WCTV needs your support

Whitewater Community Television might be one of those names you’ve heard or seen go by, but like so many other organizations that work behind the scenes in our community, you might not realize all that they do for the people who live here. Now, with their future existence in question, it’s not too late to take a moment to appreciate the important role they play and how you could be a part of helping their work continue.

We’re a society awash in information and misinformation where residents are overloaded with social media posts, commercials, AI-generated content, gossip and rumors, all begging for attention while stretching one’s ability to figure out what is trustworthy. Access to primary sources of information that have a reputable, neutral source and a trustworthy, transparent delivery process are needed more than ever to help keep the foundations of democracy and public life intact.

For decades, WCTV has been a core part of ensuring that area residents can have direct access to the government meetings and community conversations that help them understand what is happening here: what our elected officials are doing on your behalf, what government bodies and departments are wrestling with, what schools and not-for-profit organizations are doing to address challenges that affect us all.

WCTV has helped our community cut through the noise and go straight to the source. They do it at a level of quality that is hard to find elsewhere in Indiana, and their work is driven by talented professionals who, every day, juggle meeting schedules and technical hurdles to bring these essential conversations and meetings into public view.

At the Western Wayne News, we’ve seen the impact of this work firsthand. WCTV’s coverage regularly informs and enhances our small team’s news reporting, and we are always proud to partner with them. We know that Wayne County without WCTV would be a community that is less informed, less engaged, less prepared to vote in elections, less willing to volunteer or offer philanthropic support where it’s needed most, less aware of what our neighbors are doing and less ready to build our future.

In short, if WCTV were to disappear or be forced to significantly scale back its operations, the community would be worse off.

In the days ahead, WCTV is building support and raising funds to try to avoid that fate. If you’ve ever viewed a WCTV program online or on cable, if you’ve ever wished for more accountability for elected bodies, or if you just want to support community media that makes our public life more accessible and transparent, please call 765-973-8488 or visit wctv.info or facebook.com/WCTVIndiana to learn how you can help.

Chris Hardie is the owner and publisher of the Western Wayne News.