Letter from our Executive Director 
Tony Shawcross reflects on 2008, and shares his vision for 2009
This month marks the completion of our fifth year in business as Deproduction, and our second complete year of operations as Denver's Public Access TV provider, Denver Open Media. Below are some of the major highlights of 2008 and goals for the upcoming year:
Knight News Challenge and CivicPixel: The greatest accomplishment of 2008 was our selection as a winner of the Knight News Challenge. This two-year, $380,000 grant is directed at helping us replicate our user-driven model for public access at other stations and community technology centers nation-wide. Immediately following the grant, we merged with CivicPixel, bringing Brian Hiatt and Sharee Dierringer on-staff full-time, then hired Kevin Reynen and John Montgomery to round-out the team. Over 30 organizations applied to participate in our first stage beta-test of the Drupal tools we've developed, and six were chosen to receive pro-bono consulting and support from our team. Throughout 2009, we will be visiting each of these stations and helping them complete their implementation, an important initial step in our vision to bring the nationwide Public Access TV community together as a cooperative user-driven TV network.
Denver Metro Nonprofit Production Program: Thanks to our growing partnership with the Community First Foundation, we were able to initiate the Denver Metro Nonprofit Production Grants program, which supported 6 local nonprofits taking full advantage of the resources available at Denver Open Media. In the summer and fall of 2008, these 6 participating organizations produced nearly 20 video projects, airing on Denver Open Media and across the web. With the high demand for the program (over 30 applicants) and the great success of our pilot effort, we hope to continue and expand the initiative into 2009 and beyond.
Alliance for Community Media: After only two years in existence, Denver Open Media's reputation as a leader in the Public Access TV community continues to rise. In 2008, we were selected to host the Alliance for Community Media Western Regional Conference. With over 200 people in attendance, and 3 days of presentations, panels, and parties, the event was a huge success.
Colorado Channel: Thanks to our partnership with Denver8 and the Denver Office of Telecommuncations, we were selected to manage the new statewide "Colorado Channel". Like Colorado's own C-Span, the channel broadcasts our House of Representatives meetings daily. In 2009, we will continue that effort, in the hopes of expanding our contract with the state to include the Senate in 2010.
In 2008 we were shocked to see the MicroBusiness Development Corporation go into Bankruptcy. As the owners of our building, this represents a significant threat to our existence, and also a great opportunity. We're working together with the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships, the Office of Economic Development, and other city agencies and nonprofit partners to try to purchase the building as a tenant-owned, multi-tenant nonprofit center, with a number of partnering organizations each owning their footprint in this wonderful building. This is a major focus of mine for 2009, as owning our share of a wonderful, collaborative nonprofit home like this could be a major turning-point in our growth.
Finally, I should mention the great progress our Board of Directors is making. With leadership from our new Board President, Leslie Matthews, the Board is embarking on our first comprehensive Strategic Planning process, and subsequently leading the organization into a new fundraising era, with plans to hire a Development Associate and participate in a new individual-donor fundraising program that will help ensure our sustainability for years to come.
We're excited about how far we've come in such a short time, and optimistic about the future that is possible with your support.
Thank you,
Tony Shawcross
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