Member Profile: CitySceneTV.com

Through a range of engaging storytelling methods, from short promotional videos to interactive maps, CitySceneTV.com connects businesses to the community with a focus on authentic messaging. The Springfield Chamber recently spoke to Ed Madison, Founder and CEO of CitySceneTV.com, to find out more about the organization.

Tell us a little about CitySceneTV.com
CitySceneTV.com helps visitors and residents discover the people, places, and experiences that make Eugene-Springfield distinctive. Through short-form video storytelling, mobile-friendly business profiles, curated local guides, and location-based QR codes, the platform connects audiences with restaurants, retailers, attractions, service providers, and community organizations. A restaurant can introduce its chef and signature dishes. A retailer can explain what makes its products special. A local attraction can give visitors a sense of what they will experience before they arrive.

Our tagline — Eat. Shop. Explore. — captures the heart of what we do.

CitySceneTV.com is operated by Engaging Media, Corp., a Eugene-based media company I founded more than 20 years ago. We are now relaunching and expanding the platform using mobile technology, streaming video, QR codes, and new partnerships with hotels, tourism organizations, chambers of commerce, and local businesses.

How did you get started in your industry?
My media career began when I was still in high school, working as an intern at the CBS television affiliate in Washington, D.C., during the Watergate era. At age 22, I was recruited by CNN and became one of the network’s founding producers. I later formed production companies that created programming and content for major media companies including ABC, Paramount, Disney, and Discovery Networks.

I first discovered Eugene while visiting on a production assignment. Like many people who encounter this area for the first time, I was immediately drawn to its natural beauty, creative spirit, and strong sense of community. I came here to tell someone else’s story — and, in the process, fell in love with a place that would become part of my own.

After moving to Eugene, I created a local public-access television program called Eugene Exchange. The show featured local businesses, community leaders, gardening, cooking, home design, and other stories about life in the region. That experience helped me develop what I call the documercial: a short, documentary-style business profile that feels more like a genuine story than a traditional advertisement.

Today, I am an associate professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, where I work to mentor the next generation of storytellers. I have now revived CitySceneTV.com in partnership with several talented recent UO journalism and media alumni, combining their fresh perspective and digital skills with the platform’s original mission of helping people discover the stories behind local businesses and communities.

CitySceneTV.com’s first version appeared in local hotel rooms and helped travelers learn where to eat, shop, and explore. Advances in mobile video, streaming, and QR-code technology now allow us to bring that idea back in a far more interactive, accessible, and community-centered form.

What services do you offer, and what makes CitySceneTV.com different?
CitySceneTV.com offers several interconnected services:

• Short promotional video montages for businesses
• Documentary-style business profiles
• Mobile-friendly business listings
• Interactive maps and local discovery guides
• QR-code campaigns for hotels, visitor locations, and community partners
• Social media video and content support
• Curated features highlighting local people, businesses, events, and experiences

What makes us different is our emphasis on storytelling. We do not want local businesses to look or sound like generic advertisements. We want audiences to understand who the owners are, why they care about their work, what customers experience, and what makes each place worth discovering.

A locally owned restaurant is more than a menu. A retailer is more than a collection of products. A neighborhood business is often the result of years of creativity, persistence, and personal commitment. Those stories matter.

We are also building CitySceneTV.com as a shared community platform rather than simply a video-production service. Our goal is to make it easier for people to discover local businesses while helping those businesses benefit from one another’s audiences.

“CitySceneTV helps local businesses move beyond advertising and share the authentic stories that make people want to visit, connect, and return.”

What do you like most about your work?
I enjoy helping people recognize the value of their own stories. Many business owners are so immersed in their daily work that they do not always see what is remarkable about what they have built. When we ask the right questions and observe them interacting with customers, employees, or the community, something genuine emerges.

I also love the collaborative nature of the work. CitySceneTV.com brings together business owners, hospitality partners, tourism organizations, chambers of commerce, filmmakers, students, and community storytellers.

As an associate professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, I am especially excited about creating opportunities for talented young media professionals to gain practical experience while contributing to the local economy.

Do you have any advice for others?
Do not underestimate the power of authenticity. People are surrounded by marketing messages, but they still respond to genuine enthusiasm, useful information, and human connection. Businesses do not always need to shout louder. They often need to communicate more clearly why they exist, whom they serve, and what they care about.

I would also encourage business owners to think collaboratively. A thriving local economy is not created by one organization working alone. Restaurants, retailers, hotels, attractions, service businesses, civic groups, and educational institutions all benefit when we help people understand the full range of experiences our region offers.

Anything else you’d like to share?
We believe Eugene and Springfield have an extraordinary collection of businesses, neighborhoods, creative people, outdoor experiences, and community stories that deserve greater visibility.

CitySceneTV.com is being designed to serve both visitors and local residents. We want travelers to discover places they might otherwise miss, while also helping longtime residents see their community with fresh eyes. We are especially interested in working with Springfield businesses and organizations that have a compelling story, a distinctive experience, or a meaningful connection to the community.

Our larger vision is to build a video-powered window into the region — one that encourages people to stay longer, explore more, support local businesses, and feel more connected to the people who make this area special.

About CitySceneTV.com
CitySceneTV.com is a video-powered local discovery platform operated by Engaging Media, Inc. Through short-form storytelling, mobile business profiles, curated guides, interactive maps, and QR-code partnerships, CitySceneTV.com helps visitors and residents discover where to eat, shop, explore, and connect throughout Eugene-Springfield. For information, email CitySceneTV.com.