Davis Music Fest mini doc!

Over 14 iterations, the Davis Music Fest has evolved from a smallish event to one that includes 40+ bands on multiple stages across three days each June. And--the proceeds provide scholarships.

The fest is one of Yolo county’s not-to-be-missed events. DMA and KDRT-LP 95.7 FM have been proud to partner with DMF for many of those years, with KDRT volunteers and DMA staff  providing live broadcasts from both the Sudwerk Brewing Company and Armadillo Music venues.

This short film envisioned and produced by DMA Studio Coordinator Ray Orosco (he/him)--takes a look behind the scenes of the DMF XIV in 2026, and includes interviews with festival organizers, performance footage and so much more.

#indiemusic #musicfest #livemusic #davisca #yolocounty

 

Phil Cousineau speaks in Davis July 19

This Sunday, July 19, noted cultural historian and storyteller Phil Cousineau will speak at The Varsity Theatre in Downtown Davis, where he'll sign copies of his just-released book "The Wisdom of the Odyssey" (New World Library, July 2026). The event is sponsored by The Wardrobe and Avid Reader Bookstore, and runs from noon to 1:30 pm. 

A protegé of mythologist Joseph Campbell and a prolific author, Cousineau's latest book is timed to coincide with the soon-to-be-released major film production of "The Odyssey" from famed Director Sir Christopher Nolan.

In a conversation this week with DMA's Autumn Labbé-Renault, Cousineau discusses "The Odyssey" and its lasting impact, covering topics ranging from war and grief; PTSD; feminist scholarship; and how the poet Homer mapped what it means to be human. Discussion centers on how Cousineau's book provides a roadmap for understanding the epic poem's major themes and its continued relevance today. (Please note: the video says the event is Saturday July 19, but it's Sunday, July 19.)

‘Davisville’ wins national journalism award for KDRT

KDRT-LP 95.7 FM has won a national award from the Public Media Journalists Association for an episode of the public affairs program “Davisville” that addressed declining school enrollment in Davis.

“Davis faces choice between more homes, fewer schools,” broadcast in May 2025, won first place for news/public affairs programs from stations with small news operations, the PMJA said June 15.

How we serve our community

 

 

The past year has greatly underscored the importance of fact-based information in a functioning democracy. At a moment when big media corporations are failing to do their job of providing such information, the need for trusted community-based media has never been clearer.

While based in Davis, as the only community media nonprofit in Yolo County, Davis Media Access (DMA) works countywide. We’re known as a trusted, engaged partner that works to expand civic participation and fill local information gaps. Every day, we’re at work helping organizations and individuals to amplify their work, and we carry that out through six different projects:

Yolo Local, Abridged announce partnership



Community media center and public media organization forge innovative partnership

I am thrilled to share the news of Davis Media Access’s groundbreaking partnership with KVIE-–our region’s Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) station.

Last September, KVIE launched Abridged, a daily local newsletter for the Sacramento area. Now they are teaming up with DMA’s Yolo Local initiative to launch a weekly newsletter for Yolo County.  You can sign up for it here!

When I stepped into the role of executive director at Davis Media Access (DMA) almost 20 years ago, it was with a clear vision there was a different path for our organization, one based on centering our work through community partnerships versus focusing solely on bringing people to our facility.

I saw the media center as a hub, with its work carried out through various projects, and with support from many, I’ve driven the organization in pursuit of that goal, resulting in partnerships with the City of Davis; Davis Joint Unified School District; Woodland Community College; local musicians and businesses; elected officials, and nonprofits around the county.

Yolo Local was the next unfolding of this vision, rooted in a belief that DMA has a role to play in addressing the decline of local news and information that meets community needs.

This new collaboration between a community media center and a public media organization is not only extremely rare, it’s proof of both rising to meet the moment, and the need. Bringing the learnings from Yolo Local’s community-engaged needs assessment together with Abridged’s editorial framework, this partnership will serve residents with listening sessions, events and a weekly newsletter dedicated to Yolo County. Importantly, it will be free to access and driven by community input. Read the full story.

We want to get this newsletter to as many Yolo County residents as possible. Can you help? Please sign up for the Abridged Yolo County newsletter, and help spread the news through your own networks. I’m delighted to share that jesikah maria ross, who has served as Yolo Local’s advisor from the start, is on board for the start of this phase.

DMA/Yolo Local faces many challenges, including finding funding to grow this work and our capacity. But in a world where big media is failing to provide information that contributes to the health of our communities, and media at all levels is under duress, we’ve come together with KVIE/Abridged as partners committed in service to Yolo County.


Autumn Labbé-Renault

Executive Director, Davis Media Access

Local election programming now available

Under the banner of its civic information project Yolo Local, Davis Media Access (DMA) produced 15 “Meet the Candidates” statements for contested races ranging from Yolo County Supervisor to Congress, as well as position statements for ballot Measure V in the City of Davis.

DMA is the only noncommercial community media center in Yolo County, and its nonpartisan local election coverage is a free service provided to candidates and the community for over 38 years. Every election is unique, and this one saw us recording many more Congressional candidates due to the impacts of redistricting. 

Candidates who were invited to participate but did not respond include Christine Bish, Mandy Ghusar; Jimih Jones; Charles Uribe Jr.; and Richard Pan.

All content airs on Comcast Channel 15 in Davis and is available online here The following statements are available for the June 2, 2026 election:



• Meet the Candidates - June 2026 - Congressional District 4

• Meet the Candidates - June 2026 - Congressional District 6

• Meet the Candidates - June 2026 - Yolo County Supervisor District 3

• Meet the Candidates - June 2026 - Yolo Superior Court Judge, Office 1

• Davis Ballot Measure V - June 2026 - Village Farms Development (Pro/con

 

For more information please info@davismedia.org.

Yolo County Leaders Stand Together with Survivors

DAVIS--March 18, 2026--For many years, Davis Media Access (DMA) has partnered with the City of Davis on the annual Cesar Chavez celebration. In light of that, we are choosing to share this statement from a coalition of Yolo County's elected leaders.

Yolo County Leaders Stand Together with Survivors

Women's History Month and recent news about survivors of sexual abuse — including statements from Dolores Huerta and other women — calls us to speak.

We, past and present elected, leaders of Yolo County stand together in support of survivors and against sexual abuse and harassment. Huerta's statement does not condemn movements working to better humanity, nor does it diminish them. Rather, it illuminates the troubling ways that those with less power are forced to confront and navigate abuse within the very spaces meant to uplift them. We must continue working towards unity and collaboration.

As current and former elected officials, we commit to respecting and maintaining appropriate boundaries in both public and private spheres, and to holding one another accountable for our behavior and actions. No matter who the abuser is, accountability must extend across all systems and spheres. We honor the courage it takes to come forward, especially fromm communities fighting injustice, and encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses sexual abuse or harassment to do so. We also want to ensure that survivors and victims in our county know that support is available. And may we continue to work together toward gender equity and other forms of justice for farm workers and all in our schools and in our society.

In Service,

Norma Alcala, Shelia Allen, Angel Barajas, Laura Brubaker, Lea Darrah, Elizabeth Esquivel, Lucas Frerichs, Kandice Fowler, Cecilia E. Greenwald, Bibiana Garcia, Martha Guerrero, Hiram Jackson, Garth Lewis, Jesse Loren, David Moreno, Melissa Moreno, Julian Munoz, Elizabeth Moon, Donna Neville, Maria J. Olmedo, Jesse Ortiz, Gloria Partida, Xóchitl Rodriguez, Don Saylor, Albert Vallecillo, Mayra Vega, Rogelio Villagrana, Oscar Villegas, Bapu Vaitla, Jackie Wong, Mariko Yamada, Shelton Yip and Deborah B. Zavala

Empower Yolo — 24/7 Crisis Line: 530-662-1133 | 175 Walnut Street, Woodland: 530-661-6336. Free and confidential crisis intervention, shelter, counseling, legal help, and advocacy. The abuse does not have to be recent to qualify for services.

Yolo County District Attorney Victim Services — Resource counseling, referrals, and advocacy for survivors navigating the justice system. yoloda.org/victim-assistance-family-protection. Includes Cameron's Place (Yolo County DA's Office) — Trauma-sensitive services for child survivors, including forensic interviews, medical exams, therapy, and advocacy.

California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP) — Financial assistance for crime-related costs. Apply through the Yolo County Victim Witness Assistance Center or at caldoj.ca.gov/calvcp.

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline — 1-800-656-4673, available 24/7

National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233, available 24/7

Comcast changes City Channel 16 to Channel 21

If you've tuned into the City of Davis's Government Channel 16 on the Comcast system in Davis to find religious programming and you're a bit confused--you're not alone!

Conversations with Comcast staff indicate this was a planned move, though it came as a surprise to those in Davis. To date, public access Channel 15 and educational access Channel 17 are unaffected. 

Although DMA does not manage the government channel we do have a partnership with the City to record the civic meetings aired on it.

To sum up, you can find City meetings now on Comcast 21. Learn more about city meetings