The digital media video production training center is at The Skanner Newsgroup’s North Portland offices. The Skanner Newsgroup is partnering with The Skanner Foundation, Oregon Economic & Community Development Department, Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission and Portland Community Media to create the production training center.

The center was conceived to address the lack of access to video equipment and training opportunities in North and Northeast Portland neighborhoods and will help to balance the disparities found in every African American community in the United States.

The training center will follow Portland Community Media’s model and will extend PCM’s outreach efforts. The center’s founders hope that the technology training it will provide can increase participants’ earning potential, provide a voice for North and Northeast Portland and instill a sense of unity in the community.

The project’s initial trainees will be made up of its partners’ organizational staff and volunteers from the community. All aspects of digital production will be taught, from production planning to screening a final product. Trainees also will be taught journalistic principles and ethics to use as a production guide. The resulting productions will be available for use on PCM and community access TV channels throughout the area, as well as on The Skanner Newsgroup’s Web site.