My Nonprofit Reviews
Earon
Review for Living Earth Television NFP, Bloomington, IN, USA
So, how could Living Earth Television exceed my expectations? We're still here :)
Change is difficult in this culture of ours. Corporations and NFP's do things the way they have done them in the past, and many struggle just to continue - rather than looking for new and better ways to meet their objectives. They claim to be "innovative" but from the trajectory of our social challenges, it appears that "innovation" often just means finding a "quick buck" rather than adding quality.
The process of completing and broadcasting our first documentary, "Kindergarten" by Zhang Yiqing, was quite a learning experience for me. Yes, it demonstrated that we could provide excellent programming for a small fraction of what it costs to produce a new documentary. And broadcasters are interested in this high quality content. However, broadcasting is so squeezed for cash now that it doesn't want to pay for programming that isn't going to bring in big profits.
As a Board Member, we discuss strategy and planning objectives. We have some great films in the pipeline, but need money to translate and otherwise reversion them for broadcast. Watch "Kindergarten" at http://www.linktv.org/kindergarten. It is a remarkable film. What does it say about our media and our society that it isn't seen as "commercial?" We're still going to make this work!
It was also very exciting to watch how Martha Foster was able to facilitate broadcasts of American Documentary films by the government television station in Myanmar. This was a striking accomplishment - again showing that there is an important place for Living Earth Television - if only enough people help us move forward.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
watching "Kindergarten" on satellite tv - you can stream it at http:/www.linktv.org/kindergarten.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find ways to get it more money :)
Review for Living Earth Television NFP, Bloomington, IN, USA
LETV is the vision of Martha Foster for the creation of global public television. Using documentaries made locally, around the world, the vision is one of allowing people to get to know their global neighbors directly, through films made by people within the culture - rather than outsiders. This process is like learning about a culture by visiting someone living there, rather than listening to a lecture by an "expert" in your own country. Just as importantly, excellent documentary films can be translated and subtitled far less expensively than sending film crews and editors around the globe, often ignoring that which is the same about people - too often focusing only on the differences. This organization has built an impressive infrastructure over the past couple of years without a significant budget, through outstanding professionals who have volunteered their efforts out of a desire to help make the world a better place. They know that helping LETV is probably giving their efforts and their donations the biggest bang they could possibly hope for. No time for small ideas. Yet, LETV is a tiny blossom waiting to emerge; working to secure funding to complete its first translations of excellent documentaries from China. Living Earth Television is going to revolutionize international media through intercultural partnerships, drastically reducing the costs for excellent programming, making available remarkable programs that are currently limited to regional television stations and a few film festivals.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the eyes of experienced media documentary film makers and production professionals. The world needs vehicles like this as part of the infrastructure of peace that will help bring people together through compassion and education rather than competition and conflict.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
be asking more and more people to help LETV with expertise and funding.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the quality of people and the simplicity of the concept and vision.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
remarkable professionals. With each cycle of new volunteers, there is increased professionalism and creativity. Just amazing to watch.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help make it unthinkable to wage war against another country. As globalization proceeds, the need for education and cooperation is growing exponentially and LETV can be an important part of the infrastructure of global cooperation and understanding.
Ways to make it better...
we had more funding to work with. The vision has withstood the test of time, gaining support each month. Yet, the organization needs seed money to get some films translated and broadcast.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Currently, there is considerable anti-China sentiment among segments of American society, including the foundations. Nowhere is there a greater need for cultural understanding than in US/China relationships, but there remains considerable mistrust.
One thing I'd also say is that...
LETV is here because of the quality of its founder and volunteers. This is a concept that needs to happen, but as we have seen with global climate change, our culture remains relatively indifferent and uneducated. It is time to change that.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
