TV for Social Good

Since it opened its doors in 1974, TV Santa Barbara’s mission has been to provide an outlet for freedom of speech and to empower people to make media that matters.

“For nearly 50 years, TV Santa Barbara has been the one place where every member of our community can make themselves seen and heard,” says Erik Davis, TVSB’s executive director. “We are the people’s channel.”

In addition to running a media access center where local producers create and edit programs, TVSB also carries 24/7 programming on two community access channels, 17 and 71 (TVSB Voice and TVSB Culture).

But when COVID-19 struck – and the world shifted to video – Davis and his team quickly realized they needed a pandemic pivot. “I knew we wanted to be of service and give back to this great community,” Davis says.

One way TVSB did so was to provide free production help for area museums, gardens, and other cultural institutions through a program called 805 Inspires! TV Santa Barbara recorded and aired lectures, civic forums, and community arts presentations. And when in-person graduations were cancelled, TVSB partnered with area high schools to create virtual and televised graduations.

One of TVSB’s most critical endeavors continues to be providing media literacy training to kids of all ages. Particularly at a time of heightened misinformation, the ability to identify different types of media and analyze the underlying message is more important than ever.

When you give to TV Santa Barbara, you’re helping the organization provide clear, unbiased information to the public, to offer video production services to local nonprofits and government agencies, and to train the next generation to see past the hype.

Community media access centers like TV Santa Barbara play an important role in giving voice to communities lucky enough to have them. Whether advocating for freedom of speech or teaching young students about the value of media literacy in the digital age, TVSB is a vital part of the local landscape and in the lives of local residents.