Our Opinion: Apply "metrics' to evaluate JCTV

The News Tribune

When Jefferson City officials use the word "metrics," they're not proposing municipal conversion to kilometers or milliliters.

Instead, they are considering measurable standards to judge performance of a contract with the city.

Recent discussion has focused on adopting metrics to evaluate JCTV, the city's public access channel, operated by Lincoln University under a contract with the city.

Adopting measurable standards is - pardon the pun - standard, and we see no reason why it should not apply to JCTV.

When the city contracts with businesses for road resurfacing, building improvements, etc., the contract routinely specifies standards and, sometimes, deadlines.

Similarly, measurements are included in the city's contracts with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development and with the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau to attract visitors.

City funding for JCTV has come under scrutiny, in part because of a city budget shortfall and partially because of dissatisfaction with the station's performance.

Standards being considered for the station include: a minimum amount of fundraising; minimum broadcast hours for city-sponsored meetings; public use of the station; promotion of community events; teaching hours for students; and meeting the needs of minorities.

"I think measuring tools are the next step," said 5th Ward Councilman Larry Henry, who also serves as liaison to the JCTV Steering Committee. "I don't know if it's these things specifically."

We agree.

Proceed with a discussion of metrics to measure the performance and, ultimately, improve the operations of JCTV.