Our Opinion: C-SPAN project documents our unique contributions

News Tribune editorial

Jefferson City is on the project list.

A project by the cable network, CSPAN, has brought a team to our community to document contributions to history and literature.

The Local Content Vehicle (LCV) project spends one week each month on the road, visiting communities to learn what makes them unique and share the discoveries with viewers.

In response to the frequent question -- "Why are you here? -- network videographer Tiffany Rocque answers: "We're here to cover you, the history of your city."

Interviews with Governor's Mansion docents and a look at the special collections at Lincoln University's Page Library were among the C-SPAN team's research.

The material being gathered will be featured during Jefferson City Weekend July 7-8 on C-SPAN2's BookTV and C-SPAN3's American History TV.

The C-SPAN network perhaps is best known for documenting the workings of government, politics and sessions of the U.S. Congress.

History and books, however, also are among programming topics.

And the purpose of the LCV project, according to Rocque, is to help connect citizens to their federal government.

Although the LCV team engages in some advance research, a virtue of the approach is the willingness to adapt to spontaneity.

"We try to soak up as much as we can and talk to as many people as we can," Rocque said. "If it's supposed to happen, it will."

We are delighted C-SPAN has brought its outreach project to our community. And we look forward to the July programming and learning more about our community's unique contributions.