NEW YORK – The Board of Directors of Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), the recently expanded public access cable television network, has elected one of New York City’s most active advocate journalists, Donald Suggs, as its new chair. A former senior editor at The Village Voice and a long-time freelance reporter published in The New York Times, Suggs replaces Larian Angelo, budget director for the New York City Council, who stepped down this month.
Joining Suggs on the board are newly elected officers, Lillie Carino-Higgins, vice-chair, and Nina Streich, treasurer. Carino-Higgins, an MNN producer, is the chief City Hall lobbyist for District Council 37. Streich is creative director of Albot & Albot, which produces CD-ROMs, docudramas, trailers, and television and radio spots.
“I think this is an exciting time for MNN, as technology is radically changing the role of public access. I look forward to working with the organization in the new millennium as we create an entirely new vision of community media and its language,” said Suggs, who had been vice-chair of the board.
Along with his experience as a print journalist, Suggs brings more than a decade of television programming and producing to this highly visible, demanding, and politically-charged new media role.
Along with the other members of the board, Suggs will ultimately be responsible for ensuring that New York residents can exercise their First Amendment rights through the medium of cable television and create opportunities for mutual communication, education, artistic expression and other non-commercial uses of video facilities on an open, uncensored and equitable basis.
“What we want to do is emphasize our commitment to the community and to reach out as a powerful alternative vehicle of televised events, news, entertainment and other innovative programming,” noted Suggs, who is currently working with the network’s Youth Channel that teaches young people video production. Recently the Youth Channel offered its first scheduled series of quality programs exclusively produced by youngsters from Manhattan, the U.S. and around the world, and dedicated to showcasing their issues, experiences and concerns. The goal is to give the Youth Channel its own 24/7 public access cable TV network, the first in the country.
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