PSU-TV on the TV

The campus television station, PSU-TV, will soon be broadcast off campus.

Last Monday, Feb. 22, PSU-TV filmed its first public access show, to be broadcast on channels 11, 22 and 23 through MetroEast Community Media in Gresham. John Miller, the president of PSU-TV and a senior majoring in communication, said he plans to complete his training there during spring break, after which PSU-TV will commence broadcasting on a biweekly basis.

According to its Web Site, MetroEast Community Media “helps everyday people make television programs” through workshops, training, studio and editing space and it broadcasts shows on eight different channels.

Suzanne Watson, a junior majoring in communication and PSU-TV’s assignment editor, said, “We were looking for a way to get our stories broadcast beyond YouTube,” when they found MetroEast Community Media.

“[PSU-TV is] television so we wanted to find a venue that is actually television,” Watson said.

According to its Web site, PSU-TV is a student group “dedicated to sustainable community media and keeping independent thought alive in media outlets.”

PSU-TV strives to maintain integrity in the gathering and reporting of information.

 “[I]t is essentially grassroots media since we are a student group,” Watson said.

According to Miller, some PSU-TV segments “let the campus know new ways to be sustainable,” like “Sustainable Students” which focuses on how students can stretch their money.

Miller said PSU-TV also did a story on the first building with no carbon footprint built in Portland.

Those interested can view these and other PSU-TV segments at psutv.groups.pdx.edu or on YouTube at youtube.com/user/psutelevision.

Although PSU-TV has existed under various names since 2003, Student Publications—a group that includes the Vanguard, the Rearguard and the Portland Spectator—does not currently recognize PSU-TV as a publication.

According to Watson, before allowing PSU-TV to join Student Publications, “[they] wanted us to increase visibility” so that students outside of Neuberger Hall can access the group’s broadcasts.

Miller said Student Activities and Leadership Programs has worked really hard to help PSU-TV because it “should be under [Student Publications].”

In addition to the issue of visibility, Miller said the Student Publications Board “proposed making [PSU-TV’s] Web site a little more interactive,” such as by allowing viewers to comment on the available video segments.

According to Miller, the group’s faculty advisor, Dr. Susan Poulsen, will meet with Judson Randall, student publications adviser, to discuss the decision in more detail soon.

Watson said that PSU-TV has a training program to teach interested students how to run the cameras and edit film, which benefits students by allowing them to apply “the theories one gathers in film class and communications.”

According to Miller, “We definitely take a hands on approach in teaching people to operate this equipment…from day one we definitely get people involved.”

Dr. J. David Kennamer, an instructor in the Department of Communication, also gave a talk on media ethics last fall, which PSU-TV recorded and now shows to all new reporters, Miller said.

According to Watson, Student Publications also wants to know how PSU-TV can generate revenue as the other student publications do. Miller said that PSU-TV plans to generate revenue by filming documentaries and promotional videos for a fee, while still doing two- to three-minute stories for free.

Miller said, “Once they see that we’re a viable group…building ourselves up as the Vanguard [and other publications have]” PSU-TV will hopefully join Student Publications.