Colin Rhinesmith

Click to play video (QuickTime)

On Monday, June 16 CCTV is hosting an event featuring the work of the citizen journalists involved in our NeighborMedia program. The first year is coming to a close and we’ll soon be accepting applications from Cambridge residents interested in getting involved in the program for ‘08-’09. More info online here.

More info about the event here.

Share This

From Zip Docs:

“Odd Fellows Hall and Dance Complex: a video on the history and use of a historic old building in Central Square, Cambridge. A production by members of the ZIPDOCS class at CCTV: Inéz Eizmendi, Liza Zvereva, Irina Danilova and Laureano Batista. Music by Brazilian Touch.”

Share This

It’s been an amazing couple of months working in my new role at CCTV as Community Media Coordinator. I’ve been involved with an amazing project to connect people with the tools, skills and knowledge to become empowered within a network society. I’ve taught two really fun classes on blogging and participatory media. And I’ve met some incredible people from Cambridge and beyond who have volunteered their time and efforts to create a stronger and more welcoming community at CCTV.

Now it’s time to finish my thesis and begin the work of graduating from Emerson in May. I have an enormous amount of work ahead of me but I am ready for the challenge ahead. I am cutting back my hours at work to concentrate on my thesis and the remaining work for my classes. I’m a bit freaked but I know that’s probably natural.

OK, here we go . . .

Share This

I just finished a two-session blogging class last night at CCTV. It was a small class of three, but the size allowed us to really dive into topics that participants were most curious about. We started last week’s class with an overview of why someone might blog. I focused on blogging as a conversation to point out the fact that blog posts are really just the start of what can be extended conversations.

Most participants were interested in learning how to upload pictures to their blog. There was also interest in videoblogging and podcasting, which we covered in last night’s class. During the first class, everyone created a blog using Blogger.com. But after a week of using their Blogger blogs, they were interested in trying out Wordpress.com. Participants liked using Wordpress much better. They felt that it was easier to navigate and the theme options were much better.

So, I set up a Wordpress.com blog along with the class. It is a great tool for highlighting a number of easy ways to use text, photos, video, and audio on your blog. We also spent a good deal of time reviewing wordpress widgets and other layout options.

It was a great class and a lot of fun. I’m teaching a class on Web 2.0 next Monday, which I’m also really looking forward to.

Share This

I had an amazing first week at my new job as Community Media Coordinator at Cambridge Community Television. I should say up front that I’ll probably be blogging a lot about my job here because there’s so many exciting things happening. But to be clear, I am not getting paid by CCTV to write about my job on this blog. Rather, I am getting paid to blog here. And that’s where where I will be providing updates regularly.

In my new role, among other responsibilities, I am the project manager for an initiative that we’re working on with the City of Cambridge to provide refurbished computers and training for residents at one of the city’s public housing developments. Residents who participate in this pilot program will receive a desktop computer for their home that will be used to connect to the city’s wireless network. To read more background on the project, as well as ongoing developments visit the Digital Divide group on CCTV’s website.

I’m also working with the amazing volunteers who intern and provide technical support to residents in CCTV’s computer lab, computerCENTRAL. I also look forward to providing regular updates on the computerCENTRAL blog, where you can watch videos with CCTV’s “Computer for Seniors” participant Marie Caso and local artist RamRam Abdellah.

It’s also CCTV’s 20th anniversary and there are many celebrations planned throughout the city and throughout the year. So stay tuned to our channels if you’re a Cambridge resident and/or on the website.

Share This