Melinda Garfield, executive director of the Westwood Media Center (WMC) and president of MassAccess, is the recipient of the Alliance for Community Media’s 2018 Emerging Leader Award. The award was presented at the ACM 2018 National Conference in Baltimore, MD, during an event celebrating leaders who work to promote community and media.
The Emerging Leader Award is offered annually to a professional, less than 40 years of age, working in the field of community media, who demonstrates the values of building community through media on a consistent basis. The individual demonstrates leadership in the field on a local, regional or national level. The award recognizes the individual for being a person who is innovative in their work to strengthen the impact of community media.
“I am humbled and grateful to have been named the Alliance for Community Media’s 2018 Emerging Leader,” said Garfield. “This organization does so much great work for community media across the country, and it is a terrific honor to be recognized by this group. I love being a part of community media, because I believe so strongly in the mission and the work being done at centers throughout the country.”
In her current role as president of MassAccess, Ms. Garfield leads the non-profit organization in their mission to support community media centers across Massachusetts. As the executive director of Westwood Media Center, she leads the WMC in carrying out their mission to promote and enhance local television content to Westwood residents via cable and online channels in order to support an informed and active citizenry, increase the transparency and quality of civic decision-making, deepen understanding of local issues of importance and promote civility in public dialogue, while respecting the rights to free speech and creative expression.
Ms. Garfield has an extensive background in community media. Previously, she served as the director of production services at NewTV in Newton, MA, where she received numerous accolades including a New England Emmy for her role as an associate producer of “The Folklorist” in 2014. She has previously worked for Powderhouse Productions, Straight Ahead Pictures, Cutter Productions, NBC30, and mtvU, and was the office manager for iDeal Partners Film Fund, where she coordinated film premieres at Sundance Film Festival. In addition, Melinda taught digital media at Rumney Marsh Academy Middle School in Revere, MA.
