[Nfb-or] Golden Hours Departs OPB
Corinne
corinne at mind.net
Sat Mar 15 00:00:55 CDT 2008
I wanted to send this along as an attempt to help answer questions of when and why the decisions effecting Golden Hours were made.
I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Jerry for his commitment to making information and entertainment accessible to those who may not have otherwise
been included in media resources available to the general public.
I appreciate the ongoing support of Jerry and Golden Hours in helping us bring our messages and conventions to those who might not have had the opportunity
to participate in person.
I would like to work with Jerry to interface with OPB as the future reveals creative opportunities for presenting our message to the public and to those
most in need of our services and support.
I respect how difficult it has been to linger in the unknown outcome of the investigation to determine the future of a program that has been in place for
so many years. Now that the decision has been made, we need to look at how we can partner with OPB to support the services and resources vital to the blind
of Oregon.
I had hoped the programming could continue and sad to see the change but believe there is good that can come from it. Sometimes a closed door opens up other
considerations that might not have been recognized otherwise.
I will miss Jerry in the back of the room recording and hope now he will consider greater participation in the events involving Oregon's blind.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
----- Original Message -----
From:
Tara Taylor
To:
nfboforegon at frontiernet.net
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:44 PM
Subject: Golden Hours Departs OPB
Hello:
This e-mail is a follow-up to our conversation (or my voice mail message) from earlier today.
Earlier this year, Steve Bass and I met with you to discuss Golden Hours. After months spent reviewing data from secondary sources, researching & talking
with other radio reading services across the country, conferring with experts in the field, monitoring Internet traffic and personally meeting with all
of you, OPB has decided to cease operations of Golden Hours on April 30, 2008. This difficult decision was carefully reviewed by OPB's Strategic Planning
Committee and Board of Directors.
Here's the good news -- As we reviewed potential options, it became very clear that OPB can provide a greater public service by promoting the services
of your organizations. Over the next several weeks, I will contact each of you about how OPB can help promote your services to the blind and visually
disabled community.
Below is a message that was sent this afternoon to OPB staff and volunteers. While there are still many details to work through, Steve and I wanted you
to be aware of OPB's decision and to call us directly if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your help and understanding during this transition period.
Best Regards,
Tara Taylor
Vice President Marketing & Planning
Oregon Public Broadcasting
503.293.1969 (office)
503.432.5753 (cell)
Message to OPB Staff and Volunteers
After more than 30 years of serving the blind, visually-impaired and elderly, Golden Hours will cease operation by April 30, 2008.
We reached this difficult decision after months of research which included in-depth conversations with community partners serving the blind and visually
impaired community in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as discussions with OPB's board of directors and strategic planning committee.
Four immense challenges were identified in the course of this research:
1. The imminent demise of the secondary audio program (SAP), which is the primary means of delivering of this service;
2. The difficulty in identifying any significant user base of this service;
3. The cost of producing content and the lack of any viable revenue sources to support it, and, finally;
4. The lack of any feasible and effective methods of delivering the service following the end of analog television broadcasting next year.
When Golden Hours began in 1975, the blind and visually impaired had few options for receiving news and information. For many years prior to the rise
of the internet and prior to OPB radio becoming primarily a news and information service, Golden Hours provided one of the only options for the community
it serves.
Today, the number of TV news channels has skyrocketed, the Internet has exploded, thousands of books and magazines are now offered on tape. Advances in
synthesized voice have led to new telephone and online news services (like NFB Newsline, a telephone service that provides audio of several Oregon-based
newspapers such as The Oregonian and The Statesman-Journal). Media habits among the blind and visually disabled are also changing, albeit at a slower
pace than the sighted population, towards a greater use of on-demand media and time shifting.
As we reviewed potential options, it became clear that OPB can provide a greater public service by promoting the services of organizations already serving
the blind and visually impaired community. For example, the Talking Book and Braille Library, run by the State of Oregon, currently serves about 6,000
of the estimated 50,000 Oregonians eligible to receive this free service. Similarly, only 800-900 people have signed up for the NFB Newsline.
By June 30, OPB will launch a website of resources available for the blind and visually disabled in Oregon and SW Washington. By this fall, OPB will launch
a cross-platform marketing campaign to address this need. Promoting these services will help connect more people to the services that can help improve
their lives. This is an important role for OPB to play in the communities we serve.
The fundamental changes that have occurred in technology, consumer behavior and program options in no way diminish the commitment, passion and dedication
of hundreds of volunteers, and most importantly, Jerry DeLaunay. For the past sixteen years at OPB, Jerry has worked tirelessly on behalf of the blind
and visually disabled community. We greatly appreciate Jerry's years of service and his many contributions to OPB.
Over the next few weeks, OPB will work with staff and volunteers to transition the service. If you have any questions, please contact Tara Taylor, Vice
President of Marketing & Planning at 503.293.1969 or
ttaylor at opb.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1327 - Release Date: 3/12/2008 1:27 PM
-------------- next part --------------
I wanted to send this along as an attempt to help answer questions of when and why the decisions effecting Golden Hours were made.
I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Jerry for his commitment to making information and entertainment accessible to those who may not have otherwise
been included in media resources available to the general public.
I appreciate the ongoing support of Jerry and Golden Hours in helping us bring our messages and conventions to those who might not have had the opportunity
to participate in person.
I would like to work with Jerry to interface with OPB as the future reveals creative opportunities for presenting our message to the public and to those
most in need of our services and support.
I respect how difficult it has been to linger in the unknown outcome of the investigation to determine the future of a program that has been in place for
so many years. Now that the decision has been made, we need to look at how we can partner with OPB to support the services and resources vital to the blind
of Oregon.
I had hoped the programming could continue and sad to see the change but believe there is good that can come from it. Sometimes a closed door opens up other
considerations that might not have been recognized otherwise.
I will miss Jerry in the back of the room recording and hope now he will consider greater participation in the events involving Oregon's blind.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
----- Original Message -----
From:
Tara Taylor
To:
mailto:nfboforegon at frontiernet.net nfboforegon at frontiernet.net
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:44 PM
Subject: Golden Hours Departs OPB
Hello:
This e-mail is a follow-up to our conversation (or my voice mail message) from earlier today.
Earlier this year, Steve Bass and I met with you to discuss Golden Hours. After months spent reviewing data from secondary sources, researching & talking
with other radio reading services across the country, conferring with experts in the field, monitoring Internet traffic and personally meeting with all
of you, OPB has decided to cease operations of Golden Hours on April 30, 2008. This difficult decision was carefully reviewed by OPB's Strategic Planning
Committee and Board of Directors.
Here's the good news -- As we reviewed potential options, it became very clear that OPB can provide a greater public service by promoting the services
of your organizations. Over the next several weeks, I will contact each of you about how OPB can help promote your services to the blind and visually
disabled community.
Below is a message that was sent this afternoon to OPB staff and volunteers. While there are still many details to work through, Steve and I wanted you
to be aware of OPB's decision and to call us directly if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your help and understanding during this transition period.
Best Regards,
Tara Taylor
Vice President Marketing & Planning
Oregon Public Broadcasting
503.293.1969 (office)
503.432.5753 (cell)
Message to OPB Staff and Volunteers
After more than 30 years of serving the blind, visually-impaired and elderly, Golden Hours will cease operation by April 30, 2008.
We reached this difficult decision after months of research which included in-depth conversations with community partners serving the blind and visually
impaired community in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as discussions with OPB’s board of directors and strategic planning committee.
Four immense challenges were identified in the course of this research:
1. The imminent demise of the secondary audio program (SAP), which is the primary means of delivering of this service;
2. The difficulty in identifying any significant user base of this service;
3. The cost of producing content and the lack of any viable revenue sources to support it, and, finally;
4. The lack of any feasible and effective methods of delivering the service following the end of analog television broadcasting next year.
When Golden Hours began in 1975, the blind and visually impaired had few options for receiving news and information. For many years prior to the rise
of the internet and prior to OPB radio becoming primarily a news and information service, Golden Hours provided one of the only options for the community
it serves.
Today, the number of TV news channels has skyrocketed, the Internet has exploded, thousands of books and magazines are now offered on tape. Advances in
synthesized voice have led to new telephone and online news services (like NFB Newsline, a telephone service that provides audio of several Oregon-based
newspapers such as The Oregonian and The Statesman-Journal). Media habits among the blind and visually disabled are also changing, albeit at a slower
pace than the sighted population, towards a greater use of on-demand media and time shifting.
As we reviewed potential options, it became clear that OPB can provide a greater public service by promoting the services of organizations already serving
the blind and visually impaired community. For example, the Talking Book and Braille Library, run by the State of Oregon, currently serves about 6,000
of the estimated 50,000 Oregonians eligible to receive this free service. Similarly, only 800-900 people have signed up for the NFB Newsline.
By June 30, OPB will launch a website of resources available for the blind and visually disabled in Oregon and SW Washington. By this fall, OPB will launch
a cross-platform marketing campaign to address this need. Promoting these services will help connect more people to the services that can help improve
their lives. This is an important role for OPB to play in the communities we serve.
The fundamental changes that have occurred in technology, consumer behavior and program options in no way diminish the commitment, passion and dedication
of hundreds of volunteers, and most importantly, Jerry DeLaunay. For the past sixteen years at OPB, Jerry has worked tirelessly on behalf of the blind
and visually disabled community. We greatly appreciate Jerry's years of service and his many contributions to OPB.
Over the next few weeks, OPB will work with staff and volunteers to transition the service. If you have any questions, please contact Tara Taylor, Vice
President of Marketing & Planning at 503.293.1969 or
mailto:ttaylor at opb.org ttaylor at opb.org
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1327 - Release Date: 3/12/2008 1:27 PM
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