Popular Culture Review Vol. 13, No. 2, Summer 2002 | Page 113

Public Access Television 109 family counseling, message/issue practitioners concentrate on content control and getting out information. Outreach through the access channel can be the most effective method in telhng their stories. And, since these producers are restricted from using commercial or other promotional media, mostly due to cost, they turn to public access television. Awareness, acknowledgment, and acceptance by their audiences are the indispensable characteristics of this group of producers. Many producers in this category have direct or indirect relationships with religious or faith-based organizations. The vast majority of Channel 10 programming are religious-based programs and many are videotaped presentations of area church services. Ellis T. is a case manager for a job training and placement center in Ft. Wayne. To present his church’s message, he was appointed by a bishop to become an access television producer. Ellis T : “ ...it’s the message. Are people really tuning in? Are they inspired to come in and participate in our church? I’ve been in Ft. Wayne almost 40 years. It’s a very volatile city and we need some positive role models. [Our bishop] is a positive role model. I’m more into getting the message out now.” (482) Some message/issue practitioners simply want to share a strong passion for a hobby or avocation with others. Bob H., a retired executive, produces the show, “L et’s Have a M eeting,” which prom otes parliam entary procedures and Toastmasters. He has been personally involved with these topics for more than 30 years. His aim is to share his organizational experiences with his audience (33541). Susan C. is a sales representative for a regional telephone company and is considered an “ice hockey junkie.” Her program, “Heroes and Friends,” is based on her “fanatic” devotion to hockey, particularly the International Hockey Association franchise the Fort Wayne Komets. Rather than presenting statistics and game highlights in her program, Susan C. concentrates on the personal lives and career aspirations of the Komets players and coaches. Using interviews and biographical segments, she attempts to get her audience to understand the Komets as actual people not simply as professional athletes (Yoder 405-14). Other message/issue practitioners address personal causes based in political, social, or cultural concerns. For example, Terry G., an assembly line worker, uses his show, “Hemp Talk,” to advocate the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana. He was motivated to produce this program because of changing circumstances at his job and his beliefs in personal privacy: It started out that my company was going to start random drug testing. I’m a good employee so I said “OK.” So now what can I do to fight back?