George C. Stoney
Encyclopedia
George C. Stoney is a professor of film and cinema studies at New York University
(NYU), and a pioneer in the field of documentary film
. Stoney directed several influential films including All My Babies
and How the Myth Was Made. He is considered as the father of public-access television
.
George Stoney studied journalism at NYU and the University of North Carolina
. He has worked as a photo intelligence officer in World War II
, for the Farm Security Administration
an information officer, and as a freelance journalist. In 1946, he joined the Southern Educational Film Service as writer and director. He started his own production company in 1950, and has made over 40 documentary films on wide ranging subjects. All My Babies
, one of his first films, received numerous awards and was inducted into the National Film Registry
in 2002.
Stoney was also the director of the Challenge for Change
project, a socially active documentary production wing of the National Film Board of Canada
from 1966-70.
With Red Burns, Stoney co-founded the Alternate Media Center in 1972, which trained citizens in the tools of video production for a brand new medium, Public-access television. An early advocate of democratic media
, Stoney is often cited as being the Father of Public-access television. Today, Stoney sits on the Board of Directors for the Manhattan Neighborhood Network
(MNN) and is active in the Alliance for Community Media
(ACM). Each year, the ACM presents "The George Stoney Award" to an organization or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to championing the growth and experience of humanistic community communications.
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU), and a pioneer in the field of documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. Stoney directed several influential films including All My Babies
All My Babies
All My Babies is a 1953 educational film produced and directed by George C. Stoney which was used to educate midwives in the Southern United States.It was produced by the Georgia Department of Public Health, and written by George C...
and How the Myth Was Made. He is considered as the father of public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
.
George Stoney studied journalism at NYU and the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. He has worked as a photo intelligence officer in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, for the Farm Security Administration
Farm Security Administration
Initially created as the Resettlement Administration in 1935 as part of the New Deal in the United States, the Farm Security Administration was an effort during the Depression to combat American rural poverty...
an information officer, and as a freelance journalist. In 1946, he joined the Southern Educational Film Service as writer and director. He started his own production company in 1950, and has made over 40 documentary films on wide ranging subjects. All My Babies
All My Babies
All My Babies is a 1953 educational film produced and directed by George C. Stoney which was used to educate midwives in the Southern United States.It was produced by the Georgia Department of Public Health, and written by George C...
, one of his first films, received numerous awards and was inducted into the National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
in 2002.
Stoney was also the director of the Challenge for Change
Challenge for Change
Challenge for Change was a participatory film and video project created by the National Film Board of Canada in 1967, the Canadian Centennial...
project, a socially active documentary production wing of the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
from 1966-70.
With Red Burns, Stoney co-founded the Alternate Media Center in 1972, which trained citizens in the tools of video production for a brand new medium, Public-access television. An early advocate of democratic media
Democratic media
Democratic media is a form of media organization that strives to have the principles of democracy underlying not only the production of content, but also the organization of the entire project.- Definition of the term :...
, Stoney is often cited as being the Father of Public-access television. Today, Stoney sits on the Board of Directors for the Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Manhattan Neighborhood Network is a non-profit organization that broadcasts programming on four public-access television cable TV stations in Manhattan, New York and provides a community media center that enables individuals and groups to produce shows for its network.-History:It has operated...
(MNN) and is active in the Alliance for Community Media
Alliance for Community Media
The Alliance for Community Media , previously known as the National Federation of Local Cable Programmers , is an advocacy and lobbying organization in the United States in support of Public, educational, and government access cable tv channels...
(ACM). Each year, the ACM presents "The George Stoney Award" to an organization or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to championing the growth and experience of humanistic community communications.
See also
- Public Access Television