JAG Joins the Alliance for Community Media

  by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair

Members of JAG, I am pleased to announce officially that we have become an Organizational Member of the ACM – the Alliance for Community Media.  The ACM’s mission is closely related  to that of our own organization.  They advocate, promote and preserve the rights of communities to have access to media training, production, distribution, civic engagement and education in support of diverse community voices.  This is achieved through Public, Educational and Government Access channels and other forms of media.

One of their mottos, that can be found on their website — www.allcommunitymedia.org — explains quite clearly where their passion lies in the PEG world “In order for democracy to flourish, people must be active participants in their government, educated to think critically and free to express themselves.”

“I want to welcome the Jersey Access Group as a member of the Alliance for Community Media. If you don’t know ACM, we are a member association that’s devoted to the health and success of community television operations across the US – including all forms of Public Educational and Government Access channels.

What does this connection mean for JAG?  It certainly strengthens the networking connections and information resources available to the group – ACM member organizations include non-profits, local governments of all sizes, and schools and colleges in 44 states. And we are seeking to expand that network as we reach out to more and more of the 1700 or so organizations that run PEG channels in all 50 states.

And it means stronger representation of your operations as we do work in Congress and the courts.  For example, ACM holds monthly briefings about public policy developments that affect community channels that will inform your work.  And we are currently doing Congressional outreach work in partnership with JAG to help pass the Protecting Community Television Act (HR 6219/ S 3361).

If you want more information about the educational and training we do, or want to know more about ACM, go to www.allcommunitymedia.org

I look forward to working with JAG more closely in the coming year!

Mike Wassenaar,

Alliance for Community Media

mwassenaar@allcommunitymedia.org

The ACM represents over 3,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access organizations and community media center throughout the country.  The ACM works to protect the interests of these access centers and those who use PEG facilities and equipment to advance their causes through cable television and the Internet.  The Alliance for Community Media has been around for a long time – they were founded in 1976.  I would like to welcome them as well into the JAG Family.  We will be working closely together for the benefit of the PEG stations throughout New Jersey.