by Rush Beesley, President, RUSHWORKS
Video is Easy.
There aren’t any ‘terrible’ video cameras these days. In fact, there are a myriad of tiny cameras with pinhole-sized lenses – often referred to as “cell phones” – that incorporate the latest technology and are available from many manufacturers.
With any current generation camera you can record (and stream) excellent HD video with minimal lighting. Overhead fluorescents provide adequate ‘soft light’ for any meeting venue. So just turn on the camera, frame your shot, and press Record.
Audio is not.
The variables involved when capturing audio in a meeting environment are many, and include
• Types of microphones (condenser vs. dynamic; wired vs. wireless; analog vs. digital)
• Audio pickup patterns (omnidirectional, unidirectional, cardioid, hyper-cardioid, ultra-cardioid)
• Local microphone control (user and/or remotely selected On/Mute)
• Audio mixers and signal processors (analog vs. digital)
• Audio power amplifiers vs. powered speakers
• Room sound support (ceiling vs. stand-mounted speakers; one or multiple speaker ‘zones’)
• Integration of Zoom, Teams and other remote meeting software with in-room sound support
• Meeting participants generally do not understand how to interact with a microphone
Here is a summary of the basics to help you make ‘sound’ decisions for your room.
Types of microphones
Condenser microphones have a higher output level and capture the important frequencies in the human voice. Since a dais or grouped tables are likely featured for the participants, ‘gooseneck’ microphones on weighted bases are ideal.
There are dozens of choices on Amazon, Sweetwater, B&H and more, but consider the Shure MX418D/C 18-inch Cardioid Gooseneck Microphone with Desktop Base and Preamp as your ‘go to’ for the room. The pickup pattern appropriately rejects ambient noise, reduces feedback potential and accommodates the widest range of participant positions.
Wireless microphones can be great problem solvers and problem creators at the same time. There is generally no local control of On/Off that your participants can easily use, so bathroom breaks must be muted by the operator. For current technology at a great price check out the Rode Wireless Go II and DJI wireless kits that provide excellent and stable wireless performance on a budget.
Audio mixers
Just select one with enough XLR inputs to accommodate your wired and wireless microphones. All will provide input level control and EQ for each input. The most important thing to know is how to set the input level for each microphone. Always follow this procedure.
- Set your mixer MASTER level fader to the 0dB position.
- Move the fader/rotary pot to the 0dB position, usually about halfway on the fader.
- With the person talking normally into the mike, rotate the input GAIN pot (+4 to -60dB) until the level meter/LED peaks before showing red. This assures an optimal signal level for that participant/microphone.
Yamaha is among many manufacturers offering excellent alternatives, some with USB output. MX12XU shown here.
Audio signal processors
Analog audio signal processors manage audio levels by limiting, compressing and expanding the signal so the level stays consistent. The manufacturer dbx has provided these solutions for decades, and they’re still viable and inexpensive, like the Model 166x. Digital Signal Processors (DSP) use intelligent algorithms to manage levels and EQ, but they’re typically more expensive and complex to use. These are often associated with Dante™ digital audio systems.
Audio power amps, speakers and powered speakers
Before powered speakers became widely available, the signal path was always from the analog output of your audio mixer (line level) to one or more audio amplifiers, typically in rack-mount configurations. The power amps are connected to ceiling and/or wall-mounted passive (non-powered) speakers. 70V speaker systems are networks of loudspeakers which are connected to an audio amplifier using step-up and step-down transformers to simplify impedance calculations and to minimize power loss over the speaker cables. Powered speakers bypass the need for amplifiers, with the line out(s) of the mixer connected to those devices. Either method is fine, but powered speakers are the easiest to setup and use in many meeting spaces.
Remote participant audio integration
‘Hybrid’ meetings, that combine participants in a room with remote meeting software, are now largely an accepted form of municipal gatherings. But managing the interactive audio is a challenge because of how the signals are routed in your audio mixer. This can cause the annoying ‘feedback’, or round-robin echo that plagues such configurations. This is solved by creating a “mix minus” output on your mixer providing at least one ‘aux’ output sending a different mix of inputs to that output. The company ZOOM makes a lot of excellent and affordable audio gear, including their LiveTrak L-8 and L-12 mixers. Not only can they record individual inputs, but they also support three independent aux mixes that resolve remote meeting audio perfectly.
Summary Understanding the variables in audio production is critical in making the proper choices and optimizing your audio-for-video, which is certainly the most important aspect of your meeting recording. But I do recommend conducting a ‘class’ with your participants before the event to demonstrate how to, and how not to, interact with their microphone. Prevention is always the best alternative to an expensive cure.
News & Events
Posted: August 18, 2022 by bduthaler
Old Bridge Television
by Aime Alonzo Station Manager
My name is Aime Alonzo. I am the newly appointed Station Manager of Old Bridge Television or as we call it, OBTV. I was pleased to learn about JAG and to meet many of its supportive members on the phone and at this year’s Eastern Video Expo. Let me tell you a little about myself and the station.
I am an actor and a member of SAG/AFTRA. In college I majored in Theater and Film Production, but life’s twists and turns took me to Law School. After earning my Juris Doctorate Degree, I worked traditional jobs, but the yearning to be creative kept nagging at me. I went back to acting. I acted in award winning independent projects, produced some independent films and directed an independent series. I also worked as a background actor on TV shows like “Law & Order”, “The Equalizer”, “FBI” and movies like “Players”, and “Your Place or Mine” which will be out soon on Netflix. I am very happy to have joined OBTV. My duties also include overseeing the township website and serving as the Business Administrator’s executive assistant.
Old Bridge Television is one of the founding members of JAG. Currently it has only two staff members, including me, the station manager, and Jacob Turchi, a media production technician. OBTV covers the township council meetings, the zoning meetings, and the planning meetings. Original shows include the “Old Bridge Outlook”, the Mayor’s PSAs, and coverage of township events like the Memorial Day Parade and Old Bridge Day to name a few. We broadcast on Altice channel 15, on Fios channel 22, and on YouTube. In addition to the cable channels, I worked on getting OBTV programming to broadcast on streaming platforms. Residents of Old Bridge can now watch OBTV on Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick and on android and iPhone apps. Before I began working at the station, I reviewed programming footage. Since my first day on the job, I made it a point to improve the look of our broadcasts. I have experimented mostly with lighting and with JAG’s help, I have explored other technical solutions until we are able to upgrade our equipment.
Our studio is comprised of a filming area and a control room. We use three JVC PROHD compact shoulder mount cameras (model number GY-HM850CHU) that are permanently mounted on Bogen tripods (model number 3068 and 3127). Attached to our cameras are JVC Zoom Servo Units and Focus Manual Units which are manipulated on our tripods. We have Swit Electronics Co. LCD Monitor Screens that we use for more flexible viewing and as a composition and framing tool. The studio has 12 ceiling mounted lights that we manipulate as needed. Five lights are Dracast LED 1500 Wi-Fi Headlights, six are Dracast LED 200 Headlights and one Dracast LED 1500 Headlight with no Wi-Fi. We also have, positioned behind two white window panels which are used as a background in the studio, four ADJ Mega Go Bar 50 RGBA LED lights that change color.
Our court room/council chamber has three PTZ cameras and a second control center right in the council chamber. This is unusual because we also have a control room which has all the equipment necessary to broadcast from. The cart holds a broadcast switcher from Broadcast Pix (1000 Panel) a microphone mixer from Shure (model M367), and a Sony joystick remote camera controller (model RM-IP10). During council meetings our technician sits at the controls in the council chamber to monitor the broadcast. In the chamber we use 14 Shure XLR Gooseneck microphones (model MX418D/C), two Shure Wireless Gooseneck Microphones (model MX890G5) and one Shure wireless handheld microphone (model DD4ULX2). The XLR microphones are used by the council members, the two wireless goosenecks are used at the guest table and the wireless handheld mic is used by residents that want to make comments during the meetings. The equipment on our cart allows us to zoom in and out to provide viewers with a closer look at each speaker. This makes for a more interesting meeting. When we film on location, we use a Panasonic 4K Portable camera (model AG-DVX200) that we attach to a LiveU Live Unit (model LU-SOLO) to enable us to broadcast live to our YouTube channel. We also use a NetGear WIFI puck (model Nighthawk MR1100) as a hot spot. We recently started broadcasting live on Facebook as well. We are always working with the Mayor and the Business Administrator to identify programming opportunities that will keep our residents informed and involved in the community. We thank the Mayor and the Business Administrator for their continued support, and we look forward to upgrading our equipment so that we may provide residents with high quality programming.
Posted: August 18, 2022 by bduthaler
Cablecast OTT Spotlight: MCTV Network
by Dana Healy, VP Cablecast Community Media
As the community media hub serving the City of Midland, Michigan, Midland Community Television (MCTV Network) enables residents to create original content to inform, entertain, and educate. Operating four cable access TV channels on Charter Spectrum and AT&T U-verse, MCTV expanded its reach last year to include Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and mobile devices as well as enhancing its streaming offerings.
MCTV’s four channels contribute to a sense of community, providing hyper-local content, transparency in government, and a free speech forum to individuals and organizations. They include Midland Government TV, Midland Public Schools TV, Community Voices (public access), and Community Messages (bulletin board content, as well as live programming beyond what is offered on the other three channels).
While the four Cablecast SX LE HD servers that MCTV purchased in 2014 were still going strong and working reliably, the station knew it needed to expand its distribution platforms to maintain and grow its audience. “We just weren’t able to reach people who were dropping cable television,” said Matt Richardson, Manager of Midland Community Television. “As a non-commercial entity, we also didn’t want to be tied to a commercial service like YouTube.”
Working closely with Tightrope’s professional services team, MCTV launched custom-branded Cablecast apps for bringing all four of its channels to viewers on three OTT streaming platforms. The MCTV Network Community Voices app was released in early 2021 for Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire. MCTV’s channels are also available on iOS and Android mobile devices through the standard Cablecast Community Media mobile app.
“Cablecast made the process of going OTT incredibly easy, with Tightrope support helping us create our branded apps,” said Richardson. “Most importantly, our viewers like the OTT option. A lot of people have downloaded our apps, and love being able to watch our channels in HD since our cable channels are limited to SD.”
At the same time as launching the new OTT apps, MCTV also upgraded the streaming capabilities on its website. VOD content is now served from Cablecast VOD via the Cablecast Reflect service (it was previously hosted on YouTube), and the addition of Cablecast Live servers enabled live streaming of all channels for the first time. MCTV is planning to upgrade to Cablecast VIO servers next year, and looks forward to reducing its equipment requirements by running the Cablecast CG bulletin board software on the same server as the station’s channel playout. The station is also switching its government meeting coverage from a dedicated municipal governance platform to Cablecast, and is excited about the rich capabilities the Cablecast platform offers for publishing civic meetings. “The ability to have VOD chapter markers and associate agendas as part of every government meeting recording is huge for us operationally, and for our viewers,” concluded Richardson.
Posted: August 18, 2022 by bduthaler
The Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
A couple weeks ago, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that millions of American households have signed up for broadband internet credits through a provision in the bipartisan infrastructure bill called the Affordable Connectivity Program. This bill passed in November of 2021 and White House officials are calling it an example of the administration’s efforts to lower costs for Americans amid the high inflation that has swept our nation.
This program provides eligible households a $30 monthly credit toward the cost of their internet service plan, or a $75 monthly credit for households living on Tribal lands. Households with an income at or below 200% of the poverty level are eligible, as well as any household with at least one member who participates in Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Pell Grants, and other programs.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated a Notice of Inquiry in mid-July to kick off the agency’s annual evaluation of the state of broadband across the country. As part of this assessment, Chairwoman Rosenworcel proposed increasing the national standard for minimum broadband speeds and proposed setting a long-term goal for broadband speed.
“The needs of internet users long ago surpassed the FCC’s 25/3 speed metric, especially during a global health pandemic that moved so much of life online,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “The 25/3 metric isn’t just behind the times, it’s a harmful one because it masks the extent to which low-income neighborhoods and rural communities are being left behind and left offline. That’s why we need to raise the standard for minimum broadband speeds now and while also aiming even higher for the future, because we need to set big goals if we want everyone everywhere to have a fair shot at 21st century success.”
This Notice of Inquiry proposes to increase the national broadband standard to 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 megabits per second for uploading. The FCC previously set the broadband standard at 25/3 Mbps in 2015 and has not updated it since. It also proposes to set a separate national goal of 1 Gbps/500 Mbps for the future.
Looking beyond speed, Chairwoman Rosenworcel also suggested that the Commission consider affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access as part of its determination as to whether broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion.
Speaking of broadband, the FCC is also hoping to reclassify the Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act. They would like to change the designation of internet access as a Title II telecommunications service and return the FCC’s authority to impose net neutrality rules.
That authority went away in 2017 when the FCC, under then Chairman Ajit Pai, reclassified it as a Title I information service not subject to mandatory access or potentially rate regulation rules.
This bill has been introduced by Senator Mikey with a companion bill by Rep. Matsui. If passed, broadband would become this Title II status and would then be subject to net neutrality, and other potential requirements
”The pandemic made clear internet access is no longer a luxury, but a necessity—and that consumers don’t just need broadband, they need to be able to hold their providers to account,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.
“After all, everyone should be able to go where they want and do what they want online without their broadband provider making choices for them. I support Net Neutrality because it fosters this openness and accountability. While I trust the FCC has the authority it needs to adopt Net Neutrality rules, legislation that helps ensure it is the law of the land is welcome.” Commissioner, Geoffrey Starks, also gave his support of the bill, “I have previously stated that the FCC’s 2015 Net Neutrality rules were the right approach. That approach is undergirded by a voluminous record and overwhelming public support, and it has been tested in court,” said Starks. “The Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act would codify just that. COVID and the last few years have proven that broadband is essential for the 21st century. This legislation is an important step that will provide certainty to consumers and broadband providers and allow everyone to move forward.”
Posted: July 12, 2022 by bduthaler
The most difficult challenge when recording meeting video: Recording Good Meeting Audio
by Rush Beesley, President, RUSHWORKS
Video is Easy.
There aren’t any ‘terrible’ video cameras these days. In fact, there are a myriad of tiny cameras with pinhole-sized lenses – often referred to as “cell phones” – that incorporate the latest technology and are available from many manufacturers.
With any current generation camera you can record (and stream) excellent HD video with minimal lighting. Overhead fluorescents provide adequate ‘soft light’ for any meeting venue. So just turn on the camera, frame your shot, and press Record.
Audio is not.
The variables involved when capturing audio in a meeting environment are many, and include
• Types of microphones (condenser vs. dynamic; wired vs. wireless; analog vs. digital)
• Audio pickup patterns (omnidirectional, unidirectional, cardioid, hyper-cardioid, ultra-cardioid)
• Local microphone control (user and/or remotely selected On/Mute)
• Audio mixers and signal processors (analog vs. digital)
• Audio power amplifiers vs. powered speakers
• Room sound support (ceiling vs. stand-mounted speakers; one or multiple speaker ‘zones’)
• Integration of Zoom, Teams and other remote meeting software with in-room sound support
• Meeting participants generally do not understand how to interact with a microphone
Here is a summary of the basics to help you make ‘sound’ decisions for your room.
Types of microphones
Condenser microphones have a higher output level and capture the important frequencies in the human voice. Since a dais or grouped tables are likely featured for the participants, ‘gooseneck’ microphones on weighted bases are ideal.
There are dozens of choices on Amazon, Sweetwater, B&H and more, but consider the Shure MX418D/C 18-inch Cardioid Gooseneck Microphone with Desktop Base and Preamp as your ‘go to’ for the room. The pickup pattern appropriately rejects ambient noise, reduces feedback potential and accommodates the widest range of participant positions.
Wireless microphones can be great problem solvers and problem creators at the same time. There is generally no local control of On/Off that your participants can easily use, so bathroom breaks must be muted by the operator. For current technology at a great price check out the Rode Wireless Go II and DJI wireless kits that provide excellent and stable wireless performance on a budget.
Audio mixers
Just select one with enough XLR inputs to accommodate your wired and wireless microphones. All will provide input level control and EQ for each input. The most important thing to know is how to set the input level for each microphone. Always follow this procedure.
Yamaha is among many manufacturers offering excellent alternatives, some with USB output. MX12XU shown here.
Audio signal processors
Analog audio signal processors manage audio levels by limiting, compressing and expanding the signal so the level stays consistent. The manufacturer dbx has provided these solutions for decades, and they’re still viable and inexpensive, like the Model 166x. Digital Signal Processors (DSP) use intelligent algorithms to manage levels and EQ, but they’re typically more expensive and complex to use. These are often associated with Dante™ digital audio systems.
Audio power amps, speakers and powered speakers
Before powered speakers became widely available, the signal path was always from the analog output of your audio mixer (line level) to one or more audio amplifiers, typically in rack-mount configurations. The power amps are connected to ceiling and/or wall-mounted passive (non-powered) speakers. 70V speaker systems are networks of loudspeakers which are connected to an audio amplifier using step-up and step-down transformers to simplify impedance calculations and to minimize power loss over the speaker cables. Powered speakers bypass the need for amplifiers, with the line out(s) of the mixer connected to those devices. Either method is fine, but powered speakers are the easiest to setup and use in many meeting spaces.
Remote participant audio integration
‘Hybrid’ meetings, that combine participants in a room with remote meeting software, are now largely an accepted form of municipal gatherings. But managing the interactive audio is a challenge because of how the signals are routed in your audio mixer. This can cause the annoying ‘feedback’, or round-robin echo that plagues such configurations. This is solved by creating a “mix minus” output on your mixer providing at least one ‘aux’ output sending a different mix of inputs to that output. The company ZOOM makes a lot of excellent and affordable audio gear, including their LiveTrak L-8 and L-12 mixers. Not only can they record individual inputs, but they also support three independent aux mixes that resolve remote meeting audio perfectly.
Summary Understanding the variables in audio production is critical in making the proper choices and optimizing your audio-for-video, which is certainly the most important aspect of your meeting recording. But I do recommend conducting a ‘class’ with your participants before the event to demonstrate how to, and how not to, interact with their microphone. Prevention is always the best alternative to an expensive cure.
Posted: July 12, 2022 by bduthaler
Switching Your Access Facility to HD
by Nick Besink, Engineer, Oradell TV
These days, more and more people are buying HD televisions, so naturally access channels want to switch to HD to accommodate it. Therefore, if you run a local access channel, where do you start? What exactly do you need to accomplish the switch to HD? What should you buy first?
If your municipality uses a statewide franchise agreement, you should be able to have them provide an HD channel.
My local access channel, OPTV, bought HD cameras first. This was a major decision to make, and a moderately expensive one – with inherent budget considerations and cases to be made for it.
Currently, many cameras have dual outputs – both HD and analog – so they can easily make the switchover without too much additional cost. If that isn’t possible, as is the case with some PTZ cameras that only have a digital output, most likely you will need to buy converters to accommodate digital-to-analog temporarily, so that your channel is able to stay on the air in the meantime.
The next item would be the switcher. There are many switchers out there, ranging in cost from a couple of thousand dollars to many thousands of dollars. The size and scope of local access facilities vary, so you will need to do your homework as to what you will need, both now and in the future. Some switchers can handle analog, SD digital, and HD digital. Of course, these will have a bigger price tag.
Another way to go is to buy a switcher that is solely digital, with the use of converters. If you have analog equipment that you want to use, but also want a new switcher, you can still buy converters that will take an analog source and output as serial digital.
Additionally, another consideration to make is that for HD broadcasting you will need to change cabling. Your choice will be either to make the cables you need, or you can buy them separately.
After the switcher, the next item to consider is the video server that feeds the cable station and OTT streaming service (if you have one). Again, all the new servers handle digital signals, both SD and HD. In the case of my station, we have Altice which requires an analog signal, so we need to use a digital-to-analog converter for broadcast to Altice customers. Verizon, however, allows for an HD signal; in our case, we also have an HD channel, which is no problem for us.
After making these decisions, over time you can consider various upgrades as needed. Most don’t require very much cost, but they all do involve time and effort to install.
Finally, as a member of JAG, you have the ability to connect with other local access facilities as to what they have done in their switchover to HD and what they plan to do. “Picking the brains” of other members is an invaluable benefit of membership. In the end, you will be very happy with the difference in picture quality with HD!
Posted: July 12, 2022 by bduthaler
Could Hulu and Netflix pay franchise fees?
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
To continue our discussion into the possibility of having OTT providers such as Hulu and Netflix pay franchise fees in exchange for their use of the public rights-of-way, along comes a couple of stories from Reuters news about this very issue.
However, bear in mind that these are not local accounts but from across the seas. The first takes place from the country of Denmark.
“Lawmakers there have agreed global TV streaming services such as Netflix and Disney must pay a levy of 6% of their revenue in the country to support local TV production. The bill comes as governments across Europe try to secure support for local TV and film production following the rapid rise in the popularity of streaming services”. The Ministry of Culture said in a statement: “Denmark must go as far as possible in providing good public service to children and young people, which can serve as a real alternative to the tech giants’ platforms and foreign content. The fragmented media landscape following the entry of global streaming services “can challenge the cohesion and democratic dialogue in our country.” **Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Mark Potter**.
The second article comes from Switzerland. “Swiss voters backed proposals to make global TV streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and Disney invest some of their revenues generated in Switzerland into domestic film-making.
Just over 58% of voters backed the proposal, according to the final result, in one of three national votes held under the Swiss system of direct democracy. Switzerland will become the latest European country to introduce such measures to support local TV and film production and boost locally-produced content.
“This result underlines the cultural importance of film-making in Switzerland,” Swiss Interior Minister Alain Berset told a press conference on Sunday.
In the binding referendum on what is being called “Lex Netflix”, international streaming services must invest 4% of the revenue they make in Switzerland in local film production. The investments can take the form of buying locally-made shows, making programmes themselves or go into an investment fund.”**Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Gareth Jones, David Evans and Emelia Sithole-Matarise**
Portugal has also passed a similar law where streaming service providers have to pay 1% of their income and Spain is due to introduce their own law in the very near future.
Hopefully these recent actions abroad will get the attention here in the states — especially among the 12 states that have litigation currently pending on this issue, or for those states thinking about
On a different subject relayed to me by Mike Wassenaar, President of the Alliance for Community Media, “The League of Women Voters at their national convention in late June authorized their chapters to support the Protecting Community Television Act.
The ACM is asking that PEG organizations that have a relationship with a League Chapter (either local or state), reach out to the chapter and request that they send a letter to the Congressional delegation suggesting that the Act is fully endorsed. What this now means to JAG is that we have a new avenue to pursue to make sure this important act for the PEG community is supported by all of New Jersey’s United States Senators and Representatives.
Posted: July 12, 2022 by bduthaler
JAG Membership Benefits
by Stephanie Gibbons, Membership Chair
When one thinks of the Membership Committee, it may be as the group that takes in information about a new member, welcomes them and helps them get acquainted with JAG as an organization. Or you may think of us as that irritating committee that pesters you to fill out a membership survey. But the Membership Committee is much more than that. This committee is continually looking at JAG from the member’s point of view… why did you join JAG? Are you getting the most out of your membership? Are there other benefits you need or want? So the committee recently when back to the drawing board as to the membership categories we offer and what is most valuable to each of the types of membership.
JAG will be celebrating its 21st anniversary soon and as most things two decades old we have changed from when we formed this organization in 2001. When we started, only municipal stations were members but we soon realized that other entities were also making and delivering content. The committee also had to look at how we deliver our content, which has vastly changed, and to examine how we integrate these new technologies and process our workflows.
While many of the JAG benefits provide assistance to all of the categories there are benefits that are specific to each category.
• For municipal & public members JAG provides assistance in communication with residents using social media. That has developed into live hybrid meetings integrating Zoom and establishing delivery to various platforms.
• For non-profit schools JAG offers schools that are producing video content ways to expand distribution of the work of students. Through the Student Symposium, JAG gives students an opportunity to attend events to explore careers in the growing field of video production.
• For Colleges/Universities members JAG allows students free attendance to the JAG Conference giving them the opportunity to visit with manufacturers and learn about the latest in video production equipment on our trade show floor. Students can attend workshop sessions regarding all the components of video production.
• For Independent Producers JAG gives them access to a wider distribution network through the JAG Connect server and JAG’s You Tube Channel, as well as the ability to find freelance support.
• For Non Profit Organizations JAG gives them access to a wider distribution network through the JAG Connect server and JAG’s You Tube Channel.
• For Organizational Vendors/Manufacturers JAG provides expanded marketing capabilities to municipalities, schools, colleges/universities, non-profit organizations and independent producers.
JAG keeps vendors and manufacturers in front of the decision makers who are responsible for evaluating and purchasing equipment.
The items listed are just one specific benefit for each category among all the benefits of your membership in JAG. One of the most frequent responses we receive from new members is how glad they are that they have someone like them to talk to about similar issues. And now they have other people to talk to about possible solutions. The Membership committee produced the chart below that provides a general overview of all of JAG’s member benefits. Please take some time to look it over as you may find that you have benefits that you did not know you had. JAG encourages its members to take advantage of all the benefits it offers. I want to thank the membership committee members for all their hard work on this project. Reviewing the member benefits is a key ingredient to JAG’s new marketing plan. We believe it will aid in the pursuit of new members in all membership categories. Finally, if you believe in what JAG does and you like to talk to other people about JAG then you can help. The Membership committee is looking for new members; we meet for approximately an hour on the first Tuesday of the month. We also do outreach to former and lapsed members to renew their membership. We need help with this outreach and this is a great way to meet and talk to other JAG members. This is a great way to get more involved in JAG, so please join our committee, JAG needs you too!
Click here to download benefits chart.
Posted: July 12, 2022 by bduthaler
Spotlight: WestMilford – Stations Come in Many Sizes
by Geoffrey Belinfante, West Milford
West Milford is one of the smallest stations to be a member of JAG. We are run by a seven-member volunteer board lead by Chairman and JAG Trustee Bob Nicholson. We operate on a meager budget of $4800 a year which we get from Altice, the one and only cable provider in town—no Fios up here in the Highlands. We do produce content on a regular basis and while the pandemic changed the kind of productions we attempt, we are slowly returning to a more normal production schedule. We continued to stream the Town Council and Board of Education meetings even during the pandemic. Since the meetings were not open to the public much of 2020 and the first part of 2021, the town council and mayor really appreciated our efforts to provide coverage of the meetings to our residents. We also produced a virtual Memorial Day message from the mayor in lieu of the traditional parade in 2020 and we carried the virtual high school graduations in 2020 and 2021. All these efforts provided a sense of normalcy in what was anything but a normal time for our town.
When things loosened up in the spring of 2021, we began to once again cover the summer concerts in town sponsored by the library and the rec department. These are outdoor events so our volunteers felt comfortable doing the work necessary to photograph them. We were even able to put together a crew to shoot the National Night Out celebration which was quite well attended and provided a proper forum for our residents to learn more about the efforts of our first responders. In September 2021, we began a regularly scheduled on camera update from the township’s recreation director highlighting the latest offerings from his department.
One of the unexpected results of the Covid 19 epidemic has been the increased awareness and appreciation of all that we do to help the town communicate with its residents. Both the mayor and the administrator have personally expressed their gratitude for the work we have done during the health crisis and they have demonstrated their appreciation with some special appropriations that have allowed us to purchase some new equipment, most notably a LiveU solo that will allow us to stream from virtually any location in town. Although we own three JVC cameras, right now we have no way of using them together for a multi-camera shoot. We are hoping to receive an additional budget allocation this year that will allow us to purchase a computer, a switcher and a wireless intercom system that will allow us to do productions where all three cameras can work together. The next big thing we need is a studio to house our equipment. Currently, it all sits in a cabinet in the council chamber.
This year WM77 won its first Award of Excellence for a show we produced on a Civil War Re-enactment at the Long Pond Iron Works here in West Milford. It turns out that the Iron Works made musket muzzles for the Union army during the Civil War which gave the production special meaning to those in town who enjoy history. We are hoping that such recognition will inspire our town council to grant our request for a switcher. Time will tell.
Like every volunteer channel, we have had trouble getting and keeping volunteers. The pandemic certainly didn’t help the situation. With only seven commissioners, only four who shoot, we can’t possible cover all the events that occur in town. After much discussion, we have developed an idea that we hope will allow more people and organizations to contribute content to the channel. With the help of the library director, the commissioners hope to offer classes to people interested in producing and editing videos for the channel. We are encouraging the use of cell phones to let parents shoot videos of various sports organizations, scout troops, Four H and Future Farmers of America organizations (yes, we have farms up here in West Milford). We may be lowering the bar on the production quality of some of the content on the station, but we feel there is great value in increasing the amount of local content on the channel. Unfortunately, we have yet to implement this idea, but when we do, I’ll let you know if it generates any new programming for the station. Although we are small in numbers, we program a channel for 24 hours a day thanks to the JAG server. We hope our efforts will lead to more local content and increase the value of the channel to the township.