Media Lab (PPS)

Program Basics

• Program Name: Media Lab
• Program Description:

Digital video is growing rapidly. The Media Lab uses old hardware and volunteer resources to train selected students in video production while providing useful content to Free Geek.

• 1. Primarily meets program needs (expected to cost more money than it makes)
• Why does Free Geek need this program?

Because you cant stop me, and you should not try.

Job Position Basics

• Would there be a dedicated staff position associated with this program? NO

Financial costs

• What are the expected financial staffing costs of the program? (Include all costs to the organization such as salary, payroll taxes, and benefits.)

none

• What other costs are associated with the program? (Include costs of materials needed, etc.)

Various hardware that might be sold in thrift store or on ebay will be reused as infrastructure.

• If there will be a dedicated staff position, how much time would be needed for training?

No staff person necessary, though being a keyholder might be important, depending on the ammount of security for the lab. The ammount of volunteer time spent on project varies with avilability of teachers and demand for classes/content

Drawbacks

• Outline the intangible costs for the position and program:

Supporting software that few people have experience with.

• Are there any possible negative impacts on Free Geek's mission, and if so what?

not that i can think of

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions currently in effect?

Revphil will hopefully be less able to cover for your lazy asses.

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions being considered?

Takes up physical space.

Benefits

• Would the program generate income? NO
• How does the program support the mission of Free Geek?

reusing old technology, documenting various aspects of Free Geek, and training people in computer use.

Measuring Success

• How can the success of the program be measured?

Content being produced

• Outline a plan for implementing the program:

1. reserve space for lab (done)
2. begin to move in harware (started, ongoing)
3. set up workstations for editing
4. make space secure
5. host weekly training sessions for selected staff/volunteers
6. produce content

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new version of MHCRC grant info

I. Executive Summary

Free Geek is spontaneously and rapidly expanding, around the Portland Metro region region and across the country. In our own community, informing the public of the services that Free Geek has to offer will increase the benefits to the public in two major categories: diversion of e-waste from the land fill (or dumping) and increasing digital inclusion through an efficient and cost effective, volunteer based system.

The purpose of the MediaGeek project is to take Free Geek educational content and produce cost-effective professional quality digital media versions for public media outlets. The MediaGeek project is designed to teach student volunteers how to create digital media projects and learn professional production skills in a cooperative environment. The selected students will work on a series of progressively more complex projects, while learning to use cost effective methods to produce quality end products. Each group of students (2 groups of 3 students each over the first year) will learn the basics and then start working individually, progressing through group projects, finally culminating in a 1 hour cable access showcase of the students work and other original content related to Free Geek's mission. Students receive the training for free, in exchange for volunteering at least 50 hours of teaching future classes/mentoring new students and/or providing additional content for Free Geek educational videos and/or cable access episodes. Free Geek is seeking funding from the MHCRC to help provide for the physical and technological infrastructure for the project. Free Geek has a large amount of area dedicated to our education programs. Due to lack of funds, none of these areas has been fully remodeled and all suffer from poor acoustics and lighting.

The main outcome of the MediaGeek project would be the creation free emerging media education program to create documentarians versed in a range of production techniques from low cost to professional level using primarily Free and Open Source Software for all aspects of the productions. Direct “deliverables” would be two broadcast quality cable access shows called FreekTV and two Free Geek education program classes presented in a digital video format. Beyond the funding period, MediaGeek is structured to continue on via a mentor/apprenticeship model. In this way, additional and updated content for broadcast on cable access via FreekTV and other media outlets and formats will be generated on an ongoing basis into the foreseeable future. The main public benefit that will be met with the successful completion of this grant is service delivery. We hope that this project will create an invaluable resource for emerging media production all over the region. By providing ongoing, free video documentary production education and access to no cost/low production techniques, MediaGeek could spawn generations of technically savvy volunteers to aid organizations that never dreamed of using such media to tell their stories. For Free Geek, a direct benefit will be educating a larger cross section of the public about Open Source Software, E-waste and the availability of Free Geek as a local resource that can help. Increasing the public awareness of the many free education and technology access opportunities available at Free Geek will help to increase digital inclusion across the region.

The total project budget is $34,300. The grant request is $15,800 with $16,000 in matching funds.