Multimedia

Using Local Public Access Television Channels

An effective way to get your National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) event covered by a television station is to contact your local Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access television channel. There are over 4,000 of these local cable channels in the United States. PEG channels are non-commercial and welcome programming that meets a community need.

There are several ways to partner with these channels:

• Contact the general manager or the executive director of the PEG access channel. Give information on your event and ask if the channel will cover it. (Use the Recovery Month media resources tools such as the sample press releases and fact sheets as a conversation starter). The advantage of an access channel covering your event is that they will usually run it in its entirety, rather than just as a minute long story in an overall newscast.
  
  
• Most access centers have "bulletin boards" that scroll messages about local events. Ask to have your event listed on the bulletin board.
  
  
• Find out if the channel has a "community affairs" show (done by volunteer producers and sometimes by staff). Offer to be a guest on the show. Usually these types of shows look for guests that bring interesting information to the table.
  
  
• Consider producing a show on the addition recovery and mental health efforts in your community. Even if you have no experience in production, Pubic access channels will provide you the training you need to create your own programming.
  
  
• Ask the channel to air the "Road to Recovery" program produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Think about linking your local show to the Road to Recovery show. This is typically called "wrap around programming."
  
  
• Offer the channel a free "sponsorship" of your event in exchange for televising the event. This helps the channel by giving it publicity at your event and it helps guarantee your event will be covered.
  
  

PEG channels are listed on television in the cable guides of your cable system. You can also call local city/county government and ask for the access channel (Government access channels are usually run by your local government). Educational access channels are usually run by the school district or local college.

If you cannot locate a PEG channel in your community email recoverymonth@samhsa.hhs.gov or call (617) 520-2576.

Search for your local cable TV access channel by selecting your state from the drop-down box below. Check the local programming schedule to see when the Road to Recovery Webcasts are scheduled to air. If you cannot locate the program, please contact the station for more information.