Board moves forward with televising its meetings
Janine Shimomura
Posted on: 3/4/10 Section: News
In an effort to bring transparency to the Board of Trustees proceedings, a proposal for a one-year pilot including the televising and webcasting of meetings was passed in a 3-1 vote, with one abstention, on Wednesday.
The proposal outlines a plan to use the video recording equipment that is provided free of charge to the college by the Pasadena Community Access Corporation (PCAC). The PCAC would also provide the production truck and staffing for an additional $15,400 per year, which amounts to $700 for each of the 22 board meetings.
The board looks to begin the broadcasts in July. Neither the televised nor webcast version will be streamed live, though the web version will allow interested parties to access the meeting 24 hours a day.
The one-year pilot is intended to gauge interest for the broadcasts, and may be renewed or considered null at the end of one year.
The proposal was brought before the board by Robert Miller, the interim dean of education services.
Miller himself is dedicated to the idea of civil engagement within the community, encouraging constituents of the trustees to be socially responsible. He strongly believes that transparency in government is the best way to communicate with the constituency.
"This is really an opportunity for the community to watch their government in action," Miller said.
Another option included in the proposal called for PCC broadcasting students to work along with the PCAC staff with a projected savings of $50 to $100 per meeting. The students would serve as unpaid interns and earn credit instead, with the potential to be hired by PCAC at a later date. Those students would not serve as a replacement for the PCAC crew but rather to aid the crew.
The presentation also included the options for potential live webcasting using two servers, which would encode and broadcast live video using the current PCC network. The webcast would be distributed through the existing PCC website.
The proposal outlines a plan to use the video recording equipment that is provided free of charge to the college by the Pasadena Community Access Corporation (PCAC). The PCAC would also provide the production truck and staffing for an additional $15,400 per year, which amounts to $700 for each of the 22 board meetings.
The board looks to begin the broadcasts in July. Neither the televised nor webcast version will be streamed live, though the web version will allow interested parties to access the meeting 24 hours a day.
The one-year pilot is intended to gauge interest for the broadcasts, and may be renewed or considered null at the end of one year.
The proposal was brought before the board by Robert Miller, the interim dean of education services.
Miller himself is dedicated to the idea of civil engagement within the community, encouraging constituents of the trustees to be socially responsible. He strongly believes that transparency in government is the best way to communicate with the constituency.
"This is really an opportunity for the community to watch their government in action," Miller said.
Another option included in the proposal called for PCC broadcasting students to work along with the PCAC staff with a projected savings of $50 to $100 per meeting. The students would serve as unpaid interns and earn credit instead, with the potential to be hired by PCAC at a later date. Those students would not serve as a replacement for the PCAC crew but rather to aid the crew.
The presentation also included the options for potential live webcasting using two servers, which would encode and broadcast live video using the current PCC network. The webcast would be distributed through the existing PCC website.
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