A Visit From the FCC

Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein (top left) toured the North Portland Multimedia Training Center in October 2007 while attending the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) conference in Portland. Also on the tour at The Skanner were representatives from Portland Community Media, Mt Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, NE Business Association and former training center students.

Student Filmmakers Celebrate
Graduation reception in their honor

L-R: Students Ron Brown, Elise Dahan, Sean Brown; Training Center Administrator, Naomi Pierce, Director Bernie Foster, Students Vo Minh McBurney, Utomi Odum, Tyrone Hines. Bottom row: PCM Trainers Tim Rooney and Peter Poire'-Odegard. Not pictured: Students Darien West and K. Shawn Edgar. Student Filmmakers Celebrate at a graduation reception in their honor June 13, 2007 at The Skanner News Group. Nine graduates finished Phase I of the Train the Trainer program in Multimedia, an educational project of The Skanner Foundation’s North Portland Multimedia Training Center. Trainees participated in nine weeks of classes learning journalism principles and how to tell a story using digital video and audio recording equipment. The reception included screening of students’ productions, “Cleaning up the Boulevard” and “101 and Still Counting.”

The Skanner Newsgroup is partnering with The Skanner Foundation, Oregon Economic & Community Development Department, Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission and Portland Community Media to create the production training center.

Governor Kulongoski approves Strategic Reserve Fund Grant of $147,250 for Skills Training in Video Production and Technology

SALEM, OR—Today Governor Kulongoski awarded the Skanner Foundation an Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) grant for the development of a neighborhood multi-media training center in North Portland.  In partnership with Portland Community Media, Portland Community College, and several local media companies, the Skanner Foundation will use the $147,250 grant from the Governor’s strategic reserve fund to train individuals in video production and journalism. 

“One of the most important investments we can make in Oregon’s economy is in the skills of our citizens,” Governor Ted Kulongoski said.  “This partnership is a model for communities across Oregon because by collaborating across the public and private sectors, we not only help Oregon employers access the skilled employees they need, but we help Oregonians access the skills training they need to compete in a global workforce.”

With video, technology, media and other skills learned at the center, graduates will be able to access job opportunities in Oregon’s growing film, video and multimedia industry that would otherwise not be available to them.  The training center will be modeled after Portland Community Media’s facility, and will train students in working with cable television broadcast systems.  It will also create a program with a ‘train-the-trainer’ component, adding to the number of qualified video production and cable access trainers available at the center and in the broader community. 

“Providing accessible and meaningful technology training is critical for economic growth, especially with the technology industry we have here in Oregon,” said Bob Repine, Director of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department.  “Oregon companies depend on a talented workforce to grow our economy.”

Total project costs are estimated at $463,000 over three years.  The project is a public-private partnership, with private funding already secured by The Skanner Foundation to contribute to the state’s strategic reserve fund grant.