What is High Five Access Media?
High Five Access Media is a nonprofit, noncommercial community media center located in Avon, Colorado, serving communities across Eagle County. We provide media education, storytelling and digital skills training, free access to professional equipment and facilities, and distribution of locally focused programming on Comcast Channel 5, online and across social media platforms. Through coverage of local government proceedings, nonprofit work and community events, we help residents stay informed, share their stories and participate more fully in civic life.
Mission
High Five Access Media empowers our community with multimedia tools and training, sparking creativity, connection and civic engagement across the Valley.
High Five Access Media believes community access media helps build an informed, creative and civically engaged community, creating a ripple effect across ages, backgrounds, viewpoints, economic circumstances and professions. As an open platform for local information and stories by and for the community, we provide transparent, gavel-to-gavel coverage of local government meetings, high-quality media education, and production support for nonprofits and community partners. From students who discover skills that grow into a passion or career, to residents who stay connected to local affairs from home, our programs foster creativity, inclusion, service and collaboration across the Vail Valley.
Executive Summary
High Five Access Media is Eagle County’s community media center, providing trusted civic information, media education, free access to professional equipment, community storytelling and distribution across cable and digital platforms. Residents and organizations face barriers including high costs, geographic distance, transportation and language challenges, limited media training opportunities and gaps in local coverage. High Five helps close those gaps by providing the information, skills, tools and platforms people need to participate, create and be heard. As local media changes and cable-based funding becomes less reliable, High Five is building a more resilient future through diversified support, stronger partnerships and expanded access across the Valley.
High Five Access Media empowers our community with multimedia tools and training, sparking creativity, connection and civic engagement across the Valley.
Vail Valley Community Television began cablecasting on Channel 5 in 1983 from a studio in the old Town of Vail public works shop. With a couple 3/4-inch studio cameras, a field camera and some editing equipment, several residents hopped on board the electronic soapbox and public access television was born in Vail.
The station offered the first opportunity for average citizens to produce their own television programs, while the cable channel ensured they could effectively communicate with the community.
Our first program was News Vail, an hour-long, weekly show that offered insight into issues affecting the valley. The station provided video training for dozens of local residents, who pitched in to produce the program. Many of these community producers went on to careers in media. In 1985, Vail Valley Community Television was incorporated as a nonprofit organization.
Over the years, Channel 5 has offered video production workshops, whose participants, along with staff, went on to create several local-centric programs, including Reading of the Vail Daily with Josh Hall, Altitude Sickness, Mountain Valley Magazine and The Community Project. In the 90's Vail Valley Community Television began its coverage of Vail Town Council meetings, an effort that has grown to include the Town of Avon and several other government entities.
In 2016, we changed our name to High Five Access Media, to more accurately reflect what we do and show the community the opportunities to get involved with access television.
Organization name
High Five Access Media
other names
High Five Access Media, HFAM
1985
Tax id (EIN)
84-1088782
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities, Education, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Public & Societal Benefit, Youth Development
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
281 Metcalf Road, Unit 203 PO Box 5600Eagle County, CO, US