Summary

Texas Community Media Summit

For Community Print, Radio, Television, and Internet Media

March 1, 2008 | Austin, Texas

NOTE: DRAFT 1.0 October 31, 2007

Convened by:

• Dallas iMedia Network
• Houston Media Source
• Public Access Community Television (aka Channel Austin)

In collaboration with:

• Our Media Revolution (Austin)
• Texas Media Empowerment Project in San Antonio
• University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs
• University of Texas at Austin RTF Department

With participation and support from:

• The Benton Foundation
• The Alliance for Community Media

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On October 23, 2007, the President/CEO of the Dallas iMedia Network, the Executive Director of Houston Media Source, the Executive Director, General Manager, and Communications Director of Public Access Community Television (Channel Austin), met in Austin to discuss organizing and hosting a Texas Community Media Summit modeled after the Chicago Community Media Summit held on June 15, 2007.

The Texas Community Media Summit will bring together community media makers and advocates for a one day meeting in Austin, Texas on Saturday, March 1 in order to:

• Assess and understand the community media landscape in Texas
• Build stronger ties and relationships among Texas community media
• Inspire the formation of active local alliances and community media centers
• Open pathways to distribute and share content state-wide
• Recognize, value, and include ethnic community media
• Connect community media practitioners with academic advocates
• Map corporate media ownership and consolidation in Texas
• Explore the significance of increased attention to citizen journalism
• Educate ourselves on the current state-wide video / cable franchise regime
• Focus on the role community media may play in an election year
• Consider policy initiatives in advance of the 2009 Texas legislature
• Be a bridge to the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis