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Council endorses state bills to support local media after UMA staff layoffs
Summary
The council passed a resolution urging the Massachusetts Legislature to pass bills S.41 and H.91 to modernize funding for community media and support Urban Media Arts, which experienced staff reductions after a drop in cable franchise fees.
The City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging the Massachusetts Legislature to pass bills S.41 and H.91 to modernize funding for community media centers and shore up civic information platforms. Councilors said the measures would help sustain community media infrastructure, workforce training and local civic programming.
Councilor Colon Hayes, lead sponsor, cited recent staffing reductions at Urban Media Arts (UMA/MATV) tied to declines in cable franchise-fee revenue and asked the council to support the state bills that would replenish operating funds and reduce dependency on cable-fee models. Councilors O’Malley, Winslow and Taylor spoke in favor, citing UMA’s role in public transparency, youth programming and local journalism.
The resolution asks that copies be sent to the governor, the speaker of the house, the senate president, the local legislative delegation and the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Councilors noted the organization is exploring programmatic and fundraising options and urged residents to support UMA through participation and donations as the legislature considers the bills.
