Did you ever have to do a group project for school or work and struggle to get everyone together to work towards the same goal? It’s one thing to even get a group of people on the same page, let alone get them altogether in one place at the same time to work!
Well, Dan Smith has essentially been doing just that for over six years. As the producer for the PMN original series Critical Issues, Alternative Views, he schedules shoot times and makes sure everyone shows up – as well as taking charge of the sound during recording and managing the lower-thirds (that’s the banner that pops up on the bottom of a video, telling you who’s who).
Critical Issues, Alternative Views has sparked conversations about politics and current events for over six years. According to producer Dan Smith, the show discusses current events “with a little different take on the news compared to what you might see on the major news networks.”
Hosted by WMU professor Ron Kramer, the show’s panel often features voices like Kalamazoo City Commissioner and WMU professor Don Cooney and WMU professor Regena Nelson, along with various other local voices. Together, they bring diverse perspectives to the table, holding meaningful discussions that matter to our community.
“The part of this work that feels most important to me is the ability to get an alternative message out. I think that’s probably the most important thing that keeps me coming back,” says Dan.
Programs like this – created by local people to inform, engage, and encourage you to get involved in your community – are exactly what we stand for here at Public Media Network. So whether or not you agree with the opinions of the show’s creators doesn’t matter – what matters is that they have a space to discuss important issues in our society today, a space they are welcome to speak freely.
I invite you to come into Public Media Network and create a show of your own! As Dan says, “It’s a great opportunity here, a great resource, and if you’re interested in media at all or getting your voice out to the community, it’s a shame if you don’t come in and try it.”
Find out more about how to learn at PMN by clicking here and making your own show at PMN by clicking here.
