[IMC-US] RE: Indymedia Newsreal Tour Grant Proposal

[Ana]

i just want to remind people that indymedia is an amorphous network of
networks. it started well before many of the people who have chimed in so
far got involved or even knew what indymedia was. FSTV was from the
beginning and still is a part of this network of networks. it is the only
"national" broadcast outlet in the U.S. where independent and radical media
gets aired.  we should celebrate and support it, not fight it. we are all
struggling for the right to get these messages out in the face of  a
multi-billion dollar corporate media system. yet here we are fighting our
allies who want to work with us to develop systems where marginalized voices
can penetrate that corporate system. that doesnt make any sense.   

FSTV helped to initiate the indymedia newsreal project many years ago, and
had faith in imc's to produce high quality content. unfortunately, not much
content came through. but instead of giving up, they have developed an
outreach and training project that hopes to deal with the practical
obstacles around grassroots video making. as some of you may have some idea,
video is an expensive medium, but its impact, especially when broadcast, is
massive.  someone objected to FSTV "paying for indymedia footage." actually
their proposal is that FSTV compensate producers $50 for each produced video
segment. i think that is noble. i know its easy for some of us to forget,
but there are many peopel who want to get their stories out that cant really
afford $7 mini dv tapes.

looking through the archives now, i see that sascha made the history point
already. but its worth repeating: assumptions are bad. knowing what came
before you is good. 

lastly, there is a big difference between this and what bht called a
for-profit venture. non-profit does not mean that we dont ever touch or need
money. that is just naive. the fact that fstv is supporting its staff to do
this outreach project I dont think is anyone's business. Even so, i point
people to the indymedia principles of unity. when we drafted it, there was a
conscious decision to leave the question of paying people up to local imc's
and individual projects. it is not a network decision. i hope we can lay
that one to rest once and for all. 

in solidarity
ana
nyc imc

Quoting bht <criticalmasser at riseup.net>:

> Hey there Ryan, I just want to jump on this right quick...you say that
> they certainly seem to be on with imc POU, well, this is for-profit work.
> 
> This is people making money off of the indymedia name, this is people
> selling it as a brand for some kind of draw/shock value.  And as I read
> the proposal, it is also an attempt to go into local communities and be
> saviours setting up random independant media type things.
> 
> This does sound like good things, but 1.  indymedia is not for profit, 2.
> 
> these people seem more like usurpers and saviours instead of working
> with
> local communities, it reads like that want to go in and dump cable
> access
> type shows on people so that they can fail...things need to mature or
> they
> fall apart and jumpstarting things with a for-profit brand name tour, i
> dont thing that is the type of jumpstarting that leads to continual
> movement and progress.
> 
> And getting into the grant money thing is a long thing.  One that I am
> not
> entirely ready to get into right now.  But, at some point, I am sure I
> will.
> bht
> portland
> 
> > Hi Bradley,
> > I'm not sure I understand exactly what your personal concern is.
> > Although I'm not involved with Indymedia Newsreal myself, I'm very
> > excited about the prospect of a touring Indymedia group. This is
> > exactly what we need to further Indymedia outreach and not just
> preach
> > to the choir all the time. Why would you have a problem with them
> using
> > the 'Indymedia' name? They certainly seem to be in line with the
> > Indymedia Principles of Unity. If your concern is simply because they
> > are seeking to use grant money, I would suggest that you provide an
> > explanation of how this would interfere with their ability for
> further
> > Indymedia goals. Indymedia is not an Anarchist Politburo. If you have
> > specific concrete concerns, speak your mind, otherwise we should
> > respect their autonomy and offer our support.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Ryan Kaldari, Tennessee IMC
> >
>