GNAT Announces Launch of Community News and Citizen Journalism Program

August 1, 2016

FOR RELEASE ON AUGUST 8, 2016

PRESS CONTACT: Tammie Reilly, Executive Director, GNAT: 802.362.7070, tammie@gnat-tv.org

GNAT Announces Launch of Community News and Citizen Journalism Program

SUNDERLAND, VT – Greater Northshire Access Television, the region’s Community Media & Training Center, launches a Community News and Citizen Journalism Program. The program will be two-fold: to provide local news and information not covered through traditional media outlets; and to engage the community to participate in the news gathering and local story telling process.

“The News Project”, as it will be known, will feature local newsmakers and focus on issues impacting Southern Vermont. Content will include items such as, local Government reporting, state legislative updates, business and economic news, arts, entertainment and hyper-local issue-based reports in both written and video form. The program will eventually include a citizen journalism component to train and empower citizens to use digital media to toll their own stories. The local content will be distributed on GNAT’s Comcast Cable Channels and on it’s website www.gnat-tv.org.

GNAT’s Executive Director, Tammie Reilly states, “Local news coverage is shrinking and corporate media is not providing the depth of coverage nor the local focus that we need to be informed and engaged citizens. This is an immense project for our small organization, but now is the time to move forward to play a role in meeting our communities’ local information needs. I am particularly excited about working directly with our local citizens to shape and build a community news organization that addresses the issues important to our region. Community input and involvement will be essential to the success of the project.”

GNAT’s Board of Trustees President, Scoop Maginniss states: “My hope is that our communities will rally behind the project, participate in it shaping its priorities, volunteer their time and donate money to support it”.

GNAT-TV is one of twenty-five community media centers broadcasting public, education, and government content. GNAT serves the Southern Vermont towns of Arlington, Dorset, Manchester, Peru, Sunderland & Winhall (Channels 15, 16, 17); Londonderry & Weston (Channel 8, Channel 10); Stratton (Channels 8, 10, 18). Programs may also be viewed on GNAT’s website: www.gnat-tv.org, on the peg.tv channel on Roku and on YouTube. For more information about GNAT-TV call 802.362.7070 or visit www.gnat-tv.org.