Summary
we need a 25 words or less description, but the info below is through.
Richard suggests Node 101 "a sort of 'vision' of training video blogging in various locations".
I've moved some of my other questions to the disucssion page.
The NODE101 project was founded by Michael Verdi, Ryanne Hodson, Jay Dedman and Josh Kinberg. [Collective Resume]
Core Values
Please add to and edit this. Let's really try to nail it...
- Media is a conversation, not a lecture
Active participation is required
- Making media is a life skill
Media literacy is as important as reading, writing, or public speaking
- No one's life is mundane. We all have stories to tell.
Individual lives and opinions are interesting, important, and worth sharing
- Myth: People want only big media content
People are hungry for authentic voices and the immediacy and intimacy of personal media rather than the manufactured, packaged quality of content from Big Entertainment.
- Another myth: Media is hard to do
Big media want you to think that video production is a worrisome, monumental undertaking, dealing with lighting, sound, characters, setting. You don't need all those trappings as long as you've got something to say.
- The tools to create and distribute media cheaply and efficiently are widely available today'
Education and good examples are necessary
- Media makers are better able to critically understand and deconstruct media
"An informed public is the best defense against tyranny" - Senator Robert Byrd
Why Personal Media
Please help add to and edit this.... what makes Node101/videoblogging different from cable access and other media center initiatives? Personal Media (Blogging, Podcasting, Videoblogging) is a powerful medium that makes it easy to publish, archive, and distribute media to an audience that transcends geographic boundaries. And it can be done for free! http://FreeVlog.org Some things that separate personal media from other forms of mass media:
Individuals control their own production and distribution. Other forms of mass media depend on centralized infrastructure, funding, and policy making, which cannot be guaranteed to serve the public interest, or interest of individuals. Starting from the ground up, it creates opportunities for new social technologies and networks.
Videoblogs are additive and collaborative. They are not temporary. Conversations/stories grow over time and become more valuable.
- Personal Media crosses cultural and geographic barriers.
Personal Media connects and creates empathy among people who might otherwise never have the chance to truly communicate.
Videoblogging is a perfect container for both media and message. 'Amateur' production elements work very well on the small / medium screen. Furthermore, vlogging is the best medium to date in which messages that contain maximized human emotion can be easily created and distributed. These resources will soon be available to many. Videoblogging nearly eliminates the misunderstandings that so often occur in text only and less participatory digital entertainment / communication endeavors. The medium is extremely compelling and fulfilling; by design, a return to the campfire.
So What Is A Node Anyway?
- A node is place where anyone can have access, at no cost, to the tools and training necessary to create media.
- A node is an independent piece of a larger network.
- A node is operated and supported by the community surrounding it.
- A node takes whatever form is needed and sustainable by its community.
- A node can be as small as one person.
- A node shares its knowledge and resources with the network making everyone stronger.
- Ultimately, a node is a place where anyone is welcome and where teaching, learning, and creating are happening all the time.
- A node is a place to help provide methods for the particpants to share what can be done for sustainability
Who are we teaching?
Let's fill this out... we really need to figure out who our audience is... and who it is not
High schools, after-school programs, colleges and universities.
Women are underrepresented in technology. Let's do our best to change that
Men are mis-represented in technology. Let's do our best to change that
Digital storytelling as a way to bridge generations and share culture
Teach the teachers. Empower others to become educators.
- Software/Hardware developers
We need them to know our needs.
Help them understand current trends and cultural shifts.
Nodes flower in an electronic greenspace, one that is publicly protected. MORE And that citizen's should be compensated for private profit-making from publically-owned resources.
To help sustain us
NODE101 Locations
*NODE101 :: SAN ANTONIO
*NODE101 :: NEW YORK
*NODE101 :: OJAI
*NODE101 :: BAY AREA
*NODE101 :: GRAND RAPIDS
Other Upcoming Experiments:
*NODE101 :: POUGHKEEPSIE (UPSTATE NEW YORK)
*NODE101 :: BERGEN]
*European Nodes]
*[ROAD NODE 101] :: World-wide
*NODE101 :: BOSTON
Models of Sustainability for Individual Nodes
I believe that launching a node and making it sustainable will involve, to greater and lesser degrees, partnership, sponsorship, earned revenue, and grants. Here's what I'm thinking.
Partnership
It seems to me that the largest initial hurdle to setting up a node is the cost of someone's time. Without a way to pay people it will be very difficult to find enough qualified and interested individuals with the financial freedom to take on a full-time project like this. I think one good way around this is finding a partner that can easily add a node to their existing program and have it run by employees. In this way it might be possible to start a node with some or all of the income for the people running it, space, equipment, and an existing community to tap into.
Frameworks for Partnerships (or Business Models for Individual Nodes)
- Umbrella project of an existing non-profit - This is the model that the San Antonio node will use. I'll be partnering with Jump-Start Performance Co (a theater company). Many cities have existing media center and / or computer SIG's that could be natural partners. Jump-Start has agreed to offer space and utilities. Their mission involves giving voice to traditionally disenfranchised communities so there looks to be some nice overlap with what we're doing. There are some possibilities for projects and grants in coordination with Jump-Start's education program.
- Public Access TV station - many public access TV stations are equipped and staffed to do what we'd like to see happen at a node. The challenge is that many are focused on a distribution model that was invented in the 70's and there is a lot of inertia in that direction to overcome. If that challenge could be met this could prove to be a really nice and natural fit. They also have a long tradition of funnelling funding from private concerns (cable companies) for non-commercial media making.
- Community Technology Centers - like public access TV stations these entities are also equipped and staffed to act as supportive places for a node. They often do not suffer from an antiquated vision of media, but rather need help in seeing technology as something expressive. Those centers that work with youth and senior citizens would be very receptive to the node concept. There are growing partnership with individuals and grouops working internationally as well (espeically in the developing world).
- Media Art Centers - these entities have been around for over 30 years and take a number of forms. Their roots are in creating collective endeavors that support makers and a culture of media. In spirit they are extremely close to the Node101 concept and often have track records of public, private and corporate support.
- Community Networks - these folks are into the technology of connecting people and often have talented programmers in their ranks. They would benefit from the creative and content approach of the Node101 community. They also tend to have strong connections to the technology sectors at universities and corporations.
- Public Library - these recognized public entities are expanding their missions and visions to incorporate a wide range of new literacy skills. They often have computers, training, and public meeting spaces - all for free.
- Public School / College / University - again these are organizations that often have capable facilities and a culture dedicated to teaching. The challenge here is that they are organized around providing services only to their students and only from their certified teachers or professors. If we can find a way for them to open up to the community - much like their "continuing education" programs - this model could be viable.
- Partnership with an existing business - It might be possible in cites with strong cyber cafes to partner with an existing business to share space, equipment, and expenses. It might make sense for the business to help pay for salaries as regular classes would bring in customers.
- Friend or Interested Party - in this model an individual with an existing space and / or financial freedom could launch a node as a volunteer project. Short of that it may be possible to help support someone financially with corporate sponsorship through the start-up phase until things like earned revenue could become sustainable. Eventually this type of node may need become it's own non-profit or partner with another entity as in one of the other models.
Sponsorship
We need to look to corporate sponsors to help fund salaries for people running nodes during an initial start up phase. What makes corporate sponsorship possible? The nodes offer an opportunity for technology and content companies to get their equipment, name and content in front of people being trained to have the skills and interests that would find desirable in potential customers. Therefore, I think, corporate sponsorship will be an important piece of the sustainability model initially and might continue to provide some support over the longer term.
Earned Revenue
The third piece of the sustainability model revolves around the individual node's capacity to provide specialized training for a fee. The type of training and access we'd be providing to the public may also be adapted at the request of local business. This could be an important revenue stream especially during early morning weekday hours when use of the facilities by the general public might be expected to be at a low level. It's important to ensure that this focus on revenue doesn't distort the value to provide access and training to tools free for the bulk of individuals and for the basic level of access.
Grants
Somewhat farther down the road, in partnership with existing non-profit or educational institutions grants will be an important piece of the puzzle.
Policy
So much of the communication infrastructure has been developed from public resources (i.e. spectrum, land, research dollars). Finding ways to advocate that private profit from these resources get back to individual makers and local communities is vital. There is a long telecommunications history beginning with the telecos through broadcast television through cable that pushes for this sort of common good to be given back. This is one way to ensure long term social sustainability for these endeavors.
Needs
- See this video, but basically it's:
- Computers - a drive to collect old computer equipment, collect and reconstitute it
- Cameras
- Space
- Power and network connection
- People
- Funding
- Documentation/curriculum
- Ground rules
Resources
Do you have resources or can help?
- Jan has some old computers, space for storing others' old / used equipment and furniture, workshop, a full feature film sound package, a minivan, and time.
- The Digital Dojo has some space in Ojai, Ca where free workshops can be held.
Discussion Topics
If you wish to be part of this discussion, please join our email list.
- How will this be organized? A not-for-profit organizaiton?
- How will this be funded? Corporate sponsorships? Individual contributions?
- Full-time service or occasional events?
- How small a community can sensibly support one of these?
- Does a mobile "node" make sense?
- What about envisioning European Nodes]?
- How fast can a "node" get to sustainability
- What is the business model?
- How do we institutionalize learning?
Additional or Related Resources
Meet the Vloggers - vlogger events, particularly Apple store presentations
Interested Sponsors (please add your name here)
- Vlog-a-thon - plan to propose to the assembled that Vlog-a-thon supports this effort
People who have indicated an interest in this or similar projects
History
February - March 2005
- February 12 - Verdi launches the first Freevlog tutorial and uses it to teach a workshop.
- Conversations between Verdi, Ryanne, and Jay begin to focus on teaching workshops and reworking Freevlog.
April 2005
May 2005
- Ryanne and Verdi use that Outhink sponsorship to relaunch Freevlog.
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
- Node101::Ojai holds first workshop in Ojai at the Digital Dojo 9/28.
- Road Node 101 Departs 9/29 from NYC for a month-long Node Trip to Nova Scotia and parts between.
October 2005
November 18, 2005
- First live Bay Area Node101 Event
Bay Area Node101, Outhink sponsored event
- This event blended new and old media together, with learning how to create personal media.
Other NODE101 Projects
*Freevlog - online tutorial to creating a videoblog using free tools and services
*Videoblogging_Hacks - an O'Reilly book written by Jay, Ryanne, Josh, and Verdi with lots of contributions from the Videoblogging Group.
How to start
1. teach: anywhere, any time
present at conferences, apple stores, schools, punk shows, knitting circles, your friends potluck.
tell people why this is important to you, how you found it, how it has impacted your life etc. get personal. show videos that have affected you and that you love, show your videos, talk about what you do and why. explain RSS (yeah how the heck do you do that?) get practical, show Fireant, mefeedia, itunes, dtv whatever you use for keeping track. make it make sense. use freevlog.org as your starting point to get people going. just go step by step, show some of the videos if you want.
jay, verdi and i started doing this last winter where ever they would have us and now we're in full swing!
2. the human connection : space and hours
once you've presented it helps to say "and we'll be holding a(nother) hands on workshop at Java Stop cafe every sunday eve" . Is there a space, classroom, cafe, community center, someones living room that has WIFI and outlets that you can hold regular hours or have a workshop a couple times a month? This is the key: a set time and place where people know they can drop by.
pass out flyers with the info: date, time, place your blog, your email etc
treat this time as both full on workshop and drop in hours. some people might just be starting out. get them going on freevlog step 1. others might just be having feed or upload trouble.
make sure people can bring laptops and cameras. maybe you have an extra laptop (your own?) that someone can use while you're there...that helps. every time i see an old laptop that someone is not using, i ask them to donate it for the NODE. the latest was josh kinberg's orange clamshell ibook, sure it's slow but you can get someone going on freevlog with it just fine.
3. You're not alone: get local vloggers to help you
are there other vloggers near you? (c'mon you have to have converted someone by now). check vlogmap.org and see where they're hiding. ask them to help you present and teach/hold hours. it helps to have people around when someone is asking you how to install moveable type, you can look at fellow vlogger and say "do you know how to do that?" you're not alone!
4. Who, what, where, when: Set up a blog
whether you're on blogger or MT we can hook you up with a subdomain to your node blog and get you into the node network.
example our blogs are like this : nyc.node101.org, sanantonio.node101.org etc. we use blogger , mt and whatever other service we can get our hands on.
put your hours and dates on this blog, take videos of your classes, post videos of newbies up there like we do on freevlog: http://freevlog.org/wordpress/index.php/category/new-vlogs/
5. promote promote promote
bring your flyers with you always. when you're talking about what you've been doing give someone the flyer. tell them to stop by, or let other people know what you're doing.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.