Medfield.TV Talks Local Politics in New Show

Have you ever wondered how Medfield's town government works at the local level?

If so, you are not alone as Medfield.TV's newest show, "Local Politics 101," was inspired by that curiosity, according to the show's host, Pam Jones.

"[Medfield.TV's] regular camera guy, David Chatterton, and I were talking on the way to a shoot and I was asking him questions about how politics on a local level work around here in Medfield – I moved here from Atlanta and it's very different there," said Jones. "He confessed he wasn't sure about it himself. From this discussion, we decided we needed to do a new show that explained how local government works."

Enter Local Politics 101, which Jones said she is "very excited" to host and hopes to educate residents on all that occurs in town government by talking to local experts.

"I hope to interview all of Medfield's community leaders and government departments," Jones said. "Learning what the job entails, how much time the job takes, if it takes any special skills and what their job does for the average Medfield citizen."

With , Jones made it clear the new show would not be a platform for political campaigning.

"Local Politics 101 is not for campaigning, it's to inform people on how their government works and what it can do for them," she said.

The first show debuts the week of Feb. 27 and will feature Town Historian Richard DeSorgher.

"I asked Richard DeSorgher – a well respected, retired social studies teacher from Medfield High School – to come and give us an overview of how New England's town government started," Jones said.

Jones instructed viewers to check out Medfield.TV's guide to see when Local Politics 101 will air. You can view the guide by clicking here. 

About Jones

Pam Jones has lived in Medfield since 2007 and has been working at Medfield.TV since March 2011. She says she got involved with Medfield's Public Access channel after her daughter, Laney, began volunteering at the studio following a visit to its booth on Medfield Day.

"I was picking her up and dropping her off, so they asked me to volunteer," Jones said. "About a month later, I was mentioning that I needed a job, so I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to volunteer and they made an opening for me."

Jones has done a variety of work with the studio, but says she really enjoys directing events at the different schools in town.

"[I] host Medfield Now and Companions Corners regularly," Jones said. "I also host Citizens Spotlight – but this show has several hosts. I also edit shows. I really enjoy directing at many of this years school concerts."

About Medfield.TV

According to its website, Medfield.TV "is local community television for Medfield, Mass. Medfield.TV administers three local PEG Access cable channels on the town's two cable providers. On Comcast, these are channels 8, 12, and 22 and 36, 45, 47 on Verizon FIOS. Medfield.TV is a 501C3 not for profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Originally known as "Cable 8," Medfield.TV was incorporated as the Medfield Community Cable Access Corporation in 1987. Medfield.TV is sustained through a small fee on the cable subscriber's bill known as a "franchise fee." This is not a tax. This fee funds the operating of Medfield.TV through a contract that has been negotiated between the cable provider and the Town of Medfield. The mission of Medfield.TV is to be a valuable community resource, providing access and education to all residents of Medfield to enable the creation, production and distribution of programming intended to stimulate, entertain, inform and connect the entire community. Medfield.TV is wholly committed to providing opportunity for community conversation."