autumn's blog

Open House a Big Success

Thanks to Team Davis & all who attended DMA’s Holiday Annual Open House. The Team Davis Youth sang live on KDRT and were the highlight of our evening. The place was absolutely packed, friendships were renewed and forged, and many new folks came to check out the media center. You can see Eunah Cho’s wonderful photos from the evening here.

DMA Board Updates

DMA is governed by an active and committed group of volunteers. Kate Snow served on the board for the past four years, and as its chair for much of that time. Her second term ended in December and we bid her a fond farewell, as a board member. Her work with the school district, and connections to social justice and immigration work informed DMA’s work in those areas as well. We are grateful for her time and energy shared. Thank you, Kate!

Updates from DCTV – Public Access Television

DMA ShortsCurrent DMA volunteers and producers are welcome to attend "DMA Shorts" on January 27 at 7pm. DMA Shorts will be a screening of DMA Producers (& friends) short-form completed work, current drafts, or other projects intended to provoke discussion. Look for a registration link on our DMA volunteer email list to guarantee a seat.

PSA Day: DMA knows how difficult it can be to get the word out about your programs and services—and on a budget, no less! Short, pithy, visual, inexpensive, and available online? We can help, via our annual PSA Day. This special production opportunity will help you make a 58-second public service announcement highlighting your organization and how it serves the community.  This year’s event takes place Feb. 10 & 11. Please see here for details and registration.  

Updates from DJUSD TV

DMA Production Manager Jeff Shaw works with local high- school interns each quarter to produce a variety of programming. Recent interns have included Julia and Livia Morris; Aaron Kaplan; Meg Robinson; Emily Merten;  Dylan Taylor; Willian Bezzera, and Kevin Windt. Each receives hands-on production training in digital media, and gains experience in the field recording a variety of school-based productions. Our interns were busy last month recording a variety of band and symphonic productions at the middle and high schools.

Car Donations

One particularly effective and easy way to support DMA is through the donation of a care or boat. The Center for Car Donations processes donations of used vehicles (running or not) with proceeds benefiting KDRT. If you'd like more information, please visit here, and be sure to designate KDRT as the beneficiary.

Thank You to Our Underwriters!

We acknowledge business contributions to KDRT with brief on-air messages called underwriting. Underwriting is to community radio what advertising is to commercial radio. The difference, however, is clear: Commercial stations may air as much as 18 minutes of advertising time per hour. KDRT airs less than one minute of underwriting per hour, which means our underwriters aren't lost in a sea of commercial hype. Find out more here.

 
 

You’re Invited! DMA’s Annual Holiday Open House

It’s a party! Each year, the board and staff of Davis Media Access (DMA) throw open the doors for a festive to-do. Whatever our individual traditions this time of year, it’s great to come together and have some fun, DMA style.

This year’s open house takes place on Monday, Dec. 7, from 6-8:30 p.m. Enjoy hands-on equipment demos, a “Feedback Booth,” and as always, copious amounts of food & beverage. At 7 p.m., Team Davis’s chorus will regale us with a short set of songs. During the rest of the evening. KDRT’s DJs will spin a variety of holiday tunes.

This is our treat to you – skip dinner, bring a friend or your family, enjoy some good company, and kick off the festive season. Hope to see you there! An Evite and Facebook invitations will be launched soon. 

Say it Again: Community Media is About Community

Victims of disasters often turn to social media for updates and comfort, but what happens when Internet service is interrupted (or in poor and rural communities, where it’s inaccessible to start with)? And while those fleeing may have lost access to computers, tablets or phones, one medium that tends to stay available is terrestrial radio.

In my newspaper column published August 27th in the Davis Enterprise, I referenced the important role of local media outlets in communities when disaster strikes. Since then, two more stories have come to my attention. Over Memorial Day weekend, Wimberley, a small community located in the hill country of central Texas, was the epicenter of a record-setting flood. Homes and people were literally swept away with the floodwaters.

November Orientation Offered

Davis Media Access (DMA) offers a free orientation to its programs and services each month. This next general orientation will take place Wed., Nov. 4 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the media center, 1623 Fifth Street in Davis. DMA Studio Manager Diane Dedoshka will teach the orientation. Topics covered will include: 

 an overview of DMA’s services; information about internships, and training and volunteer opportunities available through DMA.

Vault Highlights Poe from 1989

Seasonally dark and atmospheric, the latest episode of “Davis Media Access: From the Vault” features “Lady Madeline,” a short experimental dramatization of Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher.

Yolanda Torres, a staff member at DMA’s precursor, DCTV, produced the video in 1989. It features the acting talents of Ernest Davis, Jr., and photography by Robert Schultz and Janis Takamoto.

Two Ways to Support DMA

While our annual funding appeal happens in the spring, we accept donations year round. One particularly effective and easy way is to support KDRT through car donations. The Center for Car Donations processes donations of used vehicles (running or not) with proceeds benefiting KDRT. If you'd like more information, please visit here, and be sure to designate KDRT as the beneficiary.

Another is to make a donation of any size, at any point during the year. Your contribution is much bigger than just a donation – it’s a statement that independent outlets for community voices matter. Thank you for considering DMA among your year-end giving.

Note From the Director

It’s mid-July, and on this particular day, the peasants pushed past the guards to commandeer my office. I’d be more alarmed, but the peasants are all short, around 10 years old, and remarkably good–natured. Welcome to the third of four summer youth camps at Davis Media Access (DMA). As far as I can tell, their collaborative production this week centers loosely on Shakespeare and carries an anti-bullying theme.