Laurie Cirivello

A 1981 graduate of Ohio University (Athens, Ohio), Laurie has been working in noncommercial media for nearly 20 years, first in public broadcasting fund development (The WOSU Stations, Columbus, Ohio) and then in community media. She has been an executive director of PEG operations since 1993.

In 1996 she relocated to California to undertake the role of Executive Director of a new PEG access start-up media center in Santa Rosa. During this period she took on regional leadership roles in the Alliance for Community Media (ACM), co-authored the ACM Access Start-up manual and provided advice and consultation for numerous access organizations.

Currently, Laurie is Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center, where she leads a staff team providing services in public access cable, community radio, and nonprofit IT support and web development. GRCMC also owns and operates a 100 year historic venue infused with modern media technology.


In this interview Laurie provides a wealth of examples of best practices in PEG media operations and the philosophy that underlies her initiatives. Listen to the full interview.
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Laurie recounts her "first brush" with community TV and why it drew her in.
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Laurie lists the key ingredients for success in a community PEG media center - beginning with attitude.
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How does a community media center incorporate the internet into its "toolbox?" What changes and what stays the same?
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Laurie describes how GRCMC helps its users with different media tools and pathways depending on the communications needs they have.
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http://www.archive.org/details/64_Laurie_mediatools

Listen to this clip! It's the key to Laurie and GRCMC's approach to its users.
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http://www.archive.org/details/65_Laurie_problem_solvers

Hiring decisions as Media Centers expand their roles.
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What are some of the new classes at GRCMC?
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Nonprofit agencies are a key constituency at GRCMC. Here's a taste of how they use the media center.
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With a Knight Foundation grant, GRCMC is setting up a major citizen journalism project. Learn about the concept, the tools, the training, and the vision.
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How might a PEG-related citizen journalism project interact with the commercial media outlets in Grand Rapids?
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How might a media center without a Knight grant go about implementing citizen journalism?
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Laurie describes an earlier project she engineered at Santa Rosa's media center that was an innovative way to accomplish many goals at once.
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Laurie describes two other grant funded projects at GRCMC. Each could be replicated in other locations.
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Laurie offers some advice for PEG grant-seekers.
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Laurie sums up her recipe for PEG media center success.
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