What would happen if nobody was there to record the government meetings?
At first, it might not seem like such a huge deal if nobody recorded our local government meetings. After all, who has time to watch those, anyway? That’s what I used to think. But then I learned that recording the government meetings is about so much more than just watching (which actually, lots of people do – especially those who work in government or the news).
If nobody recorded them, there would be no way to hold government officials accountable for their actions. There would be no proof of comments made or topics covered. If you wanted to know what happened in a meeting, you would have to show up yourself!
PMN donor and volunteer Lorene Cook knows the power of this access for the people of Kalamazoo:
“I first got involved back when PMN was called the Community Access Center. Meeting new people and learning how to use technology to share a viewpoint or create a program has always been an exciting experience for me. The tools have changed dramatically since then. Recently, I started volunteering at the front desk to reconnect, learn what’s happening at PMN now, and see if there are other ways I might want to get involved.
“One thing I’ve learned during my time here is that a major source of funding for PMN used to come from cable subscriptions. But as more people cut the cord for cheaper streaming options, that revenue keeps shrinking. That affects PMN’s ability to offer important services – like letting people watch or participate in local government meetings from home. That kind of access is something Kalamazoo residents have come to expect. It would be a huge loss if people had to physically attend a meeting just to be part of the process.
“That’s why I choose to donate monthly. Even though my gift may seem small, it fits my budget – and it helps PMN plan ahead with more stability.”
– Lorene Cook, monthly donor and volunteer at Public Media Network
Lorene makes a great point. Watching the recorded meetings, or the meeting briefs that our team creates, is an important part of staying involved with government. And if people had to physically attend – there would be a lot less people in the know and a whole lot less people getting involved.
If you get value from the meeting recordings or the meeting briefs, consider becoming a monthly donor today. Think of it like a streaming subscription – only you’ll be supporting this community service which is always free to those who can’t pay for it.
