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WPAL expands local programming  Share
If you haven't looked at the expanded local programming on WPAL public access television lately, this is the time to check it out. And if you have a talent for videography, or an unexplored interest in broadcasting, WPAL is looking for you. WPAL President Mike Margraf said this week that ''there have been a lot of changes in our programming'' in the past year, and he promises that, with some help and support from the community, it's going to keep getting better. ''We're ready to take things to another level in serving the public,'' he said. ''But that will require a greater awareness of what we can bring to the community, and the need for people to get involved to make that happen.''
WPAL's viewership area covers the villages of Peotone, Monee and Beecher, as well as parts or all of five townships: Will, Washington, Peotone, Monee and Green Garden. An area as large as that creates programming challenges, and in spite of the modest budget that the league operates on, WPAL delivers. Understandably proud of what the league has accomplished in the past year, Margraf's enthusiasm is contagious. In recent months, he said, WPAL has implemented a ''major equipment upgrade'' and added almost a dozen new programs, including ''The Health and Home Report,'' numerous national public service announcements, an October concert and November Girls Basketball game from Beecher School District, the October Crete-Monee High School Homecoming game and halftime band show, programming from Will County Government and the sheriff's department, programs from other area public access stations (WUPC and JCTV), ''and most importantly, the Illinois Channel.'' ''For Christmas, we were able to do a marathon of new programming featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, orchestra and many celebrity guest soloists,'' Margraf noted. ''It was a phenomenal, professionally produced series, ordered and overnighted to us on Christmas Eve. ''We've also contacted all of our state and federal representatives to place us on their media lists. So far, we've only received the 'Dick Durbin Report,' but we hope to get more from other elected officials over the next few months.'' WPAL's goal this year is to add as much local origination programming as possible from schools, government and community organizations. ''WPAL's viewing area is unusual in that it includes three school districts (Peotone, Beecher and Crete-Monee),'' he pointed out. ''Unfortunately, despite repeated attempts to reach out to the schools for the last few years, we've had almost no programming from them, except for the three events previously mentioned. ''WPAL would love to cover concerts, musicals, talent shows, graduations, sports events, academic events, awards ceremonies and more from all three districts.'' Since many schools now have courses in video or multi-media production, Margraf also welcomes student-produced videos that they may have created for classes. ''We would be happy to review their work for possible broadcast on the station,'' he said. ''In addition, we would like to broadcast the school board meetings, as they are of critical importance to our communities.'' Because the league does not have the manpower or volunteers necessary to do all that it hopes for, it needs some help from schools, parents and new volunteers. ''We would like to see the schools submit coverage of any events, whether created by school district employees or students, and if any parents are already going to school events and recording them (for personal use), they are welcome to send a copy to the station, as long as the recording is not primarily a continuous close-up of just their child. ''If we can get enough new volunteers, we can once again use the station's cameras to start going to school events and recording them. ''A vital part of our mission is bringing local government to the people,'' he continued. ''Everyone is affected by the decisions of their elected officials, but most meetings seen only by a handful of people in attendance. We've been broadcasting the board meetings of all three villages since the inception of the station, and we know that many people watch at home and depend on this service. ''As part of the programming we are getting from Will County, we expect to start receiving county board meetings soon, and they will become part of our regularly scheduled programming. We would like to expand on this area of service by covering township board meetings for our viewing area. ''However, for this, too, we need people who are willing to go to one or two meetings a month. ''Our communities are full of opportunities for creating additional programs. Every year, there are parades, carnivals, farmers' markets, Drive the Dixie, car shows, park district events and more. The Will County Fair comes every August, but the Fairgrounds are host to events all year long, many of which are open to the public. Then, there are local theater groups, Sportsmen's Clubs, scouting groups, 4H Clubs and more. Every one of these organizations will put together events such as food drives, bake sales, award ceremonies, community improvement projects and charity events, athletic or sporting competitions, shows or exhibitions. ''Obviously, we do not currently have the people or resources to cover these events. However, we welcome anyone in our communities or in these organizations to submit their videos.'' Margraf also said he wants everyone to know that information about local government or upcoming community events is included on a continuous slide show. Unfortunately, many coordinators of those events are not taking advantage of it. ''One thing I would really like to see is the school districts submitting slides announcing upcoming events, such as concerts, musicals and sporting events, which are open to the public. With the additional publicity we can provide, I believe that attendance and community support would increase dramatically,'' he said. ''The station needs volunteers to help out in many ways. Some are general. We can always use someone willing to go record an event, and that is a fairly easy thing to do. We also need people who can help us with our scheduling. It's not difficult to do and I can teach someone the basics fairly quickly. We also need people who can help us archive our large library of legacy programming, which we have on VHS. Again, it's a simple, if time-consuming job, but one that I can show anyone how to do relatively quickly.'' WPAL also needs help from volunteers with specific skills, such as video editing, creating a Web site for the station or working as station engineer. Not surprisingly, Margraf would like to see a boost in local funding for WPAL, which he said ''is dramatically underfunded, compared to many other public access stations in our area.'' He noted that Manteno Village View has a $12,000 budget, University Park's WUPC has two full-time staffers and a $100,000 budget, and New Lenox ''this year went from strictly volunteer to having a full-time staffer who I'm told is paid around $40,000.'' By contrast, WPAL receives only $2,000 maximum from each of the villages it serves, ''and that maximum amount has not gone up at all in years, and we don't even get the full amount from each community every year.'' He worries that village officials don't see the potential or value the station has to offer ''I'm doing what I can with the extremely limited resources I get, and I am proud of the many advances that the station has made in the three years of my stewardship. ''WPAL will continue to bring our public high-quality external programming, while increasing the amount of local origination programming and getting more students and adults involved in the station. ''This will result in more people tuning in, becoming aware of and participating in community events. As this happens,'' Margraf said, ''perhaps the villages will see the merit in promoting this public resource more along the lines that are being done by neighboring communities.'' To get involved, or submit videos, slides or event information, contact Margraf by email at WPALŠTV@Yahoo.com, or call 708-258-0056, or write him at WPAL, P.O. Box 466, Peotone, IL 60468-0466. --karenhaave@att.net Karen Haave is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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