Simitian To Be Honored as Community Media Champion
Share this pageFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2012
For More Information, Contact:
Lisa Gardiner at (916) 651-4011 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
SACRAMENTO – CreaTV San Jose, a nonprofit community media center, will present State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) with its “Community Media Champion” award on Saturday at the historic California Theatre in downtown San Jose. Simitian is being recognized at the 2011 CreaTiVe Awards for the work he did to ensure the continued survival of public access television channels.
“Because of Joe’s efforts in 2006, community media centers throughout California – including CreaTV San Jose - have a fighting chance to survive, to help bridge the digital divide in our state,” said Suzanne St. John-Crane, executive director, CreaTV San Jose.
In 2006, the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (DIVCA) was introduced, a bill that dramatically changed the way cable television operates. Working closely with advocates, Simitian developed a set of amendments to DIVCA that preserved the funding for PEG (Public, Education, Government) channels and kept the channels open.
“For much of 2006, the vibrant and original voices of community media were threatened with extinction,” said Simitian. “Fortunately, my colleagues in the Legislature were persuaded that protecting local content was an essential part of cable reform. If we value free speech and creative content, then we have to provide an outlet for it.”
He added, “Being recognized by CreaTV as their Community Media Champion is certainly gratifying, and much appreciated. But what’s even more gratifying is knowing we worked together effectively to ensure that the voices of community media weren’t drowned out in the hurly burly of the legislative process.”
Simitian is a frequent presence on local cable access channels. In fact, since 2001, Simitian has hosted Capitol Focus, his own monthly public affairs program. The show airs on seven cable access channels, including CreaTV San Jose.
CreaTV San Jose is also honoring San Jose-based Xilinx, Inc. with this year’s “Enabling Technology” award for producing the chips found in professional video production equipment.
For more information on the 2011 CreaTiVe Awards and CreaTV San Jose, visit http://www.creatvsj.org.