By Kyle Peveto, Arts Editor
A new television program produced by the City of Abilene and ACU’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication will air weekly on KUF Channel 7 and Cox Cable Channel 7.
The new program, called Abilene City Magazine, will premier Feb. 6.
Students in the Television Studio Production classes will produce Abilene City Magazine in the Channel 7 studios on the first floor of the Don H. Morris Center.
The program has been in planning since last semester when Pam Percival, information coordinator for the City of Abilene, approached the JMC department about producing a local show for the city.
“We were looking for a new way to get citizens involved with the government,” Percival said.
Percival, a former graduate student in the JMC department, brought the idea to Dr. Cheryl Bacon, chair of the department.
“She was really excited about it from a community service stand point,” Percival said.
The first episode of Abilene City Magazine will feature City Manager Larry Gilley interviewing Water Department officials and Mayor Grady Barr about the future of the planned Lake Ivie pipeline and other water projects.
Also set to appear in the first episode is Abilene Zoo Director Jeff Bullock who will highlight upcoming activities at the zoo.
Public safety segments with the police, fire or emergency management departments and a “City View” segment that will feature timely Abilene news will appear every episode.
Abilene City Magazine will give the city a chance to communicate with citizens through more than short news stories and sound bytes in the local media, Percival said.
“It’s a good opportunity for students to get real-life experience on a program that does air,” said J.R. Kessler, instructor of journalism and mass communication and manager of KUF-TV 7. “It will be more challenging than things we have done in the past.”
JMC students have produced Abilene-wide television programs in the past, including local sports and news shows.
Once a semester students have also produced Impacto, a show for Brazilian television.
“Because it’s broadcast on TV, it’s something I can put on my resumŽ tape,” said Josh Branch, senior electronic media major from Houston.
Abilene City Magazine can be contacted by e-mail at percivalp@abilenetx.com.
