This year's Alliance for Community Media National Conference brought together attendees from local Public, Educational, and Government access channels for a stimulating blend of education, networking, and local culture. It was the perfect setting to reconnect with mentors, colleagues, and friends from across the nation.
The National ACM Conference, held in a different city each year, took place at the CreaTV facility in sunny San Jose this year. Known for its tech innovation, vibrant arts scene, and natural beauty, this Silicon Valley hub provided the perfect backdrop for the annual event. Here’s a deep dive into the highlights of the 2024 ACM conference.
Opening Remarks: Community Media Partnerships for Community Equity
Chad Johnston, CEO of CreaTV San Jose, opened the event with a powerful keynote on leveraging partnerships and privilege to create a more equitable community. His inspirational message set a compelling tone for the rest of the conference, encouraging everyone to reflect on their roles in fostering inclusivity and equity.
Honoring Community Media Leadership: Richard Turner
The prestigious Sue Miller Buske Award for Community Media Leadership was presented to Richard Turner of the Community Media Center of Carroll County in Westminster, MD–with fourteen past winners in attendance to welcome him into this esteemed group. The ceremony was a touching celebration of leadership and dedication in community media as it recognized Turner for showing unwavering dedication to the mission and objectives of the Alliance for Community Media, as well as exceptional leadership within the organization over the years.
Broadcast-Engineering 101 for the ‘Accidental Technician’
The Broadcast Engineering 101 and 102 breakout sessions were a hit, drawing in an ACM crowd eager to boost their video engineering skills. Tailored for the "Accidental Technician," these sessions began with the fundamentals in Engineering 101 and advanced to more complex topics in Engineering 102. Participants delved into practical tasks like creating wire lists and configuring IP addresses, essential skills often acquired under pressure or by those transitioning from production roles to technical management. These sessions marked the start of a new tradition of technical training at the conference, focusing on hands-on hardware expertise.
Showcasing Cablecast Automation Software: New Features Unveiled
Ray Tiley, VP of Engineering, unveiled exciting new features for Cablecast. Highlights included Multiple Audio Programs (MAP) on VIO Video Servers for SAP support, new macros for simplified Control Room tasks, and enhanced site-wide search on Cablecast Internet Channels. Additionally, web content accessibility features aim to make content more inclusive. The introduction of WordPress integrations for Cablecast web video content particularly thrilled attendees eager to incorporate subscriber paywalls on their websites.
AI Tools in Community Media
I had the honor of participating in the panel on AI tools and use cases in community media. More than 50 attendees joined the session to learn how AI can make processes like generating reports or creating social media posts more efficient. We talked about the importance of having an AI policy in place at your organization and all attendees left with templates they could use to get started with AI at their stations.
Hometown Media Awards & Hometown TV App
The 2024 Hometown Media Awards Ceremony, proudly sponsored by Cablecast Community Media, was a highlight of ACM 2024. Held at the lively Improv Theater, the event celebrated outstanding contributions to community media, community radio, and local cable programs distributed on Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) access channels. I had the honor of MCing the ceremony, which featured over 100 winners from nearly a thousand entries. Highlights included awardees like QCTV and Brattleboro Community Television. The winning videos are now available for streaming through the Cablecast Streaming App and HometownTV Internet Channel.
ACM After Party: Strike a Chord!
Following the Hometown Media Awards Ceremony, the after-party at San Pedro Social hosted by Cablecast was a hit. This unique venue offered a variety of activities, including bowling, karaoke, and arcade games like air hockey, pinball, and billiards. Attendees had a blast, enjoying the perfect opportunity to unwind and mingle in a relaxed setting.
Takeaway from ACM 2024
The networking and idea exchange at the Alliance for Community National Conference is essential for the growth and innovation of community media. It’s great to come together to support one another and celebrate success in the industry. The collaborative spirit bolstered at this annual event enhances our ability to strengthen communities and serve the residents who rely on us to stay informed. We can't wait to see everyone at the next year’s conference in Boston, MA!
What was your best ACM conference memory this year? Let me know!
Webinar: Post-NAB 2024 Roundup and Cablecast User Group
Explore Cablecast's latest enhancements from NAB 2024: Control Rooms for streamlined workflow, multi-audio capabilities, and advanced social streaming directly from your server.
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