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Table of Contents The People of CAN TV 1 Preparing Youth for the Future 2 Getting Out the Vote 3 Ending Violence with Knowledge 4 Preserving the Creative Spirit 5 Building Healthy Communities 6 Winning Justice for Workers 7 CAN TV Training Coordinator Eric Torres (back right) teaches Funders and Contributors 8 an editing class to members of Pilsen arts organizations. Nonprofit Participants 9 CAN TV Producer Members 15 Photos by Krista Damico, Chris Dillon, Rob Gelletta, Allen Gomez, Ted Lacey, Jolie Lee, Will Okun/WJZO Photography Text by Jolie Lee Graphics by Pinzke Design Cover by Emily Lonigro The People of CAN TV n this democratic society, the CAN TV was established in 1983 U.S. media is far from repre- as part of cable companies’ local I sentative of its varied people franchise agreements with the city of and viewpoints. A few huge corpo- Chicago. However, in the past few rations control most of what we see, years, the telephone industry has hear and understand. The diversity attempted to create a shortcut to enter of people’s experiences and per- the video business faster at the spectives suffers, and the public expense of public interest obligations. interest loses out to the advertisers’ These companies propose to get rid interests. of local franchising and cut funding for public access stations. CAN TV Chicago Access Network Television supporters continue to fight to protect (CAN TV) preserves democratic the one medium dedicated entirely to media in the face of growing serving the local public. corporate control everywhere else. CAN TV provides a local platform Over the decades, thousands of on public access television for all Chicagoans have turned to CAN TV Chicagoans to educate each other, as a lifeline to address a wide range express creativity and share their of challenges—low voter turn-out, stories. violence in the community, quality education for children. Through CAN At CAN TV, the media consumers TV, people participate in an ongoing are the media owners. Chicago conversation of how to improve residents and nonprofit groups learn society. The people of CAN TV give video production, use the facility meaning to CAN TV’s slogan, and equipment, and televise “Sometimes TV isn’t the problem. programming on CAN TV’s five It’s the solution.” local, noncommercial channels. Joseph Sanders III grew up watching his grandfather, Joseph Sanders, Sr., produce programming at CAN TV. Preparing Youth for the Future Excelling in the Classroom hen Joyce Andrews- Do students perform better on McKinney first watched standardized tests when they watch W Countdown, she was Countdown? instantly impressed. McKinney, a A Loyola University study says yes. special education teacher for Chicago A random group of third, sixth and eighth Public Schools, appreciated how the graders in Chicago Public Schools watched hosts patiently explained math Countdown tapes at least once a week in concepts step by step. class. 1 “Countdown really is a child- Overall, these students scored significantly friendly program,” she says. Hosted by professional educators, better on the math portion of the Illinois Countdown teaches a different third standardized test than the control group that to eighth grade math concept every did not watch Countdown. week in a live show format, allowing “A lot of good strategies and information students to call in during the show to Students at Daniel Boone Elementary School watch clips of Countdown, Loyola Univer- were provided,” commented one teacher. work through math problems with the sity’s instructional CAN TV program placed for viewing on the show’s website. “The ‘unrehearsed’ structure of the show hosts. made it very realistic and challenging. The “It’s like a private tutorial,” says “I saw the incredible power of TV As a teacher, McKinney has students were always interested in reviewing Mary Charles, Countdown’s producer as a medium to teach students under- watched the show to pick up ideas on taught math concepts,” says Schiller. ways to teach math concepts to her the tapes.” and grants director at Loyola Univer- sity’s School of Education. Show topics align with state testing students. As a mother, McKinney has All teachers in the study said they would Dr. Diane Schiller, a Loyola edu- standards. Students get an overview seen how much the program has use the Countdown tapes again. cation professor, started Countdown of math concepts they will likely helped her own daughters. in 1997. At that time, Chicago Public encounter on standardized tests but For McKinney’s oldest daughter, 1 Petropoulous, William Z. Improving Math Achievement Scores on the Illinois Goals Assessment Schools had the shortest school day might not have a chance to learn in math used to be a “weak link.” Now Program Using the Countdown Video Tape Series. in the nation. Countdown offered the classroom. both her girls have become regular Loyola University Chicago, Dept. of Curriculum, students an extra hour of quality math Countdown’s audience also draws and enthusiastic Countdown viewers, Instruction, and Educational Psychology, 1999. instruction every week. viewers from outside the youth bringing their skills and confidence to population, including adults studying the classroom. for their GED, and teachers and “Countdown is ingrained in our parents who want a refresher course. lives now,” says McKinney. 2 Getting Out the Vote Keeping Voters Informed lections are a month away and goals for the future,” says Local newscasts in the Midwest devote as and Elma Lucas is on a Illinois Secretary of State Jesse much as 2.5 times more airtime to political ads E mission—to encourage White, who has appeared on Lucas’ young people to register to vote. election shows. than election coverage. Most of that coverage Her CAN TV series, Elma and Raised in the Cabrini Green focuses on the contest, not on the actual issues. Company, uses hip-hop music, public housing project, Lucas came In Chicago, only 10% of election news focuses dance and spoken word perfor- to CAN TV because she was tired of on the issues.2 mances to reach youth with positive hearing residents complain about "Voters in Illinois should have a chance to messages. young people standing around and hear from candidates up and down the ballot The election show provides doing nothing. concerning the issues that affect us all," says viewers information about registra- With no video production Cindi Canary of Illinois Campaign for Political tion from Chicago Board of Election experience, Lucas took CAN TV’s Cultivating local talent has become Reform. "However, when you devote a fraction Commissioners and the opportunity training in the early nineties and the Elma and Company hallmark, 3 to hear directly from candidates started producing her own show, along with shows on education, of time to election news, the public loses." nonviolence and civic participation. CAN TV offers voters the opportunity to hear Students at Daniel Boone Elementary School watch clips of Countdown, Loyola Univer- running for office. bringing to the studio teens from sity’s instructional CAN TV program placed for viewing on the show’s website. “Politicians get to reach voters to her neighborhood to perform, help The show’s focus on getting out the from candidates in a wide range of offices and discuss accomplishments in office the crew or join the audience. vote prior to each election serves as a parties. Airtime is not limited to politicians who lively reminder of citizens’ right to a can afford ads. voice and their responsibility to use it. Local, state and federal elected officials “We always say young people are our future,” says Illinois State Repre- produce their own shows, appear on public sentative John Fritchey during the live affairs forums or directly address constituents' show. “If young people want to have concerns through live, call-in programming. a say in the world they inherit, they 2 have to go out and vote.” Midwest News Index, University of Wisconsin — Madison, 2006. 3 Statement from Cindi Canary of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform—http://www.ilcampaign.org (above) Producer Elma Lucas prepares for the live election show. (left) Elma & Company host Kamaria Jackson interviews Secretary of State Jesse White and Illinois State Rep. John Fritchey. 3 Ending Violence with Knowledge Shooting Back Violence is commonplace on TV, yet “This show draws viewers who overwhelming research has pointed to the wouldn’t normally search for the negative effects of fictional TV violence on information on their own,” says real-life behavior, including numbness to Rosado. “Domestic violence is a violent acts and a tendency toward community-wide problem and we aggression. Still, two out of three television need to educate the entire shows contain at least one act of violence.4 community by talking about the On CAN TV, Chicagoans critically reality.” examine the various forms of violence The reality is that domestic contaminating our communities. Local violence is the single largest cause of injury to women in the United residents shed light on violence against States. It cuts across class, race, women, child abuse, police brutality, prisoner religion, sexual orientation, torture and the conflicting messages that education and economic status. society and the media send about violence. Another reality is that psychological abuse can be more damaging than 4 Center for Communication and Social Policy, physical, leaving victims feeling University of California, Santa Barbara, National Megan Rosado (left) of Chicago Abused Women Coalition and a guest answer callers’ Television Violence Study, 1998. questions. isolated and trapped. Violence in the home infects the whole community by perpetuating social “ omestic violence is still violence and referrals to services problems like alcoholism, drug generally considered a taboo for adults and children affected by abuse, suicide and the devastating D subject,” says Megan Rosado domestic violence.

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