NBCT Announces New Name, Identity, and Digital Platform

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—Northern Berkshire Community Television Corporation (NBCTC), an independent public, educational, and government (PEG) community media nonprofit, announced an organizational transformation, including a new name, rebrand, modernized website, and upgraded content distribution infrastructure.
 
Effective immediately, NBCTC will operate as Gateway Collaborative Media (GCM) in alignment with the organization's evolving mission, expanded services, and emergence as a resourceful community partner, stated a press release.
 
While it will continue to provide three channels of television programming to Clarksburg, North Adams, Adams, and Cheshire cable subscribers—a viewership that has sustained the organization for thirty years—GCM is expanding its reach by piloting synergistic initiatives and offering regional membership tiers intended to serve all residents of the northern Berkshires.
 
Alongside the name change, GCM has unveiled a new logo as well as a fully redesigned web platform, both created by Stockbridge-based design and digital marketing firm Gemini Creative, that reflects an evolving demographic, economic, and technological landscape. As audiences increasingly produce and consume content across digital channels, gatewaymedia.org positions the organization as a relevant community resource. 
 
By transitioning away from traditional PEG terminology and toward "community," "odyssey," and "civic" media, the website reinforces GCM's role as a dynamic and inclusive media hub built upon communication, participation, and connection, continued a press release.
 
"We're carving a future for Gateway Collaborative Media by making our programs and services as accessible as possible," said Bill Wilson, president of GCM's board of directors. "We want our neighbors to engage with us so that they can engage with each other."
 
The revamped website features two new yet important capabilities: online streaming and an up-to-date, searchable program archive. These functions were made possible in part by a major server upgrade that significantly expanded the organization's digital infrastructure. The new system allows GCM to begin offering video-on-demand programming and livestreaming through gatewaymedia.org, making local content readily available.
 
Additionally, a custom app—under development by Tightrope Media Systems, GCM's longtime media technology supplier—will be launched this summer. The app can be downloaded to any smart device, including televisions, tablets, computers, and phones, providing even more ways for audiences to watch local programming and engage with community-produced content.
 
 Visit Gateway Collaborative Media online or in person at 69 Union Street in North Adams for more information about these and other services.
 
 
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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

 

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