by Jim Stovall, President, Narrative Television Network
Although the field of video description — the process of making TV, movies, or any other visual media accessible — is relatively new, it does have an eventful past which may be helpful as we try to gaze into an uncertain future.
If you are planning to attend the ACB annual national convention this coming July in Pittsburgh, you will have an opportunity to affect the future of video description by participating on the Narrative Television Network’s Consumer Panel on Sunday, July 6. Participation on this panel will involve reviewing scenes from described movies and TV shows via videotape in your home prior to the convention, and then attending a one-hour session at the convention to provide us with your feedback. Call (800) 801-8184 for more information about how you can participate on our consumer panel and affect the future of described video on television and elsewhere.
My involvement in the field of video description officially began in 1988. Although I have written a dozen books, a weekly newspaper column, made hundreds of speeches at arena events around the country, and had other business involvements, for the last 15 years, whenever anyone has asked me to name my profession I have proudly stated, “I am president of the Narrative Television Network (NTN).”
I have been asked by everyone from “The Wall Street Journal” and “Forbes” to CNN and “Good Morning America,” how this all got started. As a blind person myself, I hasten to say that the idea is as old as a blind person with a sighted friend or loved one who is describing the visual aspects of any situation. So to that extent, we have all played a role in the development of formal description.
As someone who has devoted a great deal of my professional life to this effort, I must give credit to several deserving people and groups. Without the tireless efforts in developing a system of describing that was pioneered by Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl, founder and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Ear radio reading service in Silver Spring, Md., we would not be where we are today. Dr. Pfanstiehl has been at the forefront of the ongoing efforts to create governmental regulations establishing a mandate for accessibility.
All of the wonderful people at WGBH in Boston’s Descriptive Video Services have blazed the trail and overcome many technical barriers that make our current industry possible. In addition, the current level of video description and the growth we are hoping for would not be possible without the ongoing support and funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to applaud my own team at NTN. They have created more accessible TV and movie programming for network television and home video than anyone in the field of description.
And last, but never least, without Charlie Crawford and the energy of everyone at the American Council of the Blind, we would never have gained the Federal Communications Commission’s mandate that is being argued on appeal in the courts today.
At this writing — early 2003 — the landmark FCC decision of April 2002 has been overturned, but the decision will be undergoing an appeal in the near future. Meanwhile, at least for now, most of the networks are continuing to provide at least a minimal level of accessible programming. There is not a better source to stay informed on the issue than the one you are reading now, and, if you want to get involved, simply follow the lead of ACB and your own leadership as the struggle continues.
I look forward to meeting a number of you at this year’s convention in Pittsburgh and hope that you will help NTN do an even better job of what we do by serving on the advisory panel.
Television, for better or worse, is still the number-one recreational activity in our society. As we all seek to become a part of the mainstream, it is critical that we not be left out of this vital component.