolis, MN 55414 erty" on which the mall was built, but would have
612.331.8576 612.331.8578 fax
~noxvil~l~~ 37902 no franchise to guarantee local oversight and regu-
615.521.7475 615.971.4517 fax Mark Slndler At-La~e lation of the monopoly. Community access to televi-
Rika Welsh Northeast Regional Chair Louisiana Center for Cultural Media sion channels and studios would disappear.
2026 St. Charles
Executive Director, MAW Although the mall would be built on public prop-
New Orleans. LA 70130
145 Pleasant St. erty, there would beno room for the public.
504.529.3366 504.523.7875 fax
Maiden. MA 02148 After discussing the increasing corporatization of
617.321.6400 617.321-5133 fax media and communications, and the corresponding
loss of local decision-making, conference partici-
Alan Bushong PublicPolicy Chair Shhiey A.Carter Office Manager pants developed the following list of broad strate-
Executive Director NFLCP gies:
Capital Community Television PO Box 27290 1. Develop a national NFLCP campaign, including
585liberty Street, SE 666-llthSt. NW.Ste.806 PSAs and a speaker's bureau.
Salem, OR97301 Washington, DC20001
503.588.2288 503.588.6055 fax [phone].393.2653 fax Continuedon page4
2 July/August 1992 CTR
Critical Media Symposium personal, political, social, histori-
October 8-10 In Cincinnati cal andcommunity issues.
Media Working Group, a non- The festival is March 7, 1993,a
profit media cooperative, will hold five-hour cablecast in the Boston
members eventually will have National Educational Rim
a critical media symposium, area, and will then be made avail-
access to a database of who's doing and Video Festival
Democratic Media Interventions: able to public access channels
what where, for how much and The National Educational Film &
Strategies for a New Politics of nationwide.
howto get ahold of them. Video Festival is accepting entries
Representation, October 8-10 in Deadline for entry is December
Submissions and suggestions for its 23rd annual competition.
Cincinnati, OH. 1, 1992. For entry forms or infor-
may be directed to Chuck Peter- Top winners will be eligible for the
The symposium will be on criti- mation, contact International Wo-
son, GRTV, 50 Library Plaza NE, Academy Award competition in
cal media "interventions" by men's Day Video Festival, PO Box
Grand Rapids, MI 49503. (616)459- documentary and short subject.
African-Americans, Appalachians, 391438, Cambridge, MA 02239, or
47M/FAX[phone]. Eligible productions include doc-
avant-gardelperformance artists, call Some~lleC ommunity Access
umentaries, dramatic features and
feminists, gays and lesbians, inde- National Student Rim Television at 6171628-8826.
shorts, animation, classroom pro-
pendent producers, Native Ameri- and Video Festival
grams, medicallhealth programs, 17th Atlanta Rim
cans, public access activists, schol- Film Front has announced its
traininglinstructional tapes, spe- and Video Festival
ars, and others challenging conser- 5th Annual National Student Film
cial interest videos, made-for-TV IMAGE FilmNideo Center is tak-
vative domination of mainstream and Video Festival. Established in
programs, PSAs, film and video art, ing entries for the 17th Atlanta
media. It will explore strategies for 1986 to provide aforum for college
student-made documentaries and Film and Video Festival. The festi-
creating a diverse and tolerant and university filmmakers, the fes-
narratives. Formats include film, val was founded in 1976 to pro-
democratic society through critical tival is open to all student video
video, and interactive media com- mote and support film and video
media education and practices. and filmmakers in the United
pleted between January 1, 1991 as an art form.
Featured will be loan Brader- States who have produced works
andDecember 1,1992. Entry fees are $30 for all works
man, award winning video artist on the collcgr nr univtrr->iivleveI.
Deadline is December 1, 1992. ($25 for students and IMAGE
and writer, stand-up theorist, pro- Pntrv deadline is Ociiiher 12
For entry fees or information, con- members), $40 for works entered
fessor of television production at 1992. Films and videos must have
tact them at 655 Thirteenth Street, by a distributor, and $45 for works
Hampshire College; Zeinabu Irene been completed after May 1, 1990.
Oakland, CA 94612 or call 5101465- from Canada. All works must have
Davis, independent filmmaker, Entries must be 16mm (silent or
6885. The festival will be May 18-23 been completed after January 1,
professor of film and audio pro- optical sound), 314" VHS, Beta or
in Oaklandand San Francisco. 1990. Only independently pro-
duction at Northwestern Univer- Video 8 format. Camera originals,
duced films and videos please,
sity and a 1991 Rockefeller Inter- films containing splices, separate International Women's
Deadline is December 18, 1992.
Arts Media Fellow; Doug Kellner, tracks, and film-to-video transfers Day Video Festival
For entry form, or more informa-
social theorist, professor of philos- will not be accepted. Eight awards Women from across the nation
tion, contact Claire Reynolds,
ophy, University of Texas, and will be given, which will include and around the world are invited to
IMAGE FilmIVideo Center, 75
author of Television and the Crisis cash, trophies, film and post-pro- submit videotapes exploring the
Bennett St. NW, Suite M-I, Atlanta,
of Democracy, Camera Politica duction services. theme The 1990s: How WE See It to
GA 30309, or call 4041352-4225,
and other works; Austin Allen, For entry fees or information, the 9th Annual International
independent producer and profes- contact the Film Front National Women's Day Video Festival. The
sor of commmunications, Cleve- Student Film and Video Festival, festival provides women from a NFLCP Bulletin Board Lives!
land State University; Bob Devine, c/o Film Front, 206 Performing variety of cultures the opportunity To connect, call 2171359-9118,
chair of the Communications Arts Building, University of Utah, to exchange news, perspectives and set your computer modem to
Department, Antioch College in Salt Lake City, UT 84112, or call and insights through videotapes 300, 1200 or 2400 baud, 8 bits, 1
Ohio; and others. 8011468-6213. produced by women that reflect stop bit, no parity.
Registration is $45 (scholarships
available). For more information,
Deep Dish TV Rocks the Boot with new fall series
contact Nyoka Hawkins, Sympo-
sium Coordinator, at 6061581-0033
or Fred lohnson, Media Working De ep Dish TV will kick off its 1992 fall series, Rock South West Organizing Project (SWOP). Viewers will be
Group, at 6061581-0033, or write theBoat, October 6 with Word! Your Voice is a invited to call in live to join activists as they create
c/o MWG Symposium, 445 Bristol Drum, featuring highlights from the keynote strategies for securing a socially just and environmen-
Road, Lexington, KY 40502. speech and performances at the NFLCP's 1992 talybdancedfutureforthenext 500yearsonEarth.
:onvention in St. Paul, MN. Other programs in the series will approach the
Trainers SIC to Publish
The fall series is a critical examination of the Quincentenary from geographically different angles,
Quarterly Newsletter
Quincentenary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas. with contributions from the Caribbean basin. South
In an effort to share information,
tent theBoatis avideo testament to Native American America and Spain. In others, the unheard voices of
the Access Trainers Special Inter-
survival and a prelude to 1993, the International Year Native American women, young people, lesbians and
est Group is putting together a
publication that will be distributed if Indigenous Peoples. gay men tell their own stories of self-discovery.
Starting October 6 and running through December Deep Dish TVs fall series is offered free of charge via
to all access centers initially and
'4, Deep Dish cuts through Eurocentric myths of "dis. satellite for noncommercial use to public, educational
then to those wishing to join the
;every" with video by and about indigenous people and municipal access cable channels as well as home
SIC. Called On Track, it will feature
.hat examinesthediversity of Native America. Rock the dish owners. Satellite transmissions will be on SAT-
articles on training philosophies,
Boat presents an alternative view of contemporary COM4, transponder 20, now through December 24, on
bulletin board use, effective
ndigenous struggles over such issues as natural Tuesdays from 190-2:00 p.m. and Thurs-days from
metaphors, results from trainer
.esources, education, and identity itself. 6:00-7:00 p.m. (Eastern time).
surveys, access center class pro-
On October 13, following ColumbusDay, Deep Dish For more information, contact Cynthia Lopez at
files, guides to available training
MU present alive special from Albuquerque, NM, a TV Deep Dish TV, 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012,
resources and classified ads. SIG
reach-In on environmental racism, organized by the 01 dl2121473-8933.
CTR July/August 1992 3
committee year and its role in supporting the
International Update
growth and awareness of community media
worldwide.
by KarenHelrnerson, International Committeechair
The International Committee would like to
July '92 International Reception thank the staff and volunteers at MTN, espe-
cially Marido Huber, who coordinated this
For the past three years, the International
reception and made it avery special event.
Committee has hosted a reception on
Thanks also to video festival orize donors:
Wednesday evening, prior to convention work-
shops and activities. The International Crimson Tech of Cmihndgc, ~ ~ ; ' ~ iLdabes oof
Reception provides an opportunity to honor all Salem. SH. Kaalern Vidw Sv<lcmi of Hillnrka.
MA; Great~orthernv ideo of Concord, NH~
community producers around the world. This
GKIV of Grand Rapids, MI; 1 ucson Community
year, to celebrate "Democracy in Communica-
tion: Latin America", the reception took a turn LCable C orn. of Tui-i ihoenr.wA 7 w.. oaodd 1 0 Randv Viswr
of SPTV, Chuck of cape Cod
from the usual informal gathering in the hotel
Community Access, and Rika Welsh of MCTV
lounge to a larger and more formal event in the
for securing the prizes.
garden mezzanine.
For more information about and/or a cata-
Over one hundred people attended the Karen Ranurri men$ the 111ternational Re.
logue of the Latin American tapes, contact
reception. This year's international guests who ception att he national convention.
Karen Ranucci, IMRE 124 Washington Place,
represent community media efforts outside the
United States; were: Martina Iverus of Although the reception focused on the Latin NYC, NY 10014,-Telephone:( 212) 463-0108, Fax
Sambandet and Hanna Hanskl of TV Soder, American community media project, there was, [phone].
both from Sweden; Chris Kwant of Televisie in addition, a special announcement from Jean
Lokatel in Den Haag; Tracey Naughton from Noel Rey of the French Consulate in Chicago. International Network
Australia; Nico van Eijk of OLON In the Minneapolis Television Network (MTN), i:~'LSUVUKS!h~LixcuS'iy
Netherlands; Alistair Herron from the through a proposal aided by Jean Noel, in con-
University of Ulster in Belfast, Ireland; and Luiz junction with Alliance Francais, France CATALOGUE: DEMOCRACY IN COMMUNI-
Santoro, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, who repre- Telecom and US. West Community Link, has CATION: LATIN AMERICA 1992
sented Videazimut of Montreal, Canada. been granted $15,000 to purchase a satellite Film and Video Festival
Aided by a generous contribution from the dish for the purpose of distributing Frenchpro- This catalogue lists over twenty tapes by
City of St. Paul, hors d'oeuvres and refresh- gramming throughout the MinneapoIisISt. Paul Latin American and US. Latino independent
ments provided the background for a presenta- area producers. Complete with a summary of the
tion which included segments of the winning Following the presentations of Ranucci, Jean festival, and a synopsis, with running time and
tapes from the "Democracy in Communi- Noel, and the introduction of our international distributor, of each piece.
cation" film and video festival. Karen Ranucci, guests of honor, the evening continued for a Contact: Karen Ranucci, IMRE 124
coordinator for the festival (a collaboration of couple of hours in a buzz of conversation, food Washington Place, NYC, NY 10014: Telephone
the International Committee and the and refreshments. (212)4 63-0108.
International Media Resource Exchange), This year's International Reception brought
spoke briefly about the project. Deep Dish together a variety of community media inter- INTERNATIONAL MAILING LIST
Satellite TVNetwork will be transmitting a pro- ests, representatives and ideas - from corporate NFLCP Yellow Pages 1992
gram of selected works from the festival free to telecommunications to foreign ministries of This list contains 43 key contacts around the
cable access centers around the country. culture, from the individual producer to world - individuals and their respective organi-
Copies of the program will be available for national organizations. Wtih this spirit of col- zations who attended the 1992 First Video
those who are unable to receive this package laboration and information exchange, Olympics of Community and Local TV in
viasatellite. International looks forward to the 1992-93 France ofJanuary 1992.
For more information, contact: Tony Lewis,
PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE Executive Director, NFLCP, 666 11th St. NW,
#806, Washington, DC, 2M01-4542. Telephone
continued from pose2
[phone].
2. Educate and develop support within our you. NFLCP members often occupy key posi-
communities; "sell" the benefitsof access. tions in the community regarding media edu- VIDEO TOE CHANGING WORLD
3. Consider new technologies and access in cation and access. Every day, many of us see byAlainAmbrosiand Nancy Thede
. .
the broadest sense, not just "cable" access. the people whose rights are at stake with the explores the variety of initiatives that
4. Develop amodel for local democratic com- actions of Congress and the FCC. . have emerged the world over in the past
... ...
munications; i.e. libraries, green spaces. Your community needs your help. The decade the challenges as well as the
5. Build coalitions with cities, National NFLCP is developing a campaign to assist local debates."
League of Cities, NATOA. access centers and program providers in edu- Essays on the status and development of
6. Mobilize! Work within the NFLCP and like- cating their communities about communica- international community media by leading
minded organizations. tions rights and opportunities and in elevating individuals from such areas as India, Brazil,
7. Encourage people to change the national community input in decision-making pro- Africa, Canada, and Hong Kong.
leadership. cesses. The success of this campaign hinges on For more information contact: VIDEAZIMUT
8. Create a New Technologies Committee and action in your community and communities c/o VTM; Alain Ambrosi and/or Nancy Thede;
focuson the future. 3575 boul. St: Laurent, bur. 608; Montreal,
across the nation.
CanadaH2~2T7T. elephone 514-982-0770.
You
The success of efforts to make media respon- Alan Bushong is Executive Director of Capital Karen Helmerson is Director of Finance at
sive to community needs and available to all for Community Television, 585 Liberty St., Salem, FilmIVideo Arts, 817 Broadway, New York, NY
local information and decision-making is up to OR 97308.2342. Phone503SIIS-22& IOW3. Phone[phone].
4 JulyIAugust 1992 CTR
1992 NFCLP National Convention
TELLING OUR STORIES: ONE DRUM, MANY DRUMMERS
1,012 gather along the Mississippi River in St. Paul, Minnesota
M ore than 1,000 community maker Larry Johnson; Anishnabe
media activists from across poet, writer and basket-maker Jim
the nation, and the world, Northrup; and Billy Yount of the
'ln a recent article by
gathered in St. Paul, Minnesota for Northern Sign Theater Company in
Mark Minlnberg called
the 1992 NFLCP Convention and the second. Excerpts of their stories
Trade Show, July 15-19, at the appear on the following pages. Clrcuimtances Within Oil
Radisson Hotel St. Paul on the Convention-goers were treated to Control: Promoting Freedom of
Mississippi River. tours of local facilities, and were Srpresslon Through Cable Tele-
It was a week of news, and firsts. able to sample convention video in vision, he quoted Thomas
Ross Perot called it quits in the pres- their rooms. And there was no lack Emerson saying ..."The flrst
idential sweepstakes, the courts said of alternative diversions in theTwin amendment has four essen-
yes to video dial tone, and NFCLP Cities, from art, to epicurean tial values... individual self
members came away with a new name (see story page delights, to baseball games in the Metrodome. iulflllment, advancement of
one) for the organization and a new-found sense of It was also a time for recognizing achievements, from ndivldual knowledge and
vision for the 1990s as the Alliance for Community the Hometown USA Video Festival winners, a list of the discovery of truth, par-
Media which begins on page 11, to the NFLCP's annual awards ticipation In the decision
Participants from the Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, of merit, which follow. making by all members of
France, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Australia and from Community CommunicatiomAwards ~oclety,a nd achievement of
most of the 50 states shared their stories, ideas and Public Access - Columbus Community Cable Access, a more adaptable and more
knowledge about community media. From the opening ;table community." That
Columbus, Ohio.
beats of the Native American Drummers to the salsa of ImtitutionaIAccess - BHC/lhe Educational ndivldual and societal
Batuque Brasilero, it was about communicating, if not knowledge of the world, or
necessarily with drums, then with each other. Connection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
truth Is accomplished only
We talked of access and community action, of man- Local Origination- CableTVNortb Center,
through a dynamic commu-
agement, of education, government and public access, White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
mkation process in which the
of production, public policy and regulation, of training, Best Region
ndlvldual actively tests his
of international and community collaborations and of Northeast
the future. Best Chapter È her ideas against others.
Èn finally Emerson holds
Along with more than 60 workshops, the convention
Minnesota that an effective system of
also featured an International Reception, Latin
BuskeLeadershipA ward freedom of expression
American Video Festival and International Awards; the
15th Annual Hometown USA Video Festival Awards Sbaronlngraham depends on an abundance of
from St. Paul's World Theatre; a Mississippi riverboat StoneyHurnanisticC ommunicationAward raw materials in the form of
cruise; NFLCP Awards Luncheon; a tradeshow and Professor Herb Schiller Information, ideas and alter-
exhibit; aparty or two; and two keynote luncheons, that We invite readers to taste the flavor, if not the sub- native solutions and on
included comments from Utne Reader publisher Eric stance, of the 1992 National Convention on the follow- development of the skills for
Utne in the first and the stotytellingof Hmongmusician ing pages through the tales of the storytellers. Their developing and utilizing
Zeng Su Yang; rapper Doug E. Fresh; storytellerlvideo- message is universal, their method too. those raw materials in the
form of the ability to under-
itand, appraise and create.
Chose are our shared values
"Wea re awash in information -- a tsunami of In this room and that is why
we are here. The existence of
access and the existence of
information. What's needed is not more information;
NFLCP are Inextricably inter-
twined... in my heart I,
what's needed is more discussion and debate with our neighbors. . .It's
believe that being part of
this organization has been
community that we're missing, and if television has the potential
the finest experience in my
life and Its' most rewarding
to build community, it will be through you.'' challenge.*
Past NFLCP Chairperson Sharon
Eric Utne, editor and publisher, the UtneReader, Ingraham on accepting the Buske
from hisspeech to 1992 NFLCP Convention attendees. Leadership Award
CTR )uly/August 1992 5
Retelling the Tale
TELLING OUR STORIES: ONE DRUM, MANY DRUMMERS
1992 NFLCP National Convention
July 15-19, 1992 St. Paul, Minnesota
T
his is the telling of stories, an stone of our existence as the
Executive Producer, Commu- exploration of community human race since time began is the
nity Affairs KTCA, Senior Produ- access's role in oral tradition. oral tradition - the preservation
cerloutreach Director, KTCA, St.
The NFLCP 1992 Conference culmi- and transmission of knowledge
Paul, Susan Robeson has been
working in film and television for nated in a gathering of story tellers. through the spoken word. In soci-
the past 18 years. She has pro. Their methods, as diverse as their eties where writing does not exist,
duced major documentaries for messages, however, were all bound there is an intimate bond between
network television on political
and cultural subjects. She is by a common thread. One drum, FONE people and the words they speak.
presently developing a feature many drummers. speech is the carrier of message's
c,~~mm~g
documentary, Don't Believe the Speaking of empowerment essential to the life of the group. It
Hype: The Politics of Rap. tBhilrlo ~uLghls voidnwe oar, nSetd. Poaf uclo cnotaumncinilamtianng p,::",: .' ., .. , ,:.. .. :..: tdaokeessn o'tn e ax isspte icni aslo sciigentiifeisc atnhcaet trhealyt
the oral tradition with the written word. You, the on the writtenword.
reader, must keep this in mind as the stories unfold In oral tradition, speaking or naming is tantamount
here. Nuance of voice cannot be transposed to the to action, taking possession, creating. Oral tradition is
page and is lost. The hypnotic power of the Native total knowledge, it is not confined only to tales, leg-
American drums is impossible to translate for the eye. ends and mythical narratives recounted by old story
Telling Zeng Su Yang's musical stories as they were tellers. Oral tradition is the great school of life, it deals
carefully translated by Charles Numeric fails to express with religion, with the natural sciences, mineralogy,
the visual images his ancient Hmong flute laid out for the pharmacopoeia, with apprenticeship and skills,
Zeng Su Yang the audience. Billy Yount spoke eloquently without a with history and games, with love, with death. It's total
and Charles Numrich single utterance and gave the uninitiated an insight to knowledge.
Zeng Su Vang is a traditional storytellingfor the deaf. Too often today the
Hmong storyteller, musician and Though, because of page \ primacy of oral tradition is
artist. Charles Numrich, who
constraints, some segments devalued, is forgotten, is
works with him in creative inter-
pretation, is a director of Cre- have been left out, our marginalized as something
ative Theater Unlimited, a dra- attempt to bring you this that people think comes
matist, storyteller, producer. recounting is alive with the froma "so-called" primi-
Together they have worked to
message of oral tradition's tive way of life. People
bring awareness of traditional
Hmong storytelling art and power. A power to give voice make the mistake of think-
music for the past nine years. to the disenfranchised and ing that technology equals
They work regularly in the bring life to communities full of civilization. Oral cultures
school systems and are members
stories but void of forums for are labeled pre-literate
of the Minnesota State Arts
their telling. Empowerment for and therefore considered
Board.
this diversity of voices is a ignorant and backward
strength many of us may not because they don't have
have tapped, yet. the hardware of modern
This celebration of stories and society. No computers,
storytelling focused community no television, no news-
media's role, a role laid out by papers. The reality is
Susan Robson's introductory they do not need tech-
. .
remarks. )r the written word to communicate
-Jack Schommer, Guest Editor-in-( aiiuiiicf. They do not need technology to
become oroductive members of their societies. Thev
Susan Robson rely on the spoken word to transmit information and
1
Billy Yount is a member of the - .
oreserve their historv and the integral carts of their
Northern Sign Theater Company
identity as a people and a nation one to another and in
in Minneapolis, a company dedi- T he theme of this keynote is the word, the spoken
cated to providing cultural balance to the world around them. Each generation
enrichment to the Hearing word, the power of the spoken word, the primacy passes it down intact to the next for hundreds of thou-
Impaired community. of the oral cultures and traditions and creating a con-
sands of years. Storytelling is the mechanism. It's the
sciousness of video as a form of oral culture.
means of transmission. It's the informational glue.
The form will be examples of storytelling from a
A typical teenager born and raised in the context of
number of different oral traditions. The great corner-
an oral culture knows more history than the average
6 July/August 1992 CTR
teen today, who is lucky to be able to go back more ment. It is the empowerment of people, with the tools
than two or three generations in his or her own family. by which to effectively communicate and bring forth
There is power in knowing who you are and where you their message. Their message is rooted in their tradi-
came from. It lets you know where togo and how. tions, part of your conference is examination of those
What does this have to do with cable TO The essen- traditions and a very important part is the oral tradi-
tial value of public access television is that it enables tion, folklore, mores, storytellers..It is important to
people to tell their own stories in their own voices. It understand the importance these hold. It is your story
enables video culture to take on the power of oral tra- that must be told, but your story includes our story.
ditions. Public access TV helps make video, in the con- Our story, which has never been told correctly.
text of our electronic technological society, what the My friends, that story is written through understand-
word is to the oral culture - the power and the glue. ing the oral tradition. Because there is one tradition Larry Johnson
Video can be this in our society by creating a certain that has not been destroyed through the written word, A key organizer of the 1990
national congress on Storytelling
consciousness, one that mandates operating on the oral tradition, handed down by generations, old to the
and the Electronic Media, Larry
basis of inclusion. It means fighting to make sure that young, the oral traditions not contaminated by the johnson is currently full time
you do provide access to those who don't have a voice written word. If you listen closely to the stories that Storyteller/Whole Language
in your community and you cannot do this without people tell, dig deep into their folklore, I envision those /Video Teachers at Piilsbury
School. With his partner, Larry
dealing with issues of representation and power. stories and that folklore as the truth that has been
won Grand Prize in the Tokyo
People must be empowered to speak for themselves. pressed to the earth, and held sacredly in the bosom of Video Festival in 1986 for a video
It is not enough to tell somebody else's story for those who speak. That is the story that must be drawn exchange between school chil-
them. Give me the tools that I need and the access out. Combine the great traditions, the oral traditions dren.
that I need to tell my own story, in my own words, in and the visual traditions. That's what access is. Letting
my own way. And then give me the power to guaran- people speak, letting people be seen and letting people
tee that my stories, that have been marginalized and be heard.
distorted or ignored for so long, wili have avoice. That You don't have to write it, it's already written, in an
is multiculturism. A lot of people talk about cultural indelible impression in their memories. Allow those
diversity and when they don't add power and repre- memories to emerge as part of a new tradition of com-
sentation it becomes meaningless. munications. That is your challenge, that is your
It is our hope that this program will be like little responsibility.
seeds in a large field. Some will grow and some won't. I know that some of us are a little bit shaken by the
Hopefully the code contained in those seeds wili impel threat to the access opportunities by recent decisions
you to embrace and transform video culture through made in Washington. Let me tell you this my friends, I Doug E. Fresh
public access TV in the same way all cultures embrace can well remember when there was a constitution that Tabbed as The Greatest Enter-
and transform the spoken word. Turn it into the glue set aside a majority of the population in this country. tainner, Doug E. Fresh is known
for having been one of the early
that binds one another, through storytelling, and cre- We said that was wrong and must be set right, and
innovators and great creators of
ate communities that live in balance with the world went about it. Not in ten years, not in twenty years, but Hip-Hop and Rap. He is the In.
around them. over four generations. Repeal of laws does not bring ventor of the human beat-box
Aange. we have to comtkt ourselves, if we believe style. He is also known for his
extensive community and hu-
Bill Wilson hat we're doing is right, and fight for that right and
manitarian work throughout the
hat tradition. country, including the Rappers
I am now challenging you as those who have access, against Racism Movement.
a most important responsibility. Treat access as a civil
right, a right of all citizens.
There is no congress that can repeal a citizens right
to access. See this as part of a movement and don't let
a momentary flicker of something in Washington turn
kiu~timatteh~e ~ve hicle by
you back from something you are committed to.
which communities in this
So leave this conference today with an even greater
communication era can explode
commitment to seeing that access is provided to all
with new knowledge and new
citizens. Bypass the written word, go back to the oral
imagery.
tradition. Go back to the people, ask them for their tra-
I think it is appropriate that St.PaulCiy
ditions- that's diversity. When you get the opportunity
you chose this theme because Cnuncilpmident
Bi'lwikon to do that, do not abuse it. I well remember that diver- lim Northrup
each of us is a drummer in this
sity represented Amos and Andy for black people, the A member of the Anishnabe
tradition. Every community is a drummer in this tradi- Cisco Kid and Poncho for Hispanics, the Lone Ranger from the Fond Du Lac reserva-
tion. It is our challenge and our responsibility, those tion northern Minnesota, Jim
and Tonto for Native Americans and Charley Chan for
who have been blessed with the opportunity, the Northrup is a poet, writer, story.
Asians. We have all those populations here today. We teller and basket-maker who
knowledge, to understand this communications enter-
don't need to abuse. If we have access and diversity, shares his experiences as a
prise and to take that knowledge back to the commu- then let those cultures speak for themselves as they Native American and Viet Nam
nity so that each drummer truly can be heard. But veteran. His work is syndicated
truly are.
access itself has a story to tell and nobody else can tell throughout the country. He is
the winner of the prestigious
your story the way your story must be told.
Lake Superior Contemporary
Your story is one that opens the doors of opportunity Continued on the following pages Writers Award.
by which we have citizen participation, citizen involve-
CTR July/August 1992 7
Doug E. Fresh Seen an island, one I thought I'd seen before
'was going to ask the guide
3ut Iforgot his name
m here to explain the relationship between rap
%~tlsaidit ain't nothin', all islandsare thesame
and storytelling and how rap music is benefi-
:ial to everyone here today. Alot of people have a mis-
shame, whose to blame
conception of what rap music represents. Rap goes
%r that inside shame
back as far as Africa before it was called Africa. And it
9ut then I foundout that Gorke Island was the name
goes back in America to a group of brothers known as
\im to proceed with the mystery
the Last Poets who used it to explain things that were
")the hidden, forbidden, history
going on in society concerning racism and arguments
Vow Gorke island was the last place the slaves was
and struggles between brothers and sisters all over the
brought
world. What we're doing right now is nothing new.
Before taken to America, soldand bought.
Future Editorial Ran is one dimension o.f a wh.ole c.ultur.e and a whole 'could feel it in theair when my feet touched land
movement known as hin hon. Hio hoo is a form of
Themes Chosen To be the first rap group to rock
ivin', it's a stylin', it's a form
Africans
Themes for future CTRs life, it's an expression ...a n
Our distant brothers
were chosen at the expression of the streets and
Great, great grandmothers
national convention. of theghetto.
To one another is you Isalute
They include Access Out of hip hop came rap.
Because a man without history is
Diversity; Emerging And there are different dimen-
like a tree without roots
Technologies ;C ommunity sionsofrap. It can go into Rock,
Communications Coiiabor- Country, R & B, and Gospel. It is
You know I took mea trip to Afri-
ations ;A ccess b Democ-
one of the only forms of music
ca
racy; Access Why & How;
that can be diluted into all differ-
A seven hour tripfrom Ameri-ca
and the Convention.
ent forms.
The editorial board wei- IGotofftheplaneand whatdidl
I see public access as a vehicle
comed new members Larry
for the number one form of
Beer, Bob Devine, Vei music - rap. A lot of rap artists Some brothers and sisters who
Wiiey, and Information
have a say in childrens' lives and
Services Committee Chair
the decisions they make outside of
Paula Maniey. Special
the family structure. I'm going to
thanks to outgoing mem-
use my force to the fullest to try
bers Rick Hayes, Tom Kar- A lot of mosauitoes and a
and help any kid.
win and Martha Schmidt. whole lot offlies
Young ones tried to persuade
Check this out..J'm going to take
you to buy
you all on a trip.
1993 Convention TO feed their families, so no
oCuituralD iversity: You knowltook mea trip toAfri-ca
Ofhunger, shelter, clothes, or starvation
Weaving Common A seven how trip from Ameri-ca
But in theghetto it's thesamesituation
Threads" is the theme for Igot offtheplaneand whatdidlsee
Over big water
the 1993 Convention. The Some brothersandsisters who looked like me
So far 1r oam
rich and varied ethnic her-
To find my way back home
itage of Atlanta will pro- Warm greetings
To find my way back home
vide the backdrop for this Hellos, hi's
To find my way back home
Important event. As we A lot of mosquitoesanda whole lot offlies
become more multi-cut- Young ones tried to persuade you to buy Larry Johnson
turai, it is critical that we To feed theirfamilies, so no onedies
understand the role access Ofhunger, shelter, clothes, or starvation
plays in expressing diver- But in theghetto it's thesamesituation Ela'me [Wynnel and I are going to join the advisory
sity. 1993's convention Over big water committee on a cultural environment movement,
will stress the importance Sof ar Iroam which is being spearheaded by George Gerbner out of
of each voice as a "thread To find my way back home Annenberg Communications School. For many years
in the social tapestry.
we used a quote in our storytelling classes from one of
The Southeast Region
Now I woke up about two in theafternoon George's speeches that went "whoever tells the stories,
welcomes the opportunity
In the middle ofDecember controls how children grow up" and unfortunately
to serve as host for this
Thatfelt likeJune television is telling most of the stories nowadays. He
international gathering.
Igoton a bus has gotten a little bit more radical with this new cul-
For more information con-
Then all of us tural environmental movement. The manifesto starts
tact David Vogei(615)
Caught a boat with "the unfortunate thing today is that most of the
521-7475 or Chris Leonard
As we listened to the jams we wrote stories are being told by multinational corporations
[phone].
As the boat with somethingto sell and we need to do something
Stayedafloat, and we was close to shore about that". I believe there is no such thing as freedom