Open Media Foundation

The Open Media Foundation (OMF) is an American, non-profit, charitable, multimedia organization that provides the means necessary for people to create, edit, and share their visions across various media platforms.^[1] OMF’s main goal is to put the power of media into the hands of community members who otherwise would not have the fiscal means of doing so.

OMF Logo

Open Media Foundation's Mission Statement

OMF's mission statement:

"to put the power of media and technology into the hands of the people in order to enable every person to actively engage their community and bring about the change they wish to see in the world."^[2] Open Media Foundation attempts to divert some of the power away from larger media conglomerates into the hands of the people. Many people do not have access or the necessary funding to get their voices heard by the masses; OMF wants to change this by providing equipment, space, and the knowledge necessary to create whatever the producers desire.[4]

History of Open Media Foundation

In 2001, Tony Shawcross, Executive Director of the Open Media Foundation, co-founded a non-commercial website called [denverevolution] in order to promote independent arts and non-commercial community events overlooked by the local media.[8]

In 2003, members of the denverevolution collective began producing video as the [denverevolution] production group, borrowing gear from friends at KBDI (PBS 12), Free Speech TV, and Denver Community Television. FSTV provided them with their first editing station in an office donated by Little Voice Productions'.

In 2004 they significantly expanded their media and technology training services, and formed a board, incorporating as "the [denverevolution] production group." In 2005 they changed their name to Deproduction and with the closure of Denver Community Television, they submitted a proposal to re-launch Public-access television in Denver under an entirely new model, leveraging emerging web 2.0 technologies and business models into community media.

In 2006 they launched Denver Open Media (DOM), with an independent brand and name that could be owned by the community.

In 2008, after winning a Knight News Challenge award, Deproduction merged with Civic Pixel, the local web development firm who had built the DOM website, resulting in 3 or 4 disconnected brands. [12]

In 2009, the parent organization changed its name to the Open Media Foundation, dropping Deproduction and Civic Pixel. Denver Open Media remains an independent, community-run project of the parent company, Open Media Foundation.[9]

2011 will mark the 4th year that the Colorado Channel will be managed and operated by the Open Media Foundation. The Open Media Foundation and the Colorado Channel aim to adhere to broadcast production values that accurately convey the business of the General Assembly’s proceedings without editing, interpreting, or distorting the proceedings. “We’re excited to announce that beginning today, visitors to the Colorado Channel website should be able to view the entire archive of content from the House and Senate without needing to install any software,” said Tony Shawcross, Executive Director, Open Media Foundation. [16]

References

1. ^ Personal Interview, Tony Shawcross, 18 February 2010.
2. ^ "New Brand, Same Mission | Open Media Foundation." Open Media Foundation. Web. 26 February 2010. <http://www.openmediafoundation.org/services/united>.

1. ^ Personal Interview, Tony Shawcross, 18 February 2010. 2. ^ Parkins, Cameron. "Deproduction and Civic Pixel Combine to Form Open Media Foundation -." Creative Commons. 25 November 2009. Web. 4 March 2010. <http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/19303>. 3. ^ "New Brand, Same Mission | Open Media Foundation." Open Media Foundation. Web. 26 February 2010. <http://www.openmediafoundation.org/services/united>. 4. ^ Personal Interview, Tony Shawcross, 18 February 2010. 5. ^ OMF Website: Services <http://www.openmediafoundation.org/services/video-production> 6. ^ OMF Website: Education <http://www.openmediafoundation.org/education> 7. ^ "Denver Best Reason Not to Kill Your TV - Denver Open Media." Westword. Web. 4 March 2010. <http://www.westword.com/bestof/2007/award/best-reason-not-to-kill-your-tv-377991/>. 8. ^ Deproduction. Web. 27 February 2010. <http://www.deproduction.org/>. 9. ^ Archived Deproduction Website, History section. http://web.archive.org/web/20080215210100/deproduction.dnsalias.org/ 10. ^ "Open Media foundation". 11. ^ [President of Marketing and Public Relations for NABA (National Association of Black Accountants "NABA"]. 12. ^ Shawcross, Tony. "2008 Knight News Challenge Winner Launches Open Media Foundation". Idea Lab. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 13. Shawcross, Tony. "Executive Director Report ." Open Media Foundation. Open Media Foundation, 08/2011. Web. 28 Sep 2011. <http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs057/1101845959534/archive/1106804233421.html>. 14. Shawcross, Tony. "Executive Director Report." Open Media Foundation. (2011): n. page. Web. 28 Sep. 2011. http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs057/1101845959534/archive/1104072484887.html 15. McHargue , Brad. "Turn your screenplay dreams into screenplay reality ." A.V. Club. A.V. Club, 15 08 2011. Web. 29 Sep 2011. <http://origin.avclub.com/denver/articles/turn-your-screenplay-dreams-into-screenplay-realit,60397/>. 16. "IPad-Friendly House, Senate Video Has Come To Capitol | State Bill Colorado." State Bill Colorado | Colorado Legislative News and More. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. <http://www.statebillnews.com/2011/02/ipad-friendly-house-senate-video-has-come-to-capitol/>.

External links

• Open Media Foundations
• Denver Open Media
• [denverevolution]
• (Open Media Newsletter Archive)
• [1]