Mayor Announces Members of New Cable-Access Committee

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn announced Friday the three members of the “Community Access TV Committee,” which will work to determine the future structure of public, educational and government access television in the city.

McGlynn appointed the following members:

• Father Chip Hines, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Medford, who also co-hosts Catholic TV’s movie review show “Spotlight,” will serve as the committee’s chairman.
• Frederick Laskey, executive director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, who formerly co-hosted a show in Medford about energy issues
• Allison Goldsberry, webmaster for the Medford Public Schools and City of Medford, who also teaches web design at Medford High School and is in charge of the school’s educational access TV station

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The committee is tasked with developing “the guiding principles for the future of community access television” in Medford,” according to a Friday release from the mayor’s office. The committee will present its recommendations to the mayor by Memorial Day.

“I look at this as an opportunity to search for fresh approaches to community access television that are based on a foundation of transparency and inclusiveness and that also allow for the fullness of artistic and individual expression,” McGlynn said in a statement.

Medford Community Cablevision Inc.’s Board of Directors voted Sept. 30 to dissolve as a corporation and relinquish control of Channel 3 Medford.

The committee’s plan should include educational and community programming, locally produced content, broadcasts of public meetings and events, increased learning opportunities for students interested in media production, community classes and enhanced online video capacity, according to the release.

The committee’s first organizational meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, in the Medford High School library.

Meetings seeking public input will be announced following the first meeting.  The committee will also have an email address and other important forms of contact to receive public feedback and comments.  These will also be announced following the committee’s first meeting.