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 From the Executive Director 
We have renamed our magazine (formerly Buzzwords) because ITVS and the independent producing community - both indefatigable sources of creativity and innovation - need to work together to reinvigorate our mission and recharge our sense of purpose as ITVS steps into its second decade. ITVS was born out of the independent producing community's struggle to gain sustainable access to the public television (PTV) system. Working with the public sector, independent producers (who by their nature work outside institutions) and leaders in the media arts field articulated a vision that ultimately led to the creation of a radical new model, a funding and presenting service designed to hardwire independents into the PTV infrastructure. ITVS was created to go beyond the box, to change TV. We are now in a time when public media and the public sector are facing unprecedented challenges, including an uncertain political climate and economy. The increasing, and unceasing, centralization of private media ownership brings ever more homogenized programming to the marketplace. And the long-anticipated wave of new "convergence" technology promises to revolutionize the way we make and watch television. We are preparing for the time when the glow of the mono machine that has flickered in our living rooms will become a clean, unbroken digital stream that we can tap into anywhere we go. Independents are experimental (perfect for new technologies) and work relatively cheap. But will we actually get to participate or will new markets be sewn up as quickly as they were after home video and cable burst on the scene? Some independents will find their way to new opportunities, but many will not. The issues that prompted the creation of ITVS - funding, diversity, access and visibility - will not be solved by the arrival of new technologies. If only television itself were the box we have to get beyond! This is where ITVS must come in - with as much vigor and vision, prescience and passion as when it was created. The founders of ITVS had a mantra that freedom of expression was the keystone of social liberty and justice. They believed that decisions that shape our future must be made in the public arena. As citizens we are deeply influenced by the media that educates us (or doesn't) on how to measure and challenge decision makers. In an environment where a handful of companies control virtually every media outlet, public broadcasting is uniquely designed to arm citizens with information they need to protect themselves against tyrannies of power, whether they are political, social or economic. Independent producers, the storytellers of our citizenry, have a long history of pressing government and institutions to be better. ITVS was founded to help public broadcasting fulfill its potential and promise by channeling the diversity and talent of independents into public broadcasting. Now more than ever, PTV requires our participation to make sure it represents the needs of our democracy. The sum of independents is larger than any one program or series; our power is cumulative and collective. We hope Beyond the Box will serve as a tool to open up channels of communication between PTV and the independent community - a small step, but one we hope will encourage transparency, accountability and trust. In this issue, for example, we have a story on the PBS greenlight process, which determines broadcast on the NPS, PBS Plus and Independent Lens. Speaking of accessibility, ITVS has moved. Now located in the media gulch of San Francisco's Mission district, this former dotcom warehouse sits across the street from KQED, TRI and BAVC. We look forward to building a powerful production hub, where partnerships between independents and PTV can flourish. We encourage you to stay involved, to stay vocal, to visit us or send your questions and ideas. We are excited about the challenges and opportunities ITVS faces in its second decade, and invite you to join us in venturing beyond the box. - Sally Jo Fifer |
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ITVS: NEWS | NOW SHOWING | FUNDING FOR PRODUCERS | RECENTLY FUNDED PROGRAMS Contact us at itvs@itvs.org |
