From Camcorders to Cloud: Preserving Humboldt’s Media History

In this episode of 100% Humboldt, host Scott Hammond sits down with John Hauser, a digital media archivist at Access Humboldt, for a deep dive into the evolution of community media on the North Coast. From the early days of public access television to today’s digital streaming and cloud-based archiving, Hauser traces the technological and cultural shifts that have shaped local broadcasting. Together, they explore the challenges Humboldt County has faced with connectivity, the role of the Redwood Technology Consortium, and the power of platforms like the Internet Archive. Along the way, Hauser shares his personal journey—including a life-altering health scare—and reflects on why preserving our media history matters now more than ever.