Phase 2 of the Open-Media Project Begins This Week

"Deproduction's KNC grant":http://www.newschallenge.org/tools_for_public_access_tv was designed in 4 distinct six-month phases. The first phase included an updated release of our Open-Source Drupal tools: the set of Drupal modules which enable "Denver Open Media":http://denveropenmedia.org to function as a user-driven Public Access Community Media Center with no operating support from the city or cable provider in Denver. The process of developing these modules, and the features they are designed to include, can be seen at http://groups.drupal.org/open-media-project. The second phase officially launches this week, and involves a group of 6 beta-test partners who we will guide through the process of implementing the modules, and revising the tools to meet the diverse challenges of each unique operation. Over 30 "CTCs":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_technology_center and "PEG":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_access_tv stations applied to participate, and in the end, we selected 6 partners, with several alternates following along and ready to step-in should any of the primary beta-sites need to withdraw. Next week, our lead developer, "Kevin Reynen":https://www.denveropenmedia.org/user/1001, spends the week in Champaign-Urbana, helping to launch their "new site":http://uptv.chambana.net/ and implement modules to enable their community of users to play a larger role in reserving equipment, submitting videos for web and TV broadcast, registering for classes, and determining the programming schedule of the TV station. By the end of next week, both the D.O.M. site and the UPTV site should be entirely re-vamped, and in the coming months, UPTV will develop a unique look-and-feel, developing new themes for the Drupal site and contributing all their development back to the group. We're excited to have such a great partner as the first to join the beta group, and look forward to the much larger "Portland":http://www.pcmtv.org/ in Feb, and "Austin":http://www.channelaustin.org/ in March (conveniently-timed to coincide with "SXSW":http://sxsw.com/interactive)