Foundation Journal

JCTV community TV station in Jefferson City reported today some good news about the status of city funding on their Facebook Page : "We are pleased to announce that the City Council's budget committee voted to restore $55,000 to the budget for JCTV. The budget will go before the full Council for adoption Tuesday. Though this is good news, our work is far from over, as $55,000 is only one-third of our regular operating budget. But we are committed to providing public access television services to the community." Perhaps what made the difference to save funding for the community TV is the public pressure, including a huge turnout from Lincoln University students and a strong appeal from NAACP Jefferson City chapter president Nimrod Chapel.

A KMOU TV report also discussed the funding question in a August 3 report -- see video below. And a  KRCG 13 report on August 26 mentioned the city council was still deliberating the funding question, and rescheduled budget vote.

The News Tribune reported today that Jeff City residents and Lincoln University administrators, including Lincoln University President Kevin Rome, asked Jefferson City council members to continue funding JCTV , the community TV station serving that area. The city is considering cutting the $110,000 funding to the station as reported by KRCG TV13. Rome sees the importance of JCTV for the university when he said  “I would like to see that relationship grow and flourish,” Rome said. “When you invest in Lincoln University, you invest in the community.” The station does not seem to be doing any groundbreaking investigative reporting -- a recent episode of "Missouri River Regional Library Show" focused on quilting and fiber arts. However, t he station's programming does include about 30% educational programs , according to JCTV station manager Gloria Enloe.  And JCTV airs recordings of Jefferson City council meetings and planning and zoning meetings, which addresses the...

A low-cost, public-funded community television outlet is under attack by Jefferson City, Missouri legislators. News about its possible demise surfaced in news reports in February. An article in the Jefferson City News-Tribune indicated that the media outlet will stop broadcasting unless the city provides $55,000 in funding or another institution like Lincoln University picks up the operation of the station. The station produces local programs like "Community Connection" and "Missouri Viewpoints," which provides a "community service...that helps you know what's happening with local government and also gives a voice to those that would not otherwise be heard." Unless there's a particular reason for closing the station it seems in good practice to have a monitor of local government, especially in the Missouri state capital of Jefferson City. Some opinions on the topic argue that the city is not facing a financial crisis and supports continuatio...