Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura, better known as CAPS Media, continues to serve as Ventura’s vital hub for public, educational, and government access television and radio. Located at 65 Day Road on the Ventura College campus, this independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization fulfills its mission of creating an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. From training residents in video production to covering city meetings and producing original community programming on Channels 6 and 15, CAPS remains a cornerstone of local storytelling and civic life.
One of CAPS Media’s standout educational partnerships is the El Camino High School Broadcast Program. Based at the CAPS Media Center, this Career Technical Education pathway immerses students in real-world broadcast production. Under the guidance of instructor Phil Taggart, students learn camera operation, directing, graphics, teleprompting, editing, and all aspects of producing a regular television show. The program’s flagship production, ECTV (El Camino Television), is an award-winning news and entertainment series that airs on CAPS Channel 6 and streams online. Students gain hands-on experience in a professional studio environment that closely mirrors industry workplaces, preparing them for careers in multimedia while contributing fresh, youth-driven content to the community airwaves. The program has earned recognition, including WAVE awards from the Alliance for Community Media, highlighting the high quality of student work.
Recently, the CAPS Media Center Studio received significant lighting upgrades that elevate production quality for all users. The new LED lighting systems replace older fixtures, offering greater energy efficiency, cooler operation, precise color control, and flexible dimming options ideal for interviews, multi-camera shoots, and creative productions. These improvements benefit everyone from student crews to community producers, resulting in sharper images, better skin tones, and more polished overall visuals that meet modern broadcast standards.
In response to the upgrades, CAPS members have begun scheduling dedicated studio lighting classes. These hands-on sessions teach proper three-point lighting techniques, the use of diffusion and gels, wireless control basics, and creative applications of the new LED instruments. By mastering professional lighting, members can take full advantage of the enhanced studio and produce higher-caliber content for their own programs.
Looking ahead, CAPS Media is once again preparing its popular Video Voter series for the upcoming local elections in the City of Ventura. This long-running program invites candidates to the studio to share their platforms, answer community-submitted questions, and discuss key issues facing residents. The nonpartisan videos air on CAPS channels and stream on demand at capsmedia.org, giving voters an accessible way to learn about the candidates beyond traditional campaign materials. As election season approaches, Video Voter continues CAPS’s tradition of fostering informed civic participation.
Whether training the next generation of broadcasters through the El Camino program, modernizing its facilities with new lighting, offering specialized classes, or empowering voters with candidate information, CAPS Media remains deeply committed to Ventura.
Residents interested in membership, classes, or production opportunities are encouraged to visit capsmedia.org or contact the center to get involved. In an era of rapid media change, CAPS ensures that local voices continue to be heard, seen, and valued.
