[IMC-US] Re: [New-imc] Proposed New IMC -- IMC-US:

Sun Aug 24 16:00:19 CDT 2003

Hi all,

On Sun, 24 Aug 2003, boud wrote:

> hi everyone,
>    Someone wrote offlist to me and to a few other people active in the
> new-imc working group, asking to have a decision deadline on this!
>
> Please do make this sort of pressure - new-imc is a global working
> group which works openly!

I think there's been a bit of confusion over my request for an internal
decision deadline for the IMC-US proposal.

It's been a couple years since I was a list admin for the New-IMC group
and thought I should contact the current list admins and some active folks
on the list who had sent in proposals with deadlines and let them know
that the IMC-US proposal was sent in and that a decision-deadline for
moving it to the IMC-process list should be established.  This was not
intended in any way to put pressure on folks, nor was it intended to
shortcircuit any existing processes -- I was simply unsure how
decision-deadlines are set within the current working group.

> This sort of request is clearly unusual, might be controversial,
> so it's not something to be rushed through. IMC Oceania did not ask to
> become an "official" IMC.
>
> In any case, how about looking through
>
> http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Global/NewImcHowTo
>
> ?

The IMC-US affinity group has looked through this and answered the
questions in our proposal to the New-IMC working group.  If folks want
more information about the IMC-US application, please just let us know.

> Certainly many of these things will be different for a regional IMC
> than for a local IMC, but it's still work that needs to be done.
>
> IMHO, the obligation to make sure that a regional IMC will not become
> hierarchical, that it has clear decision-making procedures, editorial
> policy, etc are just as important, if not more so, than for a local IMC.

I agree -- the IMC-US group is non-hierarchical and will have a fairly
articulated structure (as laid out in the proposal).

> And IMC US doesn't have the same excuse of lack of indy experience as new
> local collectives...

Definitely -- we have a tremendous amount of experience and skills within
the group.  Again, if anyone would like more information just send an
e-mail to the IMC-US group or to the new-imc list and we'll get you
answers to your questions.

I'll send out a new message to the New-IMC list with the 3-day decision
deadline.

Hope this helps clarify things,

In solidarity,

--Sascha Meinrath
Urbana-Champaign IMC

> On Fri, 22 Aug 2003, Sascha Meinrath wrote:
>
> > Hello all,
> >
> > SUMMARY:
> >
> > Over the past several years the idea of creating an IMC-US website has
> > been talked about at length.  Below is a formal proposal from the
> > imc-us affinity group to create such a site.
> >
> > ***
> >
> > HISTORY OF CURRENT PROPOSAL:
> >
> > In mid-June, a group of close to 50 IMC-istas met at the Allied Media
> > Conference in Bowling Green, Ohio.  At this gathering it was decided to
> > form an affinity group to look into creating an IMC-US website.  This
> > affinity group then met to work out some of the logistics necessary to
> > create such a website.  Over the summer, this affinity group has worked to
> > create and refine a proposal for the creation of an IMC-US website.
> >
> > Discussion, earlier drafts, etc. are available in the working group's
> > archives:
> >
> > http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/mailman/archive/imc-us/
> >
> > If you would like to join this affinity group, you can do so at:
> >
> > http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/imc-us
> >
> > The IMC-US affinity group sent the proposal to the IMC-US-Process working
> > group to look over and discuss before applying to the New-IMC group to
> > create the IMC-US website.  After a month-long discussion period, the
> > proposal was sent back to the IMC-US group to send to New-IMC.
> >
> > *******************************
> > *** US-IMC WEBSITE PROPOSAL ***
> > *******************************
> >
> > SUMMARY: Proposal to create a US-IMC website as a national venue for
> > U.S.-based IMCs.
> >
> > WHY A US-IMC WEBSITE?
> >
> > Discussion for a US based Indymedia website has happened on and off for
> > many months. But recently at the NorthEast IMC regional conference and at
> > the Allied Media Conference in Ohio, this project received unprecendented
> > focus. Participants from about 20 IMCs expressed interest in seeing
> > Indymedia articles of national significance highlighted on a US-based news
> > website. They have committed to seeing this project through and have
> > composed this proposal for review. An outreach working group was formed to
> > invite local IMC's to participate. If your IMC is interested in being
> > involved, please contact the US-IMC affinity group: imc-us at ucimc.org.
> > In addition, individual US-based IMCs who wish not to partake in a
> > national IMC Website can opt out of the collaboration.
> >
> > The Indymedia network, now approaching its fourth anniversary, started in
> > the United States and expanded outwards.  IMCs exist on all continents and
> > utilize many languages; however, while many country-specific IMCs exist,
> > currently no IMC website focuses on the United States as a whole.  There
> > are several reasons for such an IMC website to exist.
> >
> > A less US-Centric Global Site:  A US-IMC website would reduce domination
> > of the global indymedia site by US-specific issues.  While it may not be
> > apparent to many IMC-istas in the US, US stories have been overrepresented
> > on the global Indymedia site. Having a US site would allow the global site
> > to have a more balanced and diverse distribution of articles -- helping to
> > alleviate the alienation experienced by some non-US viewers. Additionally,
> > a US-IMC would help encourage the creation of a multi-lingual global site
> > by creating a venue for many English language posts that otherwise end up
> > on the global site.
> >
> > Although the content of the global site is disproportionately English
> > language and US-centric, because of space limitations, many important
> > articles are passed up.  A US-IMC website would be the appropriate place
> > for these types of articles (e.g., important stories regarding US politics
> > and domestic issues;  attacks on civil liberties, INS detentions,
> > egregious legislation, media consolidation, poverty, race and class
> > issues, the 2004 elections).  Furthermore, a US-IMC website would
> > strengthen and solidify the Indymedia network in the US.  Currently, many
> > US IMCs exist in relative isolation from one another -- the only common
> > news dissemination point being the global site.  A US-IMC website would
> > link these IMCs in a national network that could potentially become a
> > "legitimate" and sustainable rival to the mainstream corporate media.
> >
> > A US-IMC website is also an effective way to collectivize our struggles
> > and draw national and international attention to the strong independent
> > media movement in this troubled country.  It will help make each of our
> > local IMC's stronger by drawing traffic to our local sites whenever a
> > story of national significance happens in an IMC's home town or state.
> > Plus it will create a new canvas that we can collaborate on together
> > outside our local sites. Who knows what new projects could rise out of
> > this?
> >
> > The suggested format for the US site is a syndicated newswire of US-
> > features, much like the global site syndicates features from IMCs around
> > the world.  Syndication was chosen specifically as the recommended format
> > due to problems of open-publishing newswire abuse and following the
> > precendent set on the global Indymedia website (i.e., the open newswire
> > will be available off the main page).  The features column could include
> > stories published by US IMCs, articles with information compiled from
> > various US IMCs, and original pieces written exclusively for the US-IMC
> > website.  In addition, the US-IMC website could also feature work by other
> > alternative media sources (non-IMC specific).
> >
> > ***
> >
> > ORGANIZATION -- three core, working groups have been discussed:
> >
> > OUTREACH:  This group would be responsible for contacting and inviting all
> > US-IMCs to be involved in the process of creating the US-IMC website.
> > Additionally, the outreach group would contact other independent media
> > organizations (especially those in areas where there are no IMCs) to
> > spread the word about the US-IMC website.
> >
> > EDITORIAL:  The editorial group will be responsible for newswire
> > maintenance (if an open newswire is part of the site) and feature
> > writing/compiling/editing.
> >
> > TECH: The tech group will be responsible for maintaining the tech aspects
> > of the site and creating syndication code to draw stories from various
> > participating IMCs, installing a codebase, and fixing bugs, as well as
> > general maintenance.  People without tech expertise could be part of this
> > group in terms of helping to decide what features we want out of our code.
> > One goal is to make the site bilingual (i.e., English/Spanish), with
> > multilingual support.
> >
> > These three working groups will be composed of interested IMC members from
> > across the US.
> >
> > It should also be noted that specifics of the editorial group are linked
> > to what code we decide to use for the site.  For example, the global site
> > uses a code that requires email discussion and approval of features, while
> > sites that use dadaIMC code vote on features through the website.
> >
> > Note about the term US-IMC: Some participants at the initial organizing
> > meeting at the Allied Media Conference expressed concerns with the fact
> > that having a US-IMC legitimizes or condones the US as an imperialistic
> > superpower that exists because its founders displaced the indigenous
> > peoples that lived here. Others recognized this and thought that
> > regardless of our opinions of the US, it exists, and we live in it, and by
> > calling it the US-IMC, we are taking a step towards reclaiming this
> > country for the people that live in it.  Others suggested alternative
> > names, such as peopleoftheus.indymedia.org.  After extensive discussion it
> > was agreed that despite its shortcommings, us.indymedia.org would be used
> > as the url.
> >
> > ***
> >
> > ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
> >
> > What kind of resources can you contribute, in terms of
> > server/bandwidth/technical and organizing skills?
> >
> > The proposed US Indymedia has brought together people from various parts
> > of the United States to create a US Indymedia Web site. We have people who
> > have organized multiple other local Indymedia collectives, people who have
> > constructed local Indymedia web sites and people who have written features
> > for the various local Indymedia web sites and projects.
> >
> > *
> >
> > What kind of outreach have you done to bring together a diverse group of
> > people?
> >
> > The idea was brought forth at the Allied Media Conference in Bowling
> > Green, Ohio. This initial meeting brought together people from the states
> > of Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, New York, The District of Columbia, Tennessee
> > and others. Since then, people working with Indymedia in Seattle have
> > signed on to the concept. These are all diverse places and communities
> > within the United States of America.
> >
> > *
> >
> > Please write an introductory statement about why you want to participate
> > in the Indymedia Network.
> >
> > We believe that a US Indymedia web site will have several beneficial
> > impacts on global Indymedia and the IMC movement. First, the global
> > Indymedia page will no longer be dominated by news from the United States.
> > Those stories will be primarily featured on the US Indymedia site. This
> > will give more chance for struggles from around the globe to be featured
> > on the global Indymedia web site.
> >
> > Second, since the majority of Indymedia collectives are based in the
> > United States, a US Indymedia site will allow stories of struggles and
> > activism form around the United States to be syndicated on a central site.
> > This allows activists based in the United States to have better access to
> > news about struggles and to strengthen their resistance and present a more
> > united front.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > New-imc mailing list. Lista de correo New-imc
> > New-imc at lists.indymedia.org
> > http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/new-imc
> >
>
>