SCATV celebrates access

On February 2, 2011, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

Henry Parker getting the "Volunteer of the Year" award from last year's award-winner Melitta King and Executive Director. - Photo by Peta Jinnath Anderson

By Peta Jinnath Andersen

Somerville Community Access Television (SCATV) is many things–a public access television station, a learning center, and, recently, an internet radio station. Most importantly, though, SCATV is a community hub, a place where the people of Somerville can gather for coffee and a chat.

Last Thursday’s annual membership meeting and awards night was no different–even with the snow and unplowed car parking, SCATV members tromped into the station, piling coats onto a rack before hitting up a buffet provided by local vendors. In between buffet runs, some couples danced to live guitar music while others simply relaxed, as at home at SCATV as a best friend’s house.

The awards show–standing room only–was a simple affair, with speeches by several members of SCATV and the local political scene–including US Congressman Michael Capuano, State Senator Patricia Jehlen, Somerville Communications Director Michael Meehan, and State Representative Denise Provost.

US Congressman Michael Capuano. - Photo by Peta Jinnath Andersen

“When we talk about empowerment,” said Jehlen, “we talk about giving people a voice and that’s what [SCATV] does.” Provost agreed, noting that there are many places “where broadcast media are completely state controlled to not free. [SCATV] gives access to broadcast media [so] people can put their stories out there.”

Somerville Communications Director Michael Meehan, standing in for Mayor Curtatone added that “one of the things we brag about all the time is [SCATV]. It’s one of the finest examples of what a community access organization…can do.”

A state of the SCATV speech was also given by Programming Coordinator Vaughn Simkins, who was late to the stage because he was chatting to my eighteen-month-old son over a tub of Duplo–not so out of the ordinary at the community-driven station.

Congressman Capuano followed and said, “A lot of things that we believe in are under attack and they will be under attack in a serious way in Washington in a direct way on Beacon Hill in an indirect way [through] funding issues….and they will impact a lot of things that we do. They may or may not directly impact [SCATV] but a lot of the things that you talk about on [SCATV]…

“What you do here is great for the community and it’s great for all of us but it’s also directly related to a lot of the things that go on in this community and the things that you report on, the things that you talk about, the people that you deal with many of them will be under attack in the next year. I don’t know where that’s going to go. But I will tell you that without the voice of people like you, without the voice of the community, I guess it would be all Fox all the time. And for me that wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing.”

Capuano’s speech, while seemingly dire, did end on a high note. “I particularly like the multitude of voices,” he told the crowd, “and even when I disagree I like the idea that there is a place for people to go and express their opinions and to have good debate and good open discussions on important issues of the day, and that’s what [SCATV] provides.”

Recognition of SCATV’s value isn’t limited to Somerville, though–the station recently won the 2010 national Alliance for Community Media (ACM) Hometown Award for Overall Excellence, its fifth win over the past six years.

Despite the seriousness of Capuano’s speech, the evening remained light; the room oohed and ahhed as snippets of the award-winning shows aired on a screen, and dissolved into laughter as a family of four won four of the raffle prizes–one each for mom, dad, son, and daughter.

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