Proposal for further funding for implementation of RDF schema

Finalising and applying a metadata & syndication standard for online, audio-visual media.

Proposer: Zoe Young, Simon Worthington

History

Attempts have been to create centralised online repositories of audio visual materials, with varying degrees of success. Now, instead of attempting to centralise our resources, participants in the Transmission network are moving towards a common metadata and online syndication/distribution standard for use by independent media groups and outlets.

The purpose of this is to allow parties to retain hosting and maintenance of their own materials while facilitating widespread information exchange and collaborative use, re-use and distribution. This process could transform the way that video is published, accessed and presented on the internet, enabling media to reach interested audiences much more effectively than at present. To start this process on a small scale, immediate utility can be created for a specific test group of independent media and campaign video projects, and only then explore further application in broader online video communities.

Accordingly, recommendations have been developed for a pragmatic common metadata and syndication/distribution standard. At the re:transmission gathering in London, 15th October 2006, a proposed standard metadata system was presented that incorporates such descriptions into an extant syndication system (Atom). This has now been subject to substantial consultation, and is in need of redrafting to take account of comments received, and a realistic plan of action for implementation needs to be put in place.

Summary of Intent

If we as a network or 'union' of social change video projects are to make our media *visible* online, and exchange, suck and direct it to where it is actually wanted, then we need to agree - and adopt - this metadata standard. A working 0.2 set of draft specifications has been created, so now we must move on to a more stable framework that can be used for some implementations. The funding applied for here involves finalisation of the Transmission metadata standard in light of feedback received, and ongoing consultation with and informing of user groups towards widespread adoption.

Proposals for next steps:

(i) Collate and review all the comments, suggestions and questions so far

(ii) Resolve any queries and generate a 0.3 draft of the recommendations incorporating these.

(iii) Draft some implementation guidelines for various CMSs and systems.

(iv)

Going forward, we need to move now from the job of producing a draft set of recommendations to the 0.3 draft. The estimated time for the job is:

2.5 days to resolve any conflicts and update to 0.3 1.5 days to research state of current CMSs and platforms 1.5 days to get write this up in a report and take recommendations to 0.3.

TOTAL: 5.5 DAYS each = 11 days

This document would then be sent to the meta:tx list for a new round of feedback. After final alterations it would then be published on a specially created section of the Transmission site. By that stage it should as much as possible reflect the concerns and considerations of stakeholders.

Thereafter, the network will require someone to maintain the standard as we move forward, a role requiring 4 days work a month, that would include:

• reviewing discussion on list
• bringing in interested parties
• maintaining and updating the standard, securing www validation service of the metadata standard
• dealing with queries about the standard
• promoting the standard professionally, eg ensuring implementation of metadata standard in existing video podcasting modules to popular oss cms, like podpress (module into wordpress), video module into drupal, in aggregator2 module to drupal and others.

It suggested that we apply for 6 months of funding for this role in the first place, i.e., 4 days x 6 months = 24 days.

Jan and Jamie are willing to split this role and try to maintain the standard co-operatively for the first 6 months period.

additionally we will need someone to conduct effective outreach activity (website, evangelism, lobbying, etc.) of the metadata standard.