Video oriented website created by journalist Kollin Kosmicki

The following article was published first in Mission Village Voice, a print publication that focuses on San Juan Bautista and San Benito County but reaches across to all edges of the Monterey Bay. It was shared with BenitoLink with permission from Anne Caetano the Mission Village Voice publisher and Kollin Kosmicki San Benito Live owner.

Q & A with San Benito Live

Mission Village Voice’s Anne Caetano met with Kollin Kosmicki, creator of San Benito Live, a video web channel “featuring everything that people in San Benito County care about.” 

What is San Benito Live?

San Benito Live is what I envision as the future of local media, and it’s a blend of various media platforms — everything from web channels, TV, radio, magazine and traditional newspapers.

I fully expect for this to be a place with live streaming within the first few months. The potential for live is very exciting.

What will be the focus?

Scheduled programming and non-scheduled programming, local features, local profiles and basic essential news information. I want to focus on video as the platform and grow from there.

Is your model like public access TV?

Yes, I’m a big fan of PBS. I think PBS really translates well to the local level, but the problem with PBS is the resources aren’t there to cover small communities like San Benito County. I want to take what PBS and television do and translate that to a local media model.

What types of programs do you have planned?

Part of it will be scheduled programming with local shows involving local people. I’ve been partnering with various non-profits, businesses and personalities to develop concepts for these shows. Some shows will be regularly occurring, and some will be periodic. The idea is to have a regular stream of locally produced, locally starring shows on local topics.

You will be providing a great service. This is going to be A LOT OF WORK!

It is, but I believe this is where media is going on a local level – it’s more positive. There are so many positive things going on in our community.
 

Yes, there is a lot of good going on in our area. The opportunities are endless.

They are endless. The goal is to get enough community support through collaboration.

How will that work?

San Benito Live will produce original content. We are not trying to compete with or replicate social media. This will be a central place for people to submit videos of all kinds. This will be great for performers and artists; they can submit content, and it will be posted timely. You can submit a video announcement, a sport story, a performing arts or event video.
 

Content, as in video?

Yes, video will be the foundation, and text will only be there for essential knowledge. From a broader perspective, this must be all inclusive; it has to be about collaboration. I expect to collaborate with as many groups, businesses and people that have interest. I want this to be ultimately a community gathering place on the internet. I don’t want to exclude anybody; that’s an absolute must.

We will have interviews, talk shows, sports; we will cover events. One of the biggest platforms of San Benito Live will be the arts, culture and community.

We will even have a weekly weather update with a local high school student who shown a passion for posting weather on social media.

That’s a fresh perspective.

Yes, it will be a fun weekly weather show with a young local person talking about local weather.

When is San Benito Live launching?

We are launching at the end of January/early February. It is important to emphasize that this should be viewed as a beta. It’s not a test, but we will have to work some things out. It won’t be perfect at the beginning.

I am open to as much community feedback as possible. That is gold! Criticism doesn’t bother me, and I would actually like criticism because that would help the process. My number and email will be on the website, and I will be active on social media.

What about podcast?

The podcasting part is certainly part of the plan. At the launch I am really making sure that the video is in place and the design is appropriate.

Will San Benito Live run commercials and/or advertising?
San Benito Live will offer an opportunity for almost any business or non-profit to produce high-quality videos that don’t kill their budgets. It will be professional quality production and video quality.

You are solely building and creating this?

Yes, but it’s important to know that a lot of people have been involved in the process and have been advising me on it. There is no way this would have happened without their support and collaboration. It’s exciting and mind numbing at the same time. It’s exciting because there is so much potential, and mind numbing because there is just naturally going to be stress.

BUT if your intentions are good, the rest will follow. And your intentions are good.   (Interview by Anne Caetano and courtesy of Mission Village Voice)