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.
Please join us here on Monday, Dec. 3, from 6-8 p.m. You can record an announcement for KDRT, learn about our programs and services, meet some of your favorite KDRT DJs, network with community producers and activists, and get to know a bit about your community media center. We’ll provide some good food and beverages, and we hope you’ll come and help create the fun vibe that DMA is known for. The event is free, and all ages are welcome. DMA is located at 1623 Fifth Street in Davis. Parking is limited but generally available along Fifth Street in the evenings.
One example of what we do is work with community organizations to document, archive and promote their work. All non-profits and community groups struggle with having enough resources to leverage their good work. Do a great event, but then what? The buzz fades, and … it was a good event. Record it, make it part of DMA’s community archive, embed it on a website, and then you really have a way to generate sustained interest and information sharing.
One group we’ve worked with over the past few years is Davis Parent University. This community-wide parent education committee is composed of representatives from the DJUSD (K-12). Its mission is to provide high-caliber events and programs to our community’s parents, caregivers, teachers, and administrators. DMA has recorded a number of Parent University, presentations over the past few years, and thanks to the efforts of DMA 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.
You’ll find presentations there by such notable speakers as Liz Applegate; Mitchel Adler, Christine Carter, Ashley Merryman and Robert Emmons. With their next presentation just days away (How to Help Your Kids Manage Stress & Anxiety, Wed. Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m. in the Harper Junior High MPR), this was a timely example to share!
And in other news…Producer/Host Bill Buchanan just wrapped the 100th episode of his popular public affairs show, “Davisville,” broadcast on KDRT 95.7 FM. Buchanan recalls, “the first one was a show on the Davis economy, with Sarah Worley, Terence Lott, Mark Rutheiser, and Anthony Costello. Terence advanced the idea of having a town tomato fight as a kind of festival, although the show was also a serious look at economic issues in Davis.
“Having done 100, the experience confirms my hunch that Davis has an unending well of interesting stories, with interesting people, and a lot of engaging information emerges if you just ask,” he said. “I love it when we get beyond the conventional and surface-level observations. What's it like to be a Republican in Davis? Cold Shot has played for Davis audiences for decades -- what have they learned from the experience? Why did a former inmate of Alcatraz visit Davis to talk to the UC Davis Entomology Club?
Buchanan adds, “The show is a lot of work, and it's fun beyond measure to record them with my brother (‘Live Tracks’ Host Jim Buchanan).” Find Davisville on the air Monday 5:30-6 p.m. with replays Wednesday 8:30-9 a.m. and Saturday 7:30-8 a.m. Congratulations to the brothers Buchanan on a true community effort.
For more information about DMA, please email info@davismedia.org or call us at (530 757-2419.
Autumn Labbé-Renault is executive director for Davis Media Access, an organization providing access to, and advocacy for, local media. She writes this column monthly. Find out more about DMA at http://davismedia.org.