menuOctober 4, 2017
Community Media Outlets in Thurston County Poised to Celebrate Community Media Day and Free Speech Week
Our capital city of Olympia has a host of independent media arts and non-commercial media organizations. Free Speech Week takes place October 16-23, 2017 and communities across the United States will be joining together to celebrate the history and impact of community media in fostering democracy.
Our community is invited to attend events across Thurston County during Free Speech Week and on Community Media Day, including watching/listening to special programs, attending Open Houses, and screenings around town. These events are free and open to the public.
As partners in Free Speech Week, Thurston Community Media is curating a Free Speech Video Mosaic, collecting the viewpoints of our neighbors on what the first amendment means to them. Interested parties are encouraged to submit videos to communications@tcmedia.org or tag/tweet @TCMedia_WA, using the hashtag #Celebrate1020. The complete video mosaic will air in November.
Media Island International and KOWA 106.5 will host an Open House from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18. KOWA 106.5 FM Olympia, a community radio station, is on the air 24/7, providing public affairs coverage and some music. They are continuously seeking financial support for their low power radio station. KOWA is housed by Media Island international, a local nonprofit, whose focus is social, racial, and gender justice as well as environmental sustainability. Come and see how you can support and be apart of this inclusive cultural space and resource center. Media Island is located at 816 Adams St SE in Olympia.
Community Media Day takes place Friday, October 20. In honor of this, TCMedia will host an Open House at their studio at 440 Yauger Way SW STE C from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Directly following the Open House, producers Robert Kam and Dan Bennett host Karaoke Oly, a live, family-friendly singalong show from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Local community media outlets will also air programming related to free speech and democracy. Thurston Community Media will air the 2016 keynote speech from the Alliance for Community Media national conference, featuring John Nichols, writer for The Nation. KAOS 89.3 will air a special program on the importance of community radio and media, featuring KAOS general manager Ruth Brownstein and representatives from the Alliance for Community Media Northwest.
To finish up the week, the Olympia Film Society and Thurston Community Media present a special screening of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy. This partnership launches the first Meaningful Movies site in Thurston County. Meaningful Movies is a nonprofit organization that uses film to “educate and advocate [...] to build positive and meaningful community and a more just and peaceful world.”
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy will screen at the Capitol Theater on Sunday, October 22 at 5 p.m. (doors open at 4:30 p.m.), with a suggested donation of $10, benefitting Meaningful Movies and the Olympia Film Society. A panel discussion on the film will follow.
During Free Speech week and Community Media Day, we urge community media fans to take time to visit your local stations or to make a donation. Partners in this event include Thurston Community Media, KAOS Community Radio, Media Island International, KOWA 106.1 FM, and the Olympia Film Society.
September 22, 2017
Elaine Smitha's Memorial
Our hearts are heavy with the loss of former member and board member Elaine Smitha. Elaine produced the show Evolving Ideas for more than a decade.
Elaine's family invites you to join in the celebration of her life. Elaine's memorial service will be at Thurston Community Media on Saturday, September 30 at 6 p.m.
August 30, 2017
Let Us Be Your Media Partner!
Ever thought of becoming a member at Thurston Community Media? Now is a great time to do so for nonprofits.
Organizational members of TCMedia will receive an invitation to attend PSA Day, taking place on September 25 & 26. Become a member before September 18 (for as little as $100 a year) and have a professionally crafted public service announcement to air on our channel and for you to use as you like.
A PSA, or Public Service Announcement, is a brief video or audio message that shares information with the community regarding a topic, action, or event of interest. As part of our work to support the communications strategies of nonprofit organizations in Thurston County, TCMedia holds this special, once-a-year event.
To participate in PSA Day, you must be a current Organizational Member at TCMedia and agree to not have a call to action related to purchasing a product or service. The PSA is for informational or educational purposes only.
We want to be your media partner. Contact us today to become an organizational member and take part in this opportunity! Give us a call at 360-956-3100 or email us at communications@tcmedia.org.