Protect Houston Media and Houston’s Community Voice

Mayor of the City of Houston
City of Houston
901 Bagby Street
Houston, Texas 77002

Dear Mayor:

I am writing to express my support for Houston Media, formerly Houston Media Source, and to request that the City of Houston recognize the continuing importance of independent community media.

For nearly four decades, Houston Media has provided residents with access to media training, public information, local programming, artistic expression, and a platform for voices that are often not represented through commercial broadcasting.

The withdrawal of City operating support places an important Houston institution at risk during a time when trustworthy local information, workforce development, emergency communication, civic participation, and community storytelling are increasingly important.

Houston is a global city. It should have a modern, independent, community-access media institution capable of training residents, developing new media talent, supporting local producers, strengthening emergency communications, and sharing Houston’s diverse voices with audiences throughout the region and around the world.

I respectfully ask your administration to:

• Meet with Houston Media leadership to discuss its transition and long-term sustainability.
• Provide a transparent accounting of public-access and PEG-related funds, decisions, and obligations.
• Identify lawful opportunities for facilities, capital support, public communication partnerships, workforce development, and community programming.
• Recognize Houston Media as a valuable civic, educational, cultural, and economic-development institution.
• Support a fair and transparent process that protects Houston residents’ access to community media.

This matter is not only about preserving the past. It is about building a stronger future for public communication, media education, free expression, and community participation in Houston.

Thank you for your attention and public service.

Respectfully,

Houston City Council
City Hall
901 Bagby Street
Houston, Texas 77002

Dear Council Member:

I am writing to request your support for Houston Media, formerly Houston Media Source, and for the continued availability of independent community media services in Houston.

Houston Media has served Houston residents for nearly four decades by providing access to media production, technical education, civic information, artistic expression, public dialogue, and locally created programming.

The City’s withdrawal of operating support creates serious concerns regarding the future of community access, the handling of public-access resources, and Houston’s ability to maintain an independent platform for residents and local organizations.

I respectfully ask Houston City Council to pursue the following actions:

• Request a complete and transparent review of the City’s public-access and PEG funding history.
• Clarify how relevant funds have been received, transferred, restricted, or used.
• Determine what legal, contractual, financial, or public-interest obligations remain.
• Invite Houston Media leadership to present its transition plan before the appropriate Council committee.
• Explore lawful partnerships involving workforce training, public information, emergency communications, youth education, local production, and digital broadcasting.
• Support solutions that protect the public’s access to community media without limiting Houston Media’s independence or future growth.

Houston should not lose a long-standing civic institution without a transparent public discussion and a serious evaluation of the available alternatives.

I ask you to help ensure that Houston residents continue to have a place where their voices, stories, ideas, and creative work can be seen and heard.

Respectfully,

City of Houston Administration
Houston, Texas

Dear City Administrator:

I am writing to encourage your department or office to explore opportunities to work with Houston Media, formerly Houston Media Source.

Houston Media is transitioning from a traditional public-access station into a broader community-owned digital media, education, workforce-development, production, and public-communication platform.

Its capabilities and future direction may support City priorities involving:

• Public information and resident engagement
• Emergency and resilience communications
• Workforce and technical training
• Youth and adult media education
• Community health and safety messaging
• Neighborhood storytelling
• Small-business and nonprofit visibility
• Multilingual and culturally relevant communications
• Public meetings and civic education
• Digital-media production and broadcasting

Rather than allowing a long-standing community asset to disappear, Houston has an opportunity to evaluate how Houston Media can support residents, City departments, neighborhoods, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses.

I respectfully request that your office:

• Meet with Houston Media leadership.
• Evaluate potential service agreements or program partnerships.
• Identify communication, production, training, or community-engagement needs that Houston Media could support.
• Help direct Houston Media to applicable City, county, state, federal, philanthropic, or institutional resources.
• Support a transparent and constructive transition process.

Houston Media represents existing infrastructure, experience, community trust, technical knowledge, and significant future potential.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support stronger communication and broader community participation throughout Houston.

Respectfully,