Mason City debates airing of council meetings

Debate continues over whether the city council meetings in Mason City shouldstill be aired over a cable access channel. John Schmaltz, a politicalscience instructor at North Iowa Area Community College, says televisinglocal government meetings is popular, according to a Twin Cities study.Schmaltz says some residents say they’re tired of the on-cameragrandstanding by politicians and audience members.Schmaltz is dismayed by those who say America is becoming a nation ofviewers, not participants.