Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Hunt.
Hi Jason, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I’ve always been a science fiction fan. I grew up on “Star Trek” and “Buck Rogers,” and I’m a voracious reader. (I once was late to my own birthday party because I was in my room reading.) Science fiction fuels the imagination and has given us inspiration for so many inventions over the years.
In 1988, I started my media career in college radio. Since then, I’ve been in television, motion pictures, newspaper, and back again. I currently work as a freelance producer of TV commercials and web videos.
Back in 2009, the Sci Fi Channel changed its brand to Syfy, and quite a few people were upset, thinking that it was a move away from the audience base that had made the network successful for seventeen years. While watching the discussion unfold online, I had the idea of building a new “sci fi channel” that would live online. Sort of a next generation local-access cable show. So in March 2019, I started SciFi4Me and began what has become the main part of my professional life now.
Fast forward twelve and a half years, and we’re now producing a half-dozen TV shows covering and discussing science fiction, fantasy, and horror. News programs, talk shows, and interview segments are our mainstay, while we continue to post book and movie reviews on our main website.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
From the beginning, there were challenges. (There are always challenges.) The main issue has always been a lack of money. The second main issue has been a lack of time. There’s only so much of me and only so many hours in a week.
SciFi4Me operates with an all-volunteer staff, and it’s been a long-standing goal to get to the point where we have a large enough footprint to generate revenue and I can start paying contributors. Of course, that’s a chicken and egg scenario. You have to spend money to build an audience, and you need a big audience to attract advertisers, and you need advertisers to raise the money to build an audience. It’s a perpetual cycle.
Having the all-volunteer staff also means a revolving door of contributors. That’s a plus and a minus, as it gives us fresh voices but also means we sometimes have gaps in our coverage.
Burnout can also be a potential hazard. We took a break in 2018 when things just weren’t working right on a number of fronts, but that gave us a chance to re-organize and re-prioritize a few things. We came back in 2019 fresh out of the gate and we haven’t stopped since.
We operate on a simple idea: treat the audience with respect, even (especially) when they don’t agree with something you say or do. Our approach is continually met with positive feedback. Those who have seen the material we deliver appreciate how we work. That’s also worked against us somewhat, because we’re not a “Rage-bait” channel with pundits talking about the latest thing making us angry. We don’t do something just for the clicks.
Our live broadcasting also took a hit when the lockdown happened. We had just attended C2E2 in Chicago, and we had plans to attend several comicons in 2020. And then….
So, we pivot. We do more of what we’re able to do and plan for those times when we’re able to do more. And there are always plans…
We’ve been impressed with SciFi4Me, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Founded in 2009, SciFi4Me is a 24-hour news and entertainment platform dedicated to the coverage of the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres in film, literature, television, games, and comic books. Our coverage includes traditional news articles, book and movie reviews, television show recaps, celebrity interviews, podcasts, original video productions, and convention news.
One of the things we do that no one else does, is continuous coverage of comicons and other events. Our conventions list is the largest and most up-to-date anywhere on the web ( 2248 and counting), and we have a regular flow of updates on schedules, virtual events, and right now that also includes mask and vaccination policies. We also are the only site that provides the weather forecast for cities hosting comicon events all over the world.
The work we do can be best described as “geek journalism”. Our reporters and pundits are fans of everything from ray guns to swords, dragons to spaceships, and everything in between. Our mission is to provide the genre community objective and accurate news and well-reasoned opinions without malice or prejudice.
Our audience is anyone who appreciates science fiction or fantasy stories. These could be people who have been reading Asimov and Bradbury their whole lives, or the casual fan who just found the genre through the latest movies.
The depth and breadth of fandom is incredible, and it affords us opportunities to reach out to a broad mix of people. We are just like our fans, and our fans are just like us. That gives us a pretty good idea of what they like to see.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t remember much of my childhood, really. Fragments.
I remember discovering “Star Trek” at an early age. I remember the first time I saw “Star Wars” and getting slammed in the face with John Williams’ music. I rushed home to start figuring out the melody on my keyboard. I remember seeing Christopher Reeve as Superman and discovering “Doctor Who” on PBS. (My Doctor will always be the 4th Doctor.) I remember stalking the used book store every time my mother got her hair done. Old paperbacks and a Marathon Bar. I remember discovering the Khan quoted Captain Ahab. That was in high school. Only part of that book that’s interesting….
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.scifi4me.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scifi4me
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scifi4me
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scifi4me
- Youtube: http://www.SciFi4Me.tv
- Other: http://www.twitch.tv/scifi4me
Image Credits
SciFi4Me
