This column was originally published in The Davis Enterprise on Sept. 6, 2019
By Autumn Labbé-Renault
Since the Federal Communications Commission voted to tighten rules governing the franchise fees cable companies pay to cities, people are asking me how will it affect Davis, and the public, education, and government channels here — the first two of these operated by Davis Media Access, the third by the city.
In 2001, Josh Chuck and Greg Louie were roommates and students at UC Davis. Using the facilities at Davis Media Access (then called Davis Community Television), the duo produced 12 episodes of “Davision,” a college variety show.
As the Big Day of Giving – affectionately known as Big DoG—gears up for its sixth year, several local non-profits have teamed up with Sudwerk Brewing Co. to carry on a community event that focuses on fun and philanthropy.
Davis Media Access, Davis Music Festival, Davis Phoenix Coalition, and Soroptimist of Greater Davis are the combined force behind Big Day at the Dock, to be held Thursday, May 2, 2019, from 6-9 p.m. at the Sudwerk Brewing Co. Dock Store, 2001 Second Street in Davis. Davis Media Access and Davis Music Festival began organizing Big DoG events with Sudwerk five years ago, with the event growing and other partners joining over time. This year's event features a record 27 area non-profits participating.
Our Executive Director Autumn Labbe-Renault writes a monthly column on media policy and DMA's work. Check out her latest column here
As of June 30, we have met our $30,000 fundraising goal. Donations, whether by local businesses, donor-advised foundations, or individuals, keep KDRT on the air, and help support DMA's work on local elections & youth media services. We fundraise all year, but conduct our major drive during the spring months, with on-air fundraisers on KDRT in both fall and spring. DMA's donors and supporters make possible a great deal of the work we do. We appreciate you!
$1,000 & Above
Berryessa Brewing Co.
For the second year in a row, a group of local elected officials and community organizers in Davis and Yolo County will come together to generate support for those affected by the devastating fires that tore through Butte County this week.
Spearheaded by Davis City Councilmember Lucas Frerichs and Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor, the group has organized the Davis/Yolo Fire Relief Benefit, to be held Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Sudwerk Brewing Company, 2001 Second Street in Davis. Mike Blanchard & The Californios will perform from 1-2:30 p.m., and Mumbo Gumbo from 3-4 p.m. Mumbo Gumbo drummer Rick Lotter’s brother, Scott Lotter, is a Davis native and current City Councilmember in Paradise.
The event also features a live broadcast by community radio station KDRT 95.7 FM/, beer by Sudwerk, and food trucks, with a portion of bar and food sales also benefiting the event.
“The devastation in Paradise is unimaginable –they’ve lost nearly the entire city,” Frerichs said. “A year ago we came together and raised $30,000 (in gift cards and monetary donations) in one afternoon for Sonoma/Napa fire victims. I’m confident Davis and Yolo will now help our neighbors to the north in their greatest time of need.”
Saylor added that, “Sadly, we’re getting good at this kind of event. Many of us have friends and family in the areas hit so hard by the current fires, so it’s personal. The people of Paradise are our neighbors, and they face utter devastation where their homes once were. This is what our communities in Yolo do when we learn of this kind of suffering.”
Davis Media Access (DMA) has produced a series of “Meet the Candidates” and Pro/Con statements for local ballot measures for the Nov. 6, 2018 election. Currently celebrating its 30th year, DMA is the non-profit community media & technology center supporting local content creation, archiving and distribution via television, radio and the Internet. DMA operates DCTV Public Access Channel 15, DJUSD Educational Access Channel 17, and KDRT-LP, 95.7 FM.
“Coverage of local elections is core to DMA’s mission of strengthening community through media, and a partnership benefit we offer to our city and community,” said Executive Director Autumn Labbé-Renault. She notes that because DMA is the only media center in Yolo County, they provide this service for contested races countywide when possible.
Under the direction of DMA’s Studio Manager Diane Dedoshka, this election cycle DMA has produced the following:
As resources allow, DMA will also record and air various election forums. Due to the limited amount of local content this cycle, DMA will not produce a program on election night. Labbé-Renault said links to individual segments, as well as a schedule of upcoming airdates are available at https://davismedia.org/election There are easy linkages from each video for sharing the content online.
Beginning later this month, the Yolo County Library is hosting a series of technology focused workshops at three of its branches. Attendees will learn how to use GoPro Hero 6 cameras, how to edit recordings, and add sound tracks to create a short movie. GoPro cameras will be available to Yolo County Library cardholders in good standing for limited borrowing between workshop dates.
How to get involved – attend an Orientation!
Curious about KDRT, DCTV or DJUSD Channel 17, and want to learn how Davis Media Access can help you further your goals? Plan to attend one of our General Orientations!
Orientations last about an hour and include the history of Davis Media Access, a tour of the facilities, and information on how to get involved.
Anyone is welcome to attend an Orientation, but to use the facility for your own productions you must live, go to school, or volunteer at an organization in Davis, CA. Davis Media Access does not charge for the use of our equipment and facilities but attending a General Orientation is mandatory.
This month’s session is Aug, 15, 2018 6:30 p.m. Register here. You may drop into the session, but reservations are appreciated.
DCTV Television Studio Workshop
August 22, 2018 3:30-5 p.m.
Training for how to crew for a DCTV television production. You will learn how to operate a studio camera, floor manage, and run the audio board in the control room. You’ll also learn how to set up and tear down the studio for a production, including the proper stowing of cables, configuring lighting, setting up microphones, and flipping the On-Air switch! Hands-on demonstration w/ Q.& A. Please wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing! Free, but registration required.
It is four hours till we flip the switch that will put Davis’ new community radio station on the air. I’m in charge of the launch party, and tending to many last-minute details, when I see him—a tall, rangy man with a kind face. I’d met him some weeks before at an outreach event for KDRT, and he told me he and his wife had just moved to Davis from New Mexico. He’s now strolling towards me, introducing his wife, and they tell me they’re here to help.
And help, they did. As I recall, he stepped in and helped with sound that day, and she did what she does best – made connections with bands and community members. This memory is from a golden September day nearly 14 years ago—Sept. 24, 2004—as we prepared to bring community radio station KDRT on the air for the first time. The man was Jim Buchanan; his wife, Diane Crumley. Little did I know then what they would mean to KDRT, to the community, or me, and that 14 years on, we’d still be working and planning together.
Jim’s radio show, “Live Tracks,” was one of the original shows on KDRT, and he broadcast continuously on Thursday nights until taking a brief hiatus this year. (Good news for local music fans, though—as of two weeks ago, he’s back on the airwaves Thursday nights from 7-9). “Live Tracks” has always highlighted the countless live, local performances that Jim diligently records. As an exacting audio engineer, these shows simply won’t air if Jim doesn’t feel the audio is just right.
Both Jim and Diane have played many roles within KDRT and Davis Media Access over the years—DJ, producer, operations staff, committee member (Jim); committee member, board member, fund raiser, and community organizer (Diane). Jim also helps his brother, Bill Buchanan, produce his long-running public affairs show, “Davisville” on KDRT.
Together, they’ve been a steady presence on the first Thursday of every month at the Davis Odd Fellows’ Thursday Live! music shows in downtown Davis. Jim helps with the sound checks and the audio, while Diane tables at the back of the hall and reps KDRT and Davis Media Access. Month in and month out, year after year, they are such a fixture that co-organizer Juelie Roggli never fails to mention them by name.
If this is your first visit to our website, welcome, and thanks for visiting.
Davis Media Access (DMA) is a non-profit community media & technology center currently celebrating its 30th year of serving Davis and environs. Elsewhere on this website you can read about what we do; the purpose of my message here is underscore why we do it.
DMA’s community-centered work connects us to what matters: newsmakers, schools, families, youth, teachers, local elections, policy makers, community activists, neighborhoods, social justice activists, other non-profits, businesses, libraries, veterans, senior citizens, musicians, artists, and more.
Teaching people to create media, and providing a vibrant community learning center with a mind-boggling array of services, is what DMA has done for 30 years. Our work is made possible by the City of Davis, the Davis Joint Unified School District, and generous community supporters.
These are weird and woolly times for media nationally, which ups the imperative to support truly community-based, independent media outlets in the precious few places where they still thrive. This is what DMA and KDRT do, and it’s what we stand for. I invite you to explore the website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter @dmafeed and Instagram.
Davis Media Access — Many Voices, One Community
Autumn Labbe-Renault, Executive Director
Davis Media Access (DMA) will produce a live, election-night program on June 5, 2018 highlighting the Davis City Council race and local ballot measures.
Davis Media Access, Davis Music Festival and Davis Phoenix Coalition are the combined force behind “Big Day at the Dock” to be held Thursday, May 3, 2018, from 6-10 p.m. at the Sudwerk Brewing Co. Dock Store, 2001 Second Street in Davis.
Big Day at the Dock features live music by local bands, information tables and giving stations from a wide variety of non-profits, a BBQ by Davis Firefighters, a photo booth, and of course the beer for which Sudwerk is famous. The event is an all-ages venue.
"Non-profits do transformative work across diverse interest areas. Big missions and tight budgets are the norm, and for the Big DoG., I didn't want us to be siloed in our efforts," said Autumn Labbe-Renault, executive director of Davis Media Access. Along with Kyle Monhollen and Gloria Partida of Davis Phoenix Coalition, Labbe-Renault is organizing an event that now includes nearly a dozen local non-profits: Cool Davis; Davis Arts Center; Davis Media Access ;Davis Music Festival; Davis Phoenix Coalition; Davis Shakespeare Festival; International House of Davis; Yolo County SPCA; The Pence; Yolo County CASA, and Yolo Land Trust.
Please join us. Come hungry and thirsty, come to learn about non-profits with whom you may not be familiar, and help make the Bog Day of Giving 2018 one marked by generosity and conviviality. Questions? Contact Autumn.
