Digital Redwood Soapbox comes to the North Country Fair!

Access Humboldt unveils the Digital Redwood Soapbox
at the North Country Fair

The Access Humboldt mission statement “Local Voices Through Community Media” takes on a whole new meaning at this year's North Country Fair. Access Humboldt is unveiling the digital “Redwood Soapbox”. Just what does “Redwood Soapbox” look like and what does it do? Modest in appearance, the booth is a 5' x8' structure made of soundboard and 2’’x 4’’s. It is equipped with a digital video camera and a monitor that becomes an instant platform for community free speech. Community members will have up to 3 minutes to share salutations, shout-outs, songs, poems, season’s greetings, or whatever you want to share with the rest of the community via Access Humboldt! Redwood Soapbox participants will be broadcast onto Access Humboldt channel 11 and hosted online as well.

The Redwood Soapbox was designed by Daniel Johnson, Access Humboldt’s Media Policy Researcher, and the video components were installed by Jessemyn Reid, Access Humboldt’s Digital Media Manager. Programming Coordinator, Julie Ryan says, “The creativity and ingenuity of the staff and volunteers who made this happen is really inspiring. I want to encourage everyone to come to the North Country Fair on September 20th and 21st at the Arcata Plaza and exercise your first amendment right to free speech at the Access Humboldt Redwood Soapbox.”

The booth will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm both days of the North Country Fair. Redwood Soapbox speakers will be required to sign a talent release stating that they give are willing to be on AH-11.