TV Series Asks Input at Sept. 7 Meeting

The "Your Town" series presented by WPBN 7&4 News in Traverse City is coming to Mackinac Island and a town hall meeting will be held Thursday, September 7, to talk with station staff about Island issues in preparation for filming stories about Island life. Segments for broadcast will be filmed within two weeks of the meeting and air the fourth week of September.

The town hall meeting offers residents a chance to discuss what goes on in the community and what is important to them, said news director Doug DeYoung.

"With the large area we cover, that connection is very vital to our reporting," he said.

As part of its 25-county coverage area, the NBC television affiliate hopes to connect with the Island community to find stories that go beyond police blotters, press releases, and routine news coverage, said Mr. DeYoung.

"It's the everyday life stuff, those are the things we're looking for," he said, suggesting one segment might be about the history of the Island and how it became what it is today.

The station developed the series idea about 10 years ago, after television stations were deregulated and no longer required to attend community meetings or meet regularly with community officials, he said.

"This is a way for us to connect to the community outside of our news coverage," said Mr. DeYoung. "The more communication we have with the community, the more connection we have for stories that are interesting."

Station officials hope the meeting and filming on the Island will lead to a long term relationship with community

members, who then might be more willing to call with future story ideas, he said.

The filming will focus on five to 15 stories, Mr. DeYoung said. The one-minute to 2.5minute segments will air the fourth week of September during the morning broadcast between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m., and during local news broadcasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m.

Cameras will not be used during the town hall meeting. Attending from 7&4 News will be vice-president and general manager Julie Brinks, Mr. DeYoung, morning anchor Dave Walker, Kim St. Mary of creative services, and local sales manager Chris Webb.

The town hall meeting begins at 4 p.m. in City Council chambers on the second floor of Community Hall on Market Street.