Here at Press Pass TV we see ourselves as a resource for the community to get their stories out and voice their issues to a broader audience. For that reason, we were thrilled yesterday when the Dorchester Reporter and Open Media Boston picked up our story on concerned neighbors in Dorchester. We’re looking forward to building strong collaborations with both of these wonderful community news outlets.

In addition to these, we had also sent the piece out to other local news outlets like the Boston Globe and WHDH Channel 7, our local NBC affiliate station. We were concerned that this story, which happened on Friday had gone unnoticed over the weekend. All we asked was that any other news outlets that used the story let us know.

So we were surprised last night when we saw the story on the Channel 7 11 O’Clock News. Unlike Open Media Boston and the Dorchester Reporter, who were excited to promoted the wonderful work of Boston youth, WHDH sent out their own crew to interview the same people that we had already spoken to, capture similar b-roll, and add a few formulaic sensationalist twists.

Part of the mission here at Press Pass TV is to use the news as a source of empowerment, community building and to inspire people to action. We were happy to feature Darrin Howell, Cassie Grice and their neighbors in their dialogue about solutions to keep their children and their neighborhood safe. The story featured here on Channel 7 does none of those things, and instead perpetuates a lot of the hopelessness and fear we see young people already feeling about their commmunities

Not only are we disappointed that NBC would chase a story already covered by youth without giving them any credit for breaking it, we are also saddened by their portrayal of our community. Check out our story in the post below, and the NBC story here, and let us know what you think. Also, be sure to write to NBC and let them know that you demand better for your community!

Press Pass TV’s Rapid Response team was out again this weekend, reporting live from Dorchester. PPTV visits with neighbors of an abandoned property where shots fired on Friday came dangerously close to the bedrooms of youth in a nearby home.

We’re excited and proud to report that the story has been picked up by the Dorchester Reporter and Open Media Boston.

It’s been a while, but we’ve got some great new content up on our YouTube and TeacherTube sites. Here’s some new stories we’ve been working on for you!

Bank of America Protest:
Press Pass TV hit the streets in Copley Square to bring you to the Bank of America, where a collaboration of community organizations was protesting the use of their federal bailout funds.

Low Rider Barbecue:
Press Pass TV is joined by a special guest host, Jay from La Familia, who takes us inside the group’s annual Father’s Day Low Rider’s Barbecue at Franklin Park

Our Scars Unite Us:
A special Women’s Month piece, produced with help from Reflect and Strengthen.

Edwards Middle School:
Press Pass TV puts cameras in the hands of 7 graders at the Edwards Middle School. Watch what the middle schoolers were able to do with only 2 production classes. Teachers, students and the principal talk about recent improvements in the school and how the community perceives them.