In this era of dangerously diminished local news coverage, NewTV‘s streaming of municipal and school meetings, candidate forums and Jenn Adam’s long running weekly Newton News program have been the only constant, consistent, source of local reporting.
But that could all change pending a possible rule change before the FCC that could dramatically reduce the cable fees NewTV and cable access stations nationwide depend on for the majority of their budgets, the Globe reports.
Globe reporter Andy Rosen actually singles out NewTV as a station that has been planning to decrease dependency on cable revenue for years (disclosure I used to sit on NewTV’s board of directors).
But Rosen notes that those cable fees we all pay (or, more precisely, the fees of us who still have cable TV pay) “still makes up about 75 to 80 percent of the organization’s $1.6 million operating budget.”
Executive director Robert Kelly said he believes the organization will be able to weather the proposed FCC change, but he is rushing to adapt to the change that is coming.
“We still want to be around. Newton residents will want us to be around. Government meetings still need coverage. People still need to express themselves,” he said. “So where do they go?”
I don’t have cable but rely on NewTV’s streaming to watch council meetings. I hope we can figure out how to fund NewTV in a sustainable way as a (mostly) online resource, since all signs are pointing to Cable TV’s demise.
@Newtoner – One easy way you can support NewTV even if you don’t have cable is to become a member. Huge added bonus – members get access to all sorts of free classes , and equipment- best deal in Newton
A comment was removed because it quoted a full news article.
Media sites depend on traffic and subscriptions to fund their journalism. For that reason we don’t republish full articles here, only excerpts.
Greg, your statement (per your initial posting) that Newton faces a “dangerously diminished local news coverage” is certainly well taken, which problem would only be compounded by the loss of NewTV as you raise. That makes sites such as Village 14 all the more valuable.
Since it is understood from above that posting of full news articles is apparently prohibited, albeit excerpts are OK, I’m assuming posting an article’s link (with attribution of the source) is OK — as has been the practice on Village 14.
In any case, since local news coverage of what seems the most significant lawsuit in recent Newton history, with School Committee, Superintendent, School Principals and several teachers named as defendants (ironically drawing some national attention in non-local news sources), contrasted with so far very sketchy coverage in the online TAB’s “Wicked Local”, perhaps it would be pertinent and informative for readers, simply to have posted the “Release” issued by Plaintiffs’ affiliate organization — as prime example, especially on controversial matters, as to just what Newton readers are missing by the, as you state, “dangerously diminished local news coverage”:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2019
NEWTON RESIDENTS SUE CITY’S SCHOOL COMMITTEE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST JEWS AND ISRAELIS
Ideological/Political Curriculum Teaches Propaganda Instead of Facts
NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS. On March 12, 2019, Newton taxpayers filed a lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court against the Newton School Committee, Superintendent of Schools David Fleishman, the principals of the Newton high schools, and certain high school history teachers. Plaintiffs are asking for a court order that would compel Newton school officials to stop indoctrinating students with anti-Semitism, bigotry against Israel, and Islamist religious dogma as part of the high school history curriculum. This suit was made necessary because the embattled school administration is shielding its teachers from scrutiny and refusing to supervise what is being taught in its classrooms. The taxpayers claim that Newton Public Schools (NPS) has deliberately failed and refused to comply with the Equal Rights Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution, with the Massachusetts Student Anti-Discrimination Act, and with civil rights regulations that require schools, through their curricula, to encourage respect for the human and civil rights of all individuals regardless of race, identity, religion, color, sex, and national origin.
The extensively documented 469 page legal complaint, available here, details the lengthy history of Newton residents’ efforts to have NPS address and correct the factually flawed teaching. Plaintiffs and their attorney were provided with an enormous volume of factual documentation by Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT) Executive Director Ilya Feoktistov, whose investigations over the past several months formed the basis of this action.
“In looking for the sources of the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel bigotry in the Newton curriculum, we discovered a few bad apple teachers who view their teaching positions as giving them license to promote their personal political agendas,” said Mr. Feoktistov. “We are also looking closely at a common pattern with these politicized teachers — most, if not all, have taken professional development courses developed with foreign funding by the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.”
“Newton history teachers and school administrators must think either that anti-discrimination laws do not apply to them, or that these laws do not protect their Jewish and Israeli students,” said the President of APT, Charles Jacobs. “There is no academic freedom to brainwash students with fake history and pro-Arab or anti-Semitic propaganda that is, these days, alarmingly too common on the left in America.”
Evidence described in the complaint shows how Newton teachers teach that Jews and Christians deliberately forged their holy texts to contradict the Muslim Qur’an; that Zionism has “little connection” to Jewish history in “Palestine;” that the Jews took advantage of the Holocaust to gain sympathy for Zionism at the expense of “Arab plight;” and that the Israelis treat the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews. After being taught all this, students are asked to debate whether there should be a one- or two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Karen Hurvitz, attorney for the taxpayers, stated that her clients are not asking for money damages, even though defendants have certainly caused years of incalculable damage by their insistence on teaching impressionable students materials that slander Israel and Jews. “This is the type of teaching that leads to anti-Semitism — and it has. The taxpayers here are merely asking NPS to perform their duties and obey the law, which requires that their curriculum encourage respect for all people. Education should be based on fact, not on stereotypes and propaganda.”
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I urge everyone in Newton to join Newtv. The membership fee is extremely inexpensive. It is a little more than a week worth of your morning coffee. The best bargain in the city. Become a member. It’s FUN It’s local.
Here’s the link for NewTV membership
https://newtv.org/join/membership-system
Only $25 for individuals, $50 for family membership.
Thanks Ginny & Meredith, joining NewTV does look fun and local, and is certainly a bargain (and of course shows support).
I’m joining!
Thanks again, as well to Greg for posting on this issue.
Congratulations to Paul Sears and Barbara John, They swept the Red Carpet last night winning three awards! A spectacular event. Food was delicious, too.
Hear, hear! Congrats to Barbara and Paul last night. The ceremony took place on the new soundstage—very impressive! We in Newton are so very lucky to have this treasure of an organization available to us. I became a member 11 years ago, and it’s been a wonderfully life-changing experience. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I have taken classes for free or a nominal fee, that has taught me studio production, camera technique,editing with Adobe Premiere software,
and many others. The classes are taught by the professional staff at the station and are of a very high caliber. It has allowed me to get involved in the production of several shows that tape there, and see them broadcast on the NewTV channels. There is a regular gathering of members, one takes place today, and we review and give feedback on each other’s work. NewTV provides staff for the taping of city hall meetings which are broadcast on the government channel. Jenn Adams
excellent Newton News is a great resource for video and interviews of local interest. I consider membership to be best bargain in Newton.