With the closest TV network news stations being in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, a Marion man has decided to start a new station in Grant County, for Grant County.
“It’s really going to be an internet TV station. I started thinking about it four years ago. I’m tired of us not having it in Marion,” Richar Tyson, WMTV-27 producer, said.
Much of his experience is in writing, and Tyson started “Urban Image” in 2010, an online magazine that has a global reader base.
Tyson’s new venture, which airs on Facebook for now, is called WMTV-27. His partner, Mackenzie Davis, runs the camera and is in charge of post-production.
“We’re budget-conscious,” Tyson said, relying on every day people and locations for stories.
Newscaster Javon Washington said everyone involved is from the area, and the name came from the county’s license plates.
“We’re all from right here in Marion, so let’s represent the 27,” Washington said.
Washington said Tyson approached him about a month ago and asked him to be involved. So far, the crew that ranges from four to six people has aired a handful of newscasts and will soon add a sports show.
“We really try to highlight the positive things going on,” Washington said, “so that’s our theme right now.”
His co-host, Katrina Blackmon, said she got involved because on-air news is what she studied in college.
“I’ve been in the process of figuring out where I’m going to move out of Marion to broadcast sports,” she said. “Once they presented me with the opportunity to work here, it just made sense.”
Many of the show’s story ideas come from Tyson, but people also have been contacting Washington about events they want to see covered. The crew’s job, Washington said, is to make sure story ideas are legitimate and newsworthy.
“I think (Tyson’s) got people who listen for things going on,” Washington said.
Tyson said the response has been positive and warm.
“The community is very receptive to (WMTV-27), saying this is what we need in Marion,” he said, adding that the crew is working on the station’s website and will eventually air other types of shows, including reality shows, sitcoms, sketch comedies, soap operas and even a karaoke-style game show.
“I want to fill up the whole schedule,” Tyson said. “Most of it’s shot here in town. I want to get a strong base here in town.”