Millinocket to get local access television

MILLINOCKET – Local access public television will make its debut in December with the creation of a local access station that will be paid for with a combination of state grants, free student labor and donations.

Plans call for the station to do a soft startup in December, possibly from the third floor of the Millinocket Area Growth and Investment Council, or MAGIC, and BRIC, the Business Resource and Innovation Center building at 10 Katahdin Ave.

The operation should be up and running the next month, Town Councilor Gail Fanjoy said Friday.

As many as 60 high school students from Millinocket, East Millinocket, Lincoln and Medway have expressed interest in participating, Fanjoy said.

Among the programming choices will be Town Council and school board meetings, local sporting events such as high school football and field hockey games, and ideas turned into programs by the students, who will come from local high schools and a regional vocational program in Lincoln, Bruce McLean, MAGIC executive director, said.

“My intent is that people will be better informed as to what really happens without the spin doctors. I hope that people will feel more involved or in touch with what’s going on,” said Fanjoy, who also is on MAGIC’s board of directors. “Council meetings are not really convenient for the public to attend.”

Much of the equipment already has been donated, and MAGIC is considering letting them use the third floor, said McLean.

He touts the effort as a good way for students to learn TV programming and business techniques while giving exposure to local business and community efforts. The students will learn to write programming and advertising campaigns, among other things, while letting viewers in on area highlights.

“I think it’s an awesome project, both an educational and a creative venture,” McLean said. “We want to get it to the point where it’s a profitable little venture for the school-age kids.”