[grc] Community media during and beyond Covid

[Spencer Graves]

	  I believe that the following are mostly permanent:


		    * I think KKFI will continue using virtual (e.g., Zoom) technology 
to produce interviews.  When people are allowed to come to the station, 
some will but many won't.  I've produced public service announcements 
(in English and Spanish), and our Chief Operator felt the sound quality 
was reasonable -- better than some of what I had produced with a Zoom 
H4n audio recorder.


		    * I was very inspired by Lisa Loving's presentations at the GRC 
two years ago.  I've tried to get something like that going at KKFI ever 
since.  We now have two training committees:  for curriculum and 
scheduling.  This old mule is still not allowed to pull the wagon very 
far, but we're getting there ;-)  Two years ago, we had some training, 
but it was virtually all one-on-one and didn't follow a very well 
documented curriculum.  Right before last year's GRC, I organized a 
half-day training event;  I called it a "Techathon".  We've had 2 or 3 
since.  People liked those.  They want more.  I'm 76 and not eager to do 
face-to-face training until COVID is substantially controlled.  I'm 
eager to do more training - but virtual. It will happen.  Some of the 
virtual training will continue to be virtual after COVID is controlled, 
because it's easier to justify with small class sizes -- even 
one-on-one:  Someone can't figure out how to do something in Audacity, 
for example.  They contact a help line, and someone replies.  They 
either solve it via email or Slack or they set up a video conference. 
The volunteer gets help quicker and is happier and more productive.  We 
aren't there yet, but we are working in that direction.
It's moving like a snail, but it's moving.


		    * People with music shows should know about "Virtual DJ", if they 
don't already.  It's free and reasonably easy to use.  One of our lead 
volunteers uses it and teaches it.  I don't think he's ready to teach it 
virtually, but I think that will come.


	  Spencer


On 2020-09-22 01:59, Frieda Werden wrote:
> Thanks for that hopeful reply!  DO you think you might keep doing these 
> things virtually over the long run?
> 
> On Mon, Sep 21, 2020 at 11:48 PM Spencer Graves via grc 
> <grc at maillist.peak.org <mailto:grc at maillist.peak.org>> wrote:
> 
>                KKFI has limited the number of people who are allowed in
>     the station.
> 
>        Before the pandemic we had volunteers staffing a reception desk. 
>     That
> 
>     was closed and still is.  I think the vast majority of programs that
> 
>     have guests have been using Zoom or call-in.  In April and May
>     access to
> 
>     the station was limited to only the people needed to actually operate
> 
>     the sound boards and otherwise keep the equipment operating.  More
> 
>     people come to the station now, but not like before. I haven't
>     looked at
> 
>     the finances, but I also haven't heard about serious problems.  I think
> 
>     donations are down but not dramatically so.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                Long term, I think there are great opportunities for
>     using virtual
> 
>     (Zoom) technology for teaching almost anything that doesn't require
> 
>     operating the sound boards.  Since there is no travel involved, it's
> 
>     easier to justify smaller class sizes and therefore more individual
> 
>     instruction.  I've taught 3 small classes using Zoom on how to edit
> 
>     episode descriptions for our web site.  I think we can teach Audacity
> 
>     and other things this way, but we aren't there yet.  If this works like
> 
>     I think it will, KKFI could offer more classes and attract more
> 
>     volunteers this way.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                Spencer
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     On 2020-09-22 00:39, Frieda Werden via grc wrote:
> 
>      > How are you or your station adapting to the pandemic measures (or
>     trying to
> 
>      > adapt), and what do you think will happen for our sector as the
>     epidemic
> 
>      > wanes and a new normal sets in?
> 
>      >
> 
>      >
> 
>      > Frieda Werden, Series Producer
> 
>      > WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org
>     <http://www.wings.org>
> 
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> -- 
> Frieda Werden, Series Producer
> WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org 
> <http://www.wings.org>