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Seattle Municipal Archives Guide

Record Group: Department of Information Technology

Record Series: Seattle Channel Moving Images

1985 -2010

1600 items (In 50 boxes)

Seattle Channel is an award-winning municipal television station that reflects, informs and inspires the community it serves with a local mix of news, analysis, stories and perpectives. In January 1997, the City created a new unit within the Executive Services Division: Channel 28/Video Services, charged with the responsibility to both provide video services to City departments and to improve the quality and content of the programming on the City's municipal channel. In 1999, Channel 28/Video Services rebranded themselves as TVSea to "help inform citize ns of Seattle about municipal government and local issues, and...involve citizens in decisions that impact their lives." In 2002, TVSea accepted a new mission statement recommended by the Seattle Commission on Electronic Communications: "To inform an d engage citizens in the governmental, civic and cultural affairs of Seattle through compelling use of television, Inter net and other media." The goal of the channel was to become a national leader in using technology to dramatically expand civic engagem ent and public discourse. As "Seattle's Democracy Portal," the channel started broadcasting Seattle City Council meeting s live in September 2002. Its name changed from TVSea to Seattle Channel in 2002, and in 2003, the station moved into a new facili ty in the new City Hall. Seattle Channel programming includes series and special features highlighting the diverse civic and cultural landscape o f Seattle. The station's compelling, high-quality content includes a weekly public-affairs show; live government meeting s and press conferences; in-depth weekly arts coverage; a weekly news/lifestyle magazine show; community features; and panel discuss ions and interviews with local leaders and national figures, including best-selling authors. The collection is comprised of events filmed and productions created by the Seattle Channel, including raw footage and p rogramming. Video coverage of Seattle City Council meetings, forums, and public hearings from 1993 to 2008 for which no separate audio recording exists can be found in this collection. Seattle Channel programming includes: City Inside/Out, Ask the M ayor, Seattle Citizen, Council Conversations, Seattle Voices, Seattle Segments, Seattle Spotlight, Seattle Focus, SEattl e Works, City at Work, Neighborhood News, 911 Media Arts, and more. A collaboration with Seattle Public Library resulted in programmin g such as Book Talk, Book Lust, Cover to Cover, and author book talks. Also included in this series is footage of Mayor Nickels' and Mayor Schell's press conferences from 1998 to 2008. The it ems are cataloged individually in the Moving Images database and linked to a digital format where one exists. Search fo r 3902-01 in our digital collections. SMA is grateful for the support of NHPRC t hrough a grant received by Moving Image Preservation of Puget Sound (MIPoPS) for preservation of and access to these mov ing images.

Location:
Seattle Municipal Archives

Personal Name Subjects:
Nickels, Greg

Topical Subjects:
City Council

Geographical Subjects:
Seattle (Wash.) -- Politics and government
King County (Wash.) -- Politics and government