The Star Press of Muncie published an editorial yesterday thoroughly praising Richmond's Whitewater Community Television station (WCTV), and noting that it should serve as a great model for Muncie's own efforts at improving public access programming and use of media in general.  Larry Riley, who teaches at Ball State, gushed:

What has taken center stage the past year in Muncie, government meetings, WCTV offers in astonishing quantity: the Richmond Board of Works meetings, sanitary district board, parks and recreation board, Wayne County Council, Richmond City Council, the local plan commission, Richmond Human Rights Commission meetings. Both live and rebroadcast later.  I'm in awe.

The editorial was enough to make someone at the local Palladium-Item take notice, and they published their own praise today that echoes those sentiments:

We have noted in this space on past occasions that it is all too common a trait for people to take for granted that which they have in their backyard. All too often, it takes others to explain our assets...it is our public access television, Whitewater Community Television, that serves such a fine public-interest informational role, virtually without fanfare.

Congratulations to John Oak Dalton (past interview guest in episode #18 of the RNR) and the entire staff of WCTV for the recognition, and more importantly, for all that they do that is never fully appreciated.

In this episode: a roundup of recent developments in local and regional news media.  Plus, some new and updated local blogs to check out.  Enjoy!

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Last week, regional NPR affiliate WMUB in Oxford, Ohio announced that the Miami University committee appointed by President David Hodge to make recommendations on WMUB's future has completed its report.  Of the four options laid out in the report, the push seems to be toward "developing the regional connections with existing noncommercial radio stations and adding significant connections with appropriate Miami University academic programs."  The subtext may be additional consolidation and merging of public radio resources in the area.

Also, Palladium-Item online editor Jason Truitt announced that several new features have been added to their online presence, allowing readers to submit stories and photos in a new way, subscribe to online news focused on a particular geographical area in town, and view state and national databases of various statistics.

Palladium-Item Viewpoints Editor Dale McConnaughay announced today that the Pal-Item is ending its "open-invitation format" for the public to attend its editorial board meetings. McConnaughay cites the difficulty in keeping the group on track within an allotted time period when the meetings have to accommodate sometimes lengthy and unplanned discussions with those who happen to attend in a given week.

As a part of the announcement, McConnaughay clarifies that anyone who wishes to attend can still contact him to schedule a visit, and the group's agenda will still be sent out in advance as it has been. The board is also expanding the number of community members on the board to eight. Read McConnaughay's full announcement.