Teen Media Productions
Teen Media Productions or TMP is a digital media production company that produces and distributes several forms of digital media on its sites. It originally began under the Teen Podcasters Network, although the evolution of digital media on the internet led to the incorporation of the Teen Podcasters Network under The New company, Teen Media Productions. Teen Media Producions is entirely teen run, making it the first network of its type.
History
Michael Fogleman founded the network on a small Blogger site with a few podcasts, including his own (The Commoner's View of the World) on July 29, 2005. He continued to run TPN off the Blogger site until two members from the site really helped him out. These two members were Lee Rogers and Robbie Trencheny. Robbie provided the hosting, the domain, and the Drupal content management system. Beforehand, Lee had created TPNP, the official Teen Podcasters Network Podcast.
When Drupal was finally set up the new site was born, along with a domain. After this, Lee went to work on a new theme which he eventually finished in the middle of September 2005. Along with Chris Lee, they began to grow the network into the social community it is today, with a few bumps in the road, but still eventually becoming great. Recently, Lee and Chris have moved on to their own independent blogs.
In the middle of this conversion the TPN ran unto some bumps with rival networks such as the Red Project and Negative Penguin Media. This is where Matt Pippen comes in to the picture in May of 2006. He helped Michael and Robbie maintain the TPN, keeping it a highly successful network.
Then later that year, Michael felt he had other things to attend to in his life, so he left Matt and Robbie in control of the TPN. Matt has most recently brought the site to its newest look with the current theme.
In late 2006, the Podcast and Portable Media Expo proved to be one of TPN's greatest moments in the media with TPN appearing on many podcasts and vidcasts including an appearance on TWIT. This event earned the TPN a larger following and more teen podcasters to join the network.
In early 2007, the TPN had its biggest development yet when it was brought under the roof of Teen Media Productions, a project Robbie had been working on with Matt. Under the TMP name, new forums were created and our TMP intern Zach Flauaus joined the staff. At this moment, the TPN stands strong with many podcasts. Matt, Robbie, and Zach are good friends, and together they help the site in whatever way they can.
Press Coverage
The TMP and TPN have been lucky to receive a fair amount of press coverage. Some of the coverage includes:
- During the Podcast and Portable Media Expo 2006, Robbie Trencheny appeared on TWIT and WebProNews to talk AbOUT the Teen Podcasters Network.
- During Podcamp Boston, Michael Fogleman was interviewed by Steve Garfield of Rocketboom.
- Biz Podcasting wrote an article discussing the community of TPN.
- MarketWatch mentioned TPN in an article about podcast ads.
- During Mashup 2007, Robbie Trencheny appeared on the teen panel along with Martina Butler, Cathrine Cook, and Ashley Qualls.
Teen Podcasters Network
The Teen Podcasters Network (http://www.teenpodcasters.com) is "The First and Original Podcast Network by Teens and for Teens". The Teen Podcasters Network or TPN is the first teen podcasters network and first podcasters network ran exclusively by teens. The TPN was created for two reasons: 1) To show adults that teens can do the same things they do and 2) To connect teens all over the world to better each other's podcasts and build friendships.
The network did run into many controversies. Two of the major controversies were the UTPOA and Red Project. UTPOA or The United Teen Podcasters of America attempted to steal many members of the TPN. This was quickly countered with responses on the TPN Blogger homepage. The situation was slowly diffused and TPN acquired UTPOA. The Red Project was a group of disgruntled former TPN members. The members were mad that the "TPN Admins", as they were called, were running the network as a dictatorship, hince the name of their network. The members had a website up for the network, although the Red Project never took off due to a lack of support.
Teen Vidcasters Network
The Teen Vidcasters Network (http://www.teenvidcasters.com) is still under development however the site is up.
Teen Bloggers Network
The Teen Bloggers Network (http://www.teenbloggersnetwork.com) is still under development.
Kid Podcasters Network
The Kid Podcasters Network (http://www.kidpodcasters.com) is still under development.