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Access Tucson has embarked on a strategic planning process to position the organization for the next 5-10 years.

Your Input is Critical!

Please participate in one of the following community forums to share your ideas about the future of public access television.

Producers & Members
Monday, April 28
5:30 – 7:00pm

Organizations
Tuesday, April 29
3:30 – 5:00pm

Viewers
Saturday, May 3
12:30-2:00pm

All forums will be held at Access Tucson
124 E. Broadway
Parking available

If you are unable to attend, please call or stop by Access Tucson to pick up a feedback form or download it here:

Strategic Planning Feedback

You may also fill out a questionnaire via email.

Deadline for feedback forms is May 5, 2008

A Little Background

Access Tucson has long provided local residents with access to the technological tools and knowledge of how to use those tools to further public discourse and provide an essential forum for free speech. Established as part of the cable franchising process, Access Tucson serves as “a community resource facilitating public dialogue and participatory democracy through citizen access to television and other electronic media.” While initial funding for Access Tucson was directly linked to cable revenues, current funding is now channeled through the City of Tucson’s Outside Agency process.

Changes in the social, political, and economic landscape as well as the rapid development of alternative electronic media outlets such as You Tube, Google video, and videoblog sites along with the increased availability of sophisticated technologies (e.g. digital camcorders, open-source software) for personal use, require a rethinking of Access Tucson’s role in enhancing community dialogue.

While mainstream media continues towards consolidation and the loss of diverse voices, the national trend for public access media is towards Media 2.0 – an integrated and multi-faceted hub that facilitates information streams in and out of an increasingly diverse “neighborhood.”

Access Tucson, as nationally recognized leader for its forward thinking approach to public access and community media, has embarked on a strategic planning process to position the organization for the next 5-10 years. In July 2007 a strategic planning committee was established that was made up of representatives from board, staff, and Access Tucson members. An RFP was developed to hire a facilitator to lead the planning process with a projected end date of mid-2008. Following an analysis of data gathered at community forums and audience surveys, a first retreat was held. The major themes of the retreat were crafted into three strategic initiatives. Through the work of sub-committees, a set of goals and initiatives were developed for each initiative. At the second retreat, held on February 23rd, all work to-date was reviewed and refined. For each of the goals, retreat participants developed a set of short, mid-range, and long term tasks. This information is now available for public comment at three forums to be held in April and May.

Strategic Planning Feedback

The initiatives represent the Strategic Planning Committee member’s work in defining the future of community media. Please read the initiatives and answer these two questions for each initiative:

1. What do you like about the focus of the initiative?

2. What concerns you about the focus of the initiative?

Please email your responses to: daniela@accesstucson.org

Initiative 1
Access Tucson will ensure maximum access to technologies that support free speech, creative expression and participatory democracy within our regional area.

Goal 1.1:
Help individuals and organizations to develop the production skills to effectively use available technologies.

Goal 1.2:
Enhance the community communication capacity to effectively share ideas using electronic media.

Goal 1.3:
Distribute programming in a manner and through channels that maximizes free speech and participatory democracy.

Goal 1.4:
Increase the engagement and participation of audiences who watch Access Tucson programs.

Initiative 2
Access Tucson will enhance its function as an essential convener and connector, reflecting the full expression of our diverse local communities’ arts, cultures, values, and beliefs.

Goal 2.1:
Facilitate local discourse through a variety of modes.

Goal 2.2:
Programming will represent the diversity of community in terms of topics, who’s on screen, and who produces the programming.

Goal 2.3:
Build audience for programming reflective of the diversity of community; increase size and diversity of audience.

Initiative 3
Access Tucson is a sustainable organization (facilities, equipment and technologies, staff and volunteers, community image, and financial resources).

Goal 3.1:
The Access Tucson Governance structure will be reflective of the broader community.

Goal 3.2:
Access Tucson board of directors will have the structure and capacity to help build and maintain a sustainable organization.

Goal 3.3:
Access Tucson will have the physical, financial, and human infrastructure and resources to expand and sustain its services and ensure its future.

Goal 3.4 :
Develop and implement a 3-year communications/ marketing plan with benchmarks for progress towards improving capacity in communications/marketing.