Reviving the Spirit of Community TV: The Cascadia Community Arts & Media Training Program

Rebuilding the Roots of Local Broadcasting

Before streaming platforms and smartphones, community access television was the heartbeat of small towns — the place where anyone could learn to tell a story, host a show, or share their vision with neighbors.These channels built connection through creativity — training generations of producers, journalists, musicians, and artists who learned by doing and gave voice to their communities.

At Cascadia Community TV Network, we’re bringing that spirit back for a new era.

From our headquarters in Bend, Oregon, Cascadia serves as a community arts and media hub — connecting local voices, training new creators, and showcasing the culture, music, and life of the Pacific Northwest.

Learn by Doing — Not by Watching

Our Community Arts & Media Training Program gives volunteers, students, and emerging creatives a chance to learn side-by-side with professionals across real productions for both Cascadia Community TV and our sister channel, Rogue Country TV.

Participants gain real-world, hands-on experience in:

• Broadcast & Field Production: camera operation, lighting, sound, and set management

• News & Storytelling: interviewing, on-camera hosting, and scripting for local coverage

• Editing & Post-Production: cutting, captioning, color, and delivery across platforms

• Live Event Production: streaming concerts, community gatherings, and cultural events

Every trainee leaves with portfolio-ready credits, technical confidence, and the satisfaction of contributing to a channel that truly belongs to the community.

Why It Matters

As traditional creative programs shrink, Cascadia Community TV provides a free, open-door alternative.We’re not just creating media — we’re building capacity.

By mentoring local talent and empowering collaboration, we’re giving Central Oregon the tools to tell its own stories.This is public access reborn — community-based, digitally fluent, and rooted in education, inclusion, and creativity.

Our programming spans music, arts, outdoor life, local cuisine, and cultural storytelling, distributed through YouTube, social media, PEG channels, and the upcoming Cascadia Community TV platform.

Community Over Competition

Our vision is simple: when one creator grows, the entire region benefits.

Participants collaborate on productions celebrating Oregon’s sound, style, and spirit.Each hour volunteered fuels our nonprofit mission — including support for the Rural Instruments Fund (R.I.F.), which provides musical instruments to students in rural Oregon schools.

When you see a Cascadia segment on screen — or a music feature on Rogue Country TV — you’re watching more than a program.You’re witnessing the next generation of Oregon creators coming to life.

How to Get Involved

We’re currently seeking:

• Volunteer Trainees — aspiring filmmakers, editors, and storytellers eager to learn

• Mentors — industry pros ready to share their skills and support local growth

• Community Partners — schools, nonprofits, and local businesses who want to host workshops, sponsor content, or donate equipment

To get involved contact will@roguecountry.net

Our Vision

From the early days of public-access studios to today’s digital frontier, one truth remains:the power to tell a story belongs to everyone.

At Cascadia Community TV, we’re reclaiming that power — teaching, creating, and broadcasting the heartbeat of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

Because storytelling should be accessible, inclusive, and free.And in Cascadia, it is.