(Gilroy, CA) To celebrate a decade of serving the communities of Gilroy, San Juan Bautista, Morgan Hill, and Hollister, CMAP TV launches their state-of-the-art multimedia studio and training facilities at Christopher High School.
On March 7th, 2013, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting begins at 5pm with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, featuring live music by San Benito County band, The Architecturals, and X-Factor contestant from Gilroy, Austin Corini, performances by Aztec and Folklorica dancers, food, fun and hands-on tours of the new facilities. Visitors can find CMAP’s new digs by driving around the back of the school, located at 850 Day Road in Gilroy. Parking is available next to the public pool complex. A map is available at http://www.cmap.tv.
“Ten years ago, we were founded by local entities to operate the public, educational and government access television station for the residents of Gilroy, San Juan Bautista and Hollister. Due to YouTube and other online video distribution methods, access to the media tools to create community stories has drastically changed,” said Kathy Bisbee, executive director at CMAP. She added that users can now receive high-level training, a brand new professional studio, and HD equipment to create quality videos at CMAP to put on YouTube or on the web, and submit their content to CMAP’s cable and online channels.
CMAP now operates more as a business model rather than a non-profit, with a new mission that “facilitates a community dialogue through media training and production, civic engagement, and access to media and technology tools.”
CMAP will offer commercial video production services, and job training programs that help youth and adults keep their own media and tech skills relevant in today’s job market. The organization not only provides classes on high end video production, digital storytelling, citizen journalism, and creating online videos, it simultaneously streams all of its locally-produced content live, on the cable channels and online at www.cmap.tv.
Services at the CHS location will be available to students as well as to all residents of Gilroy, and San Benito County. Morgan Hill and non-local residents can use the facilities for a nominal fee. CMAP will provide low-cost digital media afterschool program for all GUSD students, discounted memberships for students and staff, coverage of CHS/GHS football and softball games, and selected swim meets, and offer community service volunteer hours for students. CMAP provides an ongoing digital literacy and storytelling program at SBHS and works with local middle school and high school age youth and adults weekly in downtown Hollister, as well as provides free and low-cost access to HD camera and lighting equipment.
“CMAP’s core value is to address the media and information needs of our community. This collaboration with Christopher High School and the Gilroy Unified School District is a perfect opportunity to merge digital literacy and job training programs with volunteerism, local educational goals, and access to news and information.” said Kathy Bisbee, executive director at CMAP. Content from students will air on CMAP’s channel 18 on Charter cable, and online at www.cmap.tv. Later this year AT&T will also cablecast CMAP’s channels reaching many more viewers in Hollister in particular where the company has begun offering their Internet and cable services.
CMAP hopes that students will create everything from videos for their bands, news segments, and stories about the school and their community, PSAs to influence their peers on social issues, for classroom projects, video resumes, and that student clubs will use the media center to get the word out to the community, and provide video coverage of their events. SBHS digital media instructor Rob Campbell has been working with CMAP staff to assist his students to create these kinds of multimedia programs for the past year.
CMAP’s new facilities at Christopher High School will be open to students and to the public on Wednesdays-Fridays, 12-8pm; and Saturdays 12-5pm. Parking is located behind the school, next to the public pool complex. To RSVP for the Grand Opening event, to volunteer at CMAP, or to sign up for an orientation or a class in Gilroy or in Hollister, visit www.cmap.tv, call 408.722.9144 or email info@cmap.tv.
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CMAP TV
CMAP is a non-profit, community media center serving the media and technology needs of residents of southern Santa Clara County and San Benito County through media education and training, civic engagement, professional media production, and low-cost access to media and technology equipment. CMAP has generated and aired thousands of local programs online and on its cable channels for public, educational, and for government access (Charter Channels 17, 18, 19, and 20). CMAP’s channels stream live online at www.cmap.tv.