The installation of the Open Media Project at UPTV is well on its way to success. While we still have technical compatibility issues to smooth out, after working with the staff of DOM and UPTV’s supporters, I know these issues and future ones will be resolved. For a week, I was able to watch the evolving process of creating a flexible, open and user-driven public access system. Even though the installation is just the first step for UPTV, I am excited to be part of the process to make the OM system stronger.
To prepare for DOM’s on-site visit, I would recommend:
-Clearing your key staff’s schedules for that week as much as possible. There will be a lot to learn, (even if you are fluent in Drupal, and even more if you are not, like me) and your staff will want to have the time to absorb info and ask questions.
-Updating all your brochure information and photos and having them ready to put on the site the first day. It definitely helps to make the site-in-progress feel like your station’s instead of DOM’s.
-Lining up tech-savy and not-so-savy members for the initial user testing. The members who know less will key you in to problems that may arise later when you introduce the new system to your membership.
-Reminding yourself that problems will surface in the installation that no one could have predicted (but at least you have solid developers on your side to fix it).
Now that UPTV has the initial OM install, we can start integrating more fully with our Leightronix NEXUS and continue to transfer the digitized video we already have archived. In the coming months, we will have several challenges, not all of which can be solved by a developer. A number of our member procedures and our policies will have to be changed to reflect the new system. Some members will have a hard time adapting to the changes, and we will have to reach out and help them adjust. The transition will have its difficult moments, but by participating in the Open Media Project at this early stage in its development, UPTV will help the process that is creating solid OM modules that can benefit every PEG station.
UPTV is a small station with a small budget. We had operated for years with paper forms, with tape and DVD video archives. It was time for UPTV to update, but I didn’t want to put expensive products in place that would set boundaries for the way UPTV could develop as a station. The Open Media Beta opportunity showed me that it would be possible for a system to grow with the station, meeting the needs I could imagine now and having the flexibility to meet the needs of the station in the future.
Kate Gorman
UPTV Station Manager