FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2021
Sara Desautel
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Community-Minded Enterprises
(509) 496-3685
SaraD@community-minded.org
Community-Minded Television Launches the CMTV Academy and a New Website to Meet the Demands of Spokane’s Digital Community
Spokane, Wash. — Since its inception in 2007 Community-Minded Television (CMTV14) has been committed to providing video training to the greater Spokane area. In May the station steps up its game with the debut of the CMTV Academy, a five-week targeted course to give anyone the skills they need to succeed in video production. “With all the growth CMTV14 has seen recently, the time was right to bring the CMTV Academy to Spokane,” said Lee Williams, CEO of Community-Minded Enterprises, the nonprofit home of CMTV14.
The CMTV Academy is designed to take students through the entire video production process. “There is really nothing else like it in Spokane,” said DaShawn Bedford, CMTV14 Production Manager. “Students who attend the CMTV Academy will graduate with the skills to produce and distribute their own original videos.”
The CMTV Academy provides students with two hour in-studio sessions over five weeks, with classes for youth ages 13-17 and adults. Subjects include camera and audio, editing, lighting and script writing. CMTV14 is a nonprofit public access station, aiming to keep costs affordable. The five-week series is $300 and is taught by CMTV14 staff and community professionals. “We are excited to be partnering with local industry leaders along with our talented CMTV14 staff” said Bedford. The organization is seeking community partners to sponsor scholarships for interested students that are unable to afford the tuition. The inaugural, CMTV Academy starts May 4, 2021. Register online here https://www.cmtvspokane.org/academy.
For teens, the CMTV Academy will also be available as a summer camp series. There are morning and afternoon sessions now open for enrollment June 21-25 and July 12-16 (each week students can choose 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or 2 p.m.-5 p.m.). Summer camps cost $159/week per student. Register for the summer camp series here https://www.cmtvspokane.org/camp.
The launch of the CMTV Academy coincides with another milestone. CMTV14 now has its own website, developed by Darrien Mack the station’s Graphic Designer. www.cmtvspokane.org/ is the place to go to watch videos produced by the station and view the equipment available for rent.
CMTV14’s Story of Resilience
Like the rest of the community, CMTV14 has faced challenges navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The station shut down for several months in 2020. When guidelines allowed, the station re-opened and in the second half of the year provided sixty members access to $300,000 worth of professional TV equipment and made it possible for five nonprofits to do virtual fundraising, bringing in nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Also, in 2020, the station doubled its staff from two to four, adding Production Associate Michael Bethely and Administrative Associate Maddie Cattle. Ahead in 2021, the station is poised to launch the CMTV14 app.
Community-Minded Television is located at 104 3rd Avenue (3rd and Browne) in Spokane. CMTV14’s 24-hour programming can be found on Comcast Channel 14. The station’s services include classes, equipment checkout, video production, program submission, studio rental and membership.
Follow CMTV14 on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram. Contact the station at (509) 960-7452, CMTV@community-minded.org.
CMTV14 is part of the nonprofit Community-Minded Enterprises. Learn more at www.community-minded.org and https://www.facebook.com/communityminded/.
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