History

THRU Media was developed as a Portland Oregon-based online magazine. We published hundreds of articles, original video documentaries, creative writing, art works, and a podcast. The project discontinued after three years in 2018. Most of the content is archived and available at magazine.thru.media.

Among the two dozen contributors to the magazine, there were several core creators: Sean Ongley and Kathleen Dolan drove the project, while Estevan Munoz, Ingrid Horton, Jen Scholten, and Forrest Brennan provided substantial content contributions in supportive roles early in rollout of the publication.

Nobody had the heart to turn this into a clickbait site, or spend hours upon hours seeking business sponsors, and with only one commissioned video project beyond one Indiegogo campaign, the operation ran out of steam. And our lives changed until it became untenable to continue the magazine.

In 2022, when all were asked if they would be open to seeing Thru Media relaunched with a different vision, Forrest, Estevan, and Ingrid were open to it.

Estevan has relocated to Brooklyn where he is working with Bad Taste Video as an actor, and on his own as a writer, music producer and performer.

Forrest remains in Portland where he launched a production company called Hungry Mantis, specializing in 360 video.

Ingrid continues to work as a graphic designer in Melbourne, Australia.

Sean is again leading the effort to build a media brand called THRU. This time without the kind of pressure that is involved with a magazine. Original content on the front end and media services on the back end were always the vision for it, and here a magazine can always be put back together, if it makes sense.

If people can be brought together with newfound connections, a decentralized agency can be formed, and dynamic content can be produced.

Decentralization

Digital publishing is typically financed by a variety of exclusive content delivery methods, and advertising. Audiences get stuck behind paywalls, or submitted to (often excessive) advertising.

Creative agencies are typically top down companies that employ highly talented creators to produce whatever content they are asked to as determined by the employer.

Is it possible for a small media company to provide services like an agency from a network of freelancers specialized in various fields, to work with small business and independent producers?

It’s not enough anymore to replicate the models for business and organization that built mass media. We live in the era of decentralized media and finance, and this is good. Thru Media is an effort to evolve into this new world.

Value Driven Media

Is it possible for content to be delivered publicly without barriers, in a profitable way, without corporate sponsors or paywalls, pop-up ads, and data harvesting,? Can everyday people be executive producers?

Decentralization means fewer wealthy individuals, and conglomerate media outfits, bankrolling content while pushing it to the front through their consolidated channels. Owning the content and its method of delivery is only possible with DIY operations and decentralized and/or federated platforms.

THRU can be an agent of decentralized business by building itself from the ground up using open publication platforms while crowdsourcing production projects, giving everyone an opportunity to be a legitimate producer.

This also proves that content will created in a merit-based, democratic way. Ideas that don’t really garner much interest, or content that isn’t executed well, won’t be rewarded equally.

This is about equality of access, not outcome, and opportunities to build equity based on merit. Exactly how to apply the ethics of value-driven content is to be explored.

On the professional services side, it means being flexible to meet the financial value a client can offer, as well as sharing alike resources so that the community of creators behind Thru Media can achieve their goals across the entirety of their professional endeavors, rather than compete against one another.

Learn More

Creators and Producers are the pillars of the Thru Crew. As it is envisioned, a Creator can become a Producer, and a Producer can become a Partner.

Learn more about this organizational model and what you can do.

One aspect of value-driven content is free access. It is not possible to publish everything for free, however the bare minimum that Thru Media promises for digital content is a free streaming option on this website that doesn’t require the viewer to sign up for, log in, or give their information. This is rooted in the value-for-value digital distribution model and we gladly accept value in return for whatever enjoyment you have received from our free content.

Learn more about supporting Thru Media with a value contribution.