TV3 in Need of New Board, Direction
TV3 is undergoing a public performance evaluation hearing Wednesday night at 7PM at City Hall. Retired judge and Medford resident Marie Jackson will serve as the impartial evaluator. Below is the opinion of Allison Goldsberry, Editor of InsideMedford.com and a former TV3 Board member.
Update- Catch the replay of the hearing at 7AM and 7PM on Channel 15 in Medford
While fighting, personal attacks, smear campaigns, and anonymous blogs might be fun for some, they distract from the real issue: what should be done with TV3?
A report released after one year of research by City Solicitor Mark Rumley concludes that TV3’s Board of Directors has not reflected the diversity of the community for several years, nor has it respected free speech or provided for participation in a fully inclusive manner. The report also found the station’s financial information to be in complete disarray, and recommends an audit be conducted to find out if TV3 has been responsible and accountable with Comcast ratepayers’ money, which funds the station.
Other report highlights include the Board president knowingly filing a false report to the state of Board members that contained people that weren’t actually on the Board, the station manager pocketing $10,000 of $16,000 she raised while making movies with the station’s equipment, and Board members regularly receiving compensation for a variety of tasks.
Several members of TV3’s current Board, including its president, Frank Pilleri, responded to the report by making fun of it and personally attacking the City Solicitor on TV3 over the weekend. The show making fun of the report was not approved by the Board and did not have the support of all of the Board members.
It’s unbelievable to me that these Board members can shrug off the report in such an arrogant and immature way- the report sticks to the facts and steers clear of personalities, no easy feat given the soap opera that has surrounded the station for the past two years.
I served as an advisor to the Board and as a Board member in 2006 because I believed that, working together, the Board could move the station forward and highlight the positives- the new station and equipment, new members, new programming, and a new and enthusiastic station manager.
I left the Board in December 2006 out of frustration with the current leadership. I still think TV3 can move forward by focusing on what’s positive and by getting more people in the community involved, but this can’t happen until a completely new Board is elected or appointed to move the station in the right direction- a direction that’s inclusive, respects free speech, and is accountable to its community.
Read City Solicitor Rumley’s full report on TV3
What do you think should happen with TV3? Click here to comment.
Allison’s report is an accurate assessment of the station’s situation.
This is a diversified community and deserves our local station to reflect that.These immature individuals have had their boys clubhouse fun long enough. Just like the republicans, it is time to change the guard. Let’s clean house, or in the case let’s get rid of the vermin that has infested the station for so long.Thank you to the judge at this hearing.
Definitely new leadership! Get these guys out, they have been there WAY too long!Get some new, positive people in there.
It was interesting watching David Skerry’s 30 minute or so program where his microphone didn’t work, yet he’s been at the station 25 years. If the first president of the station can’t even work a microphone how can the rest of us? Mr. Skerry should watch his own infomercial and realize it is time for him to resign.
I thought Mr.Skerry was the station’s attorney? Why would he be teaching us how to use a microphone? Trying to follow this story has been confusing.
It is a confusing story, Carla. Nothing works at TV 3 including microphones because, I believe, they do not spend money upgrading the equipment.
There will be a second Evaluation Hearing on Saturday, November 15 at 10 AM at City Hall. Please step up to the podium, everyone, and tell the judge your feelings – positive or negative – in regards to how the Channel 3 access channel is being managed.