The thought of my community without local television is a disconcerting one. This past year I’ve held my breath, hoping that Waterloo Region would not be affected by the budget cuts which have befallen broadcasters in communities not far from my own. Now, with local television under review by the CRTC, the reality is that we too could be burdened with budget cuts, or worse -- community television termination.
Television is one of several ways we stay connected with our local community. Even though technology has ushered in new ways for audiences to gather news and entertainment, I believe that local television is a fundamental part of our identity as a community.
Local content acts as an equalizer that puts our stories on par with nationally broadcasted media. We are made to feel that our lives are newsworthy and no less important than everything else we watch on TV. At the same time, watching our friends, neighbors and community leaders at the forefront of our televised news and entertainment speaks to us on personal level. It also reinforces that we as citizens have agency in the media we consume-- we are just as much a part of the news as we are in producing it.
“The future of local TV and the financial health of the broadcast television industry in Canada may rest with community television, and initiatives to reinforce the creation and distribution of local community programming.” mediacastermagazine.com
Have you given your two cents yet?
