Pros
Your coworkers are hardworking and trustworthy.
Cons
This is a toxic work environment led by an Executive Director, Darrious Hilmon, who seemingly derives pleasure from embarrassing, intimidating and exploiting workers. If you are looking at this before applying, you might say to yourself "Sure the pay is horrible, but the mission of expanding media access to Chicagoans from any income bracket and background is important and fulfilling” … you wish. The amount of stress, harassment, distrust, insecurity, physical danger, passive aggression, regular aggression, threats, and retaliation is not worth it. And the mission....CAN TV has made it obstructively difficult for community producers to use the studio. The ED and board are taking the ACCESS out of access TV. It is a nightmare. Staff and managers are dropping like flies. Some quit, some are pushed out, and some are escorted off the premises. It is NOT a good environment. The neglect, mistreatment and obvious resentment of employees is crystal clear. For the early part of 2023 community producers could barely book the studio because the ED and CAN TV leadership was busy prioritizing their privileged and rich colleagues. They are giving screen time, makeup artists, editors, crew, photographers and PR to their wealthy friends, instead of using resources for the community. The net worth and cultural influence of hosts and guests on the “signature programs” is not representative of the makeup of Chicago nor the mission of can tv - giving them a disproportionate amount of resources is in direct conflict with the mission. The disrespect of workers and everyday chicagoans, to whom public access is important and irreplaceable, is despicable. The mistreatment of employees who are generous, caring and knowledgeable is a disgrace.