Written by Katelyn Billings, Director of Communications and Engagement
Democracy works best when people see their power in it. Helping people use their power in our democracy — through sharing opportunities to testify at hearings, advocate for funding, impact regulations, and more — is one of the biggest parts of my job (hence “engagement” in my title). It is an opportunity that I feel privileged to have each day.
The stars for democratic engagement aligned on July 15, when our office welcomed nine leaders from community media outlets to the State House for a day of advocacy.
Six of the nine visitors came from Athol-Orange Community Television — including its new Executive Director, Liz Walber, and Board of Directors President Cheryl Calcari — and I was thrilled to also welcome Bella Levavi, Executive Director of Greenfield Community Television, into the mix.
What an opportunity for democratic engagement. In advance of their visit, we set up meetings, printed out room numbers for their office visits, and ordered a lot of pizza.
The group hit the ground running with stops at the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means to advocate for An Act to modernize funding for community media programming. Filed by Senator Jason Lewis and Representatives Joan Meschino and Margaret Scarsdale, the bill would consider a new assessment on streaming services (alongside cable) to help fund the Commonwealth’s 250+ public access television stations.
From there, the group sat down with Jo, Representative Susannah Whipps, and Curtis from Senator Peter Durant’s office to make their case. Bella spoke to the local programming GCTV brings to the airwaves. Matt Boughton shared how his son’s internship at AOTV pulled him into board service and set his child on a new path. And Jonathan Boschen of Frontier Community Access Television lit up talking about the young people his station trains to create media and connect with their neighbors, and how that work has launched carriers in this space.
After their conversation, they toured the State House, complete with a stop on the Senate floor and photos from the Senate balcony (featuring the smoky air from the Canadian wildfires).
Then it was back to business: a visit with the Senate President’s office, then over to the House floor, where Representatives Susannah Whipps and Jon Zlotnik gave the group a warm introduction.
Before piling into the van for the ride home, the group thanked each bill sponsor personally for championing modernized funding for these vital community outlets.
When the day was over, here’s what I found myself reflecting on thanks to their clarion call: in so many municipalities, community access television isn’t a nice extra. It’s the only camera in the room at the select board meeting. The only record of the school budget debate. The only way a resident learns about a community meeting.
That’s the bricks and mortar of local democracy. And it deserves modernized investment from the state. I was glad to have a small part in elevating their advocacy.
On a personal note, visits like these are my favorite part of my job. Days like this remind me that democracy isn’t just an ideal we chase, it’s something we build, one visit, one conversation, one bill at a time. I relish the opportunities we have to remind folks of the power their voices have in bringing about the change they want to see. I can’t wait for all the visits to come.
