True North Media House

Recent site activity

Business Plan Worksheet

True North Media House

Business Plan

TNMH Overview

True North Media House is a media creation and publishing centre during the Winter Olympics and Para Olympics. Organized and operated primarily by volunteers as a Not for Profit corporation, the idea has received international coverage and interest. In this plan, we (the ad hoc Board of Directors) will outline basic objectives, logistical expectations, possible income sources, ball-park operational expenses and an interest to form partnership with institutions who can help bring this idea to reality through in-kind and financial support.

Situation Background

Trad Media at 2010:

Big players who paid the huge dollars for rights will work from the Accredited Media Centre at Canada Place part 2. This is only NBC from USA, CTV from Canada etc.

The Provincial Olympic Secretariat is running the BC Independent Media Centre for the non-accredited media outlets but only limited numbers and must have established mainstream media credentials. This is where the “non-winners” will have access to and will be encouraged to cover tourism related topics.

A coalition of anti-Olympic organizations are planning a media centre of sorts at the former Carnegie Library to marshal activist campaigns and protest coverage.
Note: True North Media House board members have outreached to each of these groups with varying reactions – see further reading in appendix.

“New” Media at 2010:

The way media is gathered and delivered continues to change – YouTube, blogs, wikis, Twitters, RSS, FaceSpace ;-) etc. are years old and all over the mainstream news now while newspapers close and TV seeks new revenue streams. Major stories break by amateurs with a media capturing device and important work is created by talented under the radar writers, photographers, filmmakers etc. who have significant online audience. Best practices for reporting, publishing and sharing are an evolving process in this new media and while Olympic coverage by online amateurs is not new, a focused facility with an objective to assist in covering topics beyond sports is new.

We feel the tools are mature, the bandwidth abundant, the creators eager and the world is watching.

Objectives:

1)    Create a resource facility for international non-accredited media creators can collaborate, process and publish content in an inexpensive environment
2)    Offer a platform for community voices, lesser-known & disabled athletes, cultural events and activist groups to spread their messages
3)    Provide information about IOC and VANOC IP regulations as well as informing about civil liberties regarding self expression and access to public facilities
4)    Demonstrate Vancouver as a new media hub and show/explore the possibilities of social media creation at a global event with collective involvement
5)    Run a non-profit group which positively impacts the community with minimal legal hassles and a balanced budget

Manner of Acting:
  • Openness, responsibility and minimal management
  • Non-political, inclusive and accepting
  • Fiscally responsible and entrepreneurially resourceful
  • Organize as Not for Profit group
Board of Directors

  • Kris Krug
  • Dave Olson
  • Dario Meli
  • Evan Leeson
  • Jenn Lowther
  • Irwin Oostinde
  • Etc
  • yadda
  • add names
  • here
  • and here
  • plus some 7 word bios

Staffing

Volunteers notably tech-savvy entrepreneurs and media outreach experts.
Event Coordinator with stipend + staff

Draft Budget

Expenses

Income

Funding Sources

Partners

  • W2 – The community art space of the Woodward’s project
  • A big telco
  • A brewery
  • A coffee company
  • A media company
  • A grant

Operations

Pressers by Day, Soirées by Night and Production all the time.
  • Video editing facilities
  • Video shooting facilities
  • Workstations spaces
  • Lounge area
  • Press conference area
  • Gallery
  • Collaborative activities 
During the day, there will be scheduled press conferences with athletes from lesser known sports, musicians and dancers from the CODE cultural events, community groups with concerns. Content creators can assemble to share tools, writers can find photographers, photographers can learn the law, videographers can create shows and like-minded artists can plan field trips or photo-walks, compare notes and tips of their craft. In the evening, the facility can be easily rearranged to host arts exhibits, film screenings, cultural performances or other social gatherings.

Registered participants will have access around the clock to publish to their home markets around the globe in a timely manner. Staff will supervise throughout but the facility and while the centre aims to be inclusive and open, this is not a “drop-in party” spot and all attendees will adhere to a code of conduct to mitigate liability concerns.

Participation

The House aims to be inclusive for anyone with a legitimate reason to use the facility. Depending on fire code and space requirements, we will set a number of overall participants who will do a simple registrations and agree to terms of use which ensures they are the sole owner of any content produced at TNMH.

Timeline:

Attachments (1)

  • True North Media House.doc - on Jun 17, 2009 5:35 PM by Dave Olson (version 1)
    41k Download