DMA is bidding fond farewell to two of our board members. We thank Glenda Drew, who wrapped a two-year term in January, for her passionate advocacy for community media, and for generously sharing her skills in all things graphic design.

We thank Ron Clement, who is wrapping his second two-year term this month. Ron has served as both our chair and our treasurer during his time on the board, and has done much to help ensure that DMA’s financial house is in order. He’s also hosted numerous episodes of “In the Studio,” and famously co-hosted the first two years of DMA’s Annual Thank-a-Thon, along with Paul Sheeran.

As your community media center, Davis Media Access (DMA) works with many individuals and organizations to tell their stories—stories that create the fabric of our shared life in community. Here’s how participating in PSA Day at DMA can benefit your organization:

·       Your PSA will highlight your organization, as well as provide information on how to contact you via your website and phone number

·       Your PSA will air throughout the year on DCTV channel 15 on Comcast, and Menu 99 on ATT U-verse, on KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis, and in DMA’s online archives

I'm fielding questions this morning about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit's decision on the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) net neutrality laws, which has many heralding the death of an open Internet.

Net neutrality has been a pitched battle between commercial telecommunications providers and consumer advocates for years now, and today's ruling hardly surprises me. But It's got me thinking about a lot of things, including that last vestige of free media, public access, and the importance of community broadband here in Yolo County.

But regarding the Court's decision today, while the decision was not a good one, I think it's more accurate to call net neutrality mostly dead at this point.

Today's the day! The Insect News Network and Davis Media Access invite you to tune in for the Bee-a-Thon 3 on August 21, 2013, a free multimedia event that takes intelligent humans everywhere on a deep dive into the Microcosm and the wonderful symphony of pollination. The Bee-a-Thon 3 kicks off with a fund-raising luncheon at Moticello Seasonal Cuisine from noon-1, folowed by a full day of multi-media interviews, and an after-party on DMA's Backlot.

All these wonderful folks are coming in to share a few words about their experience with DMA and the value of community media--and who knows what else!  Remember to find us live on DCTV Comcast 15 and on KDRT 95.7 FM or kdrt.org tonight between 6-8 p.m. PST. Thanks to all who are participating and dropping by. If you'd like to pop by for a slice of cake or a glass of wine, please do join us at 1623 Fifth Street here in Davis.

By Autumn Labbe-Renault

Next week, Davis Media Access will launch its annual fundraising campaign. I’d like to share my take on why community-based, participatory media matters and what donations to DMA support.

Davis Media Access (DMA) will stage a live "Thank-a-Thon"  Wed., May 1 from 6-8 p.m. The program will air live on DCTV Channel 15 on the Comcast system in Davis and also on KDRT 95.7 FM. 

The live show will feature a wide range of community producers and volunteers from both DCTV and KDRT, as well as representatives from community partners, non-profits, and elected officials. DMA Board Chair Ron Clement and Vice Chair Paul Sheeran--DCTV and KDRT programmers, respectively--serve as co-hosts for the live show.

“Canada’s Tar Sands are perhaps the most visually compelling example of all that is wrong with our addiction to fossil fuels and why we must change or face dire consequences for all life on Earth,”Garth Lenz states in his award-winning slideshow talk, The True Cost of Oil: Images of Beauty and Devastation. 

Over the holiday break, DMA's staff and volunteers began the large task of relocating our large media library--a collection of nearly 10,000 titles dating back to the early 1980s--from its physical space upstairs. The videos span many different formats and with assistance from interns, we are slowly digitizing them. In the meantime, they will be boxed and stored to free up space upstairs for other uses. A shout-out and thanks to DMA staffer Alex Silva-Sadder for managing the process,  and to volunteers Thomas xxx, Bryce Parker, Frank Dogg, Richard Sequest, and Cliff Gamble. 

The days are ticking away, but if you're still making decisions about your year-end charitable giving, please consider making a gift to Davis Media Access. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit and your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

As the year closes, I'm sifting through some favorite memories from 2012. At the start of the year, we relaunched the new television studio and began training community programmers again. By spring, we were ramping up for a busy election season on the local front, and attending and tabling at many community events. Summer found us ushering dozens of kids through Kid Vid and Animaniacs camps, teaching them valuable technical skills, as well how to have fun with them.

By Autumn Labbé-Renault

This column was originally published Nov. 29, 2012 in The Davis Enterprise.

Davis Media Access (DMA) does a lot of good work in our community. We’re proud of that, and looking forward to sharing what we’re about by throwing open the studios for a Holiday Open House.

This column was originally published in The Davis Enterprise Oct. 25, 2012

Years ago, our organization ran a single public access channel and used it to help individuals and organizations who didn’t have access to media. Our emphasis was on maintaining a free speech platform, with access for all. It was good work, and I look back and can’t help but think things were simpler then.

Davis citizens are a mobile bunch, and this means we sometimes have to say good-bye. We offer a fond farewell to DJ AA and Vincent with “Empire Radio,” who have moved on to the Bay Area. Ted and Josh of “The Recollection” are on hiatus at present but rumor has it they plan to return in January. Congratulations to Ted, who welcomed his first son this summer.

Davis Parent University

Davis Media Access (DMA) has recorded many of the Parent University presentations over the past few years, and thanks to the efforts of Programming Manager Alex Silva-Sadder, we are now proud to host all their information and videos in one easy-to-access place: http://dctv.davismedia.org/dpu-home