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

[deva]

fighting our allies?

so if applicants for the position believe they were excluded after 
going through the whole process of applying and that the individuals 
going gave themselves the job (and the money) they should say nothing 
because FSTV is an ally?

btw, you can get mini-dv tapes for $4 and here in portland numerous 
people who do video work cannot afford even the $4 for tapes on a 
regular basis. We collectively always find a way to get that person a 
tape. The portland video collective has produced around 100 videos in 
the past 3 years and in that time has collectively raised maybe $1000 
total. The video group actively works to dispel the myth that video is 
a relatively expensive work (relatively meaning in this country it is 
not hard at all)

I do not oppose FSTV paying people $50 for a video segment.

I oppose people paying themselves $5000 ($15,000 total salary) in order 
to 'help' local imc's and an indymedia project.

I think taking that $15,000 and buying 30 digital camcorders and giving 
them to the local imc's would be more useful.

There are people who would be happy to travel some for no money to 
promote the newsreal

Take the $2500 alloted for hotels and make a bulk (you get em cheaper 
per tape in bulk) purchase of close to 1000 mini-dv tapes and 
distribute them to local imc's. (we don't need any, we are managing 
fine)

Take the $2000 for rental car, and purchase some longer running 
batteries for the above cameras, or maybe lav mics.

You are right. It is FSTV's business how they conduct their affairs. 
This tour has been presented however, as an indymedia project and is 
acknowledged to be abiding by the principles of unity. I do not believe 
it meets the spirit of those principles.

You still do not see me claiming to block the proposal. I am not part 
of the newsreal working group.

I do however, claim my own right to express my opinions about something 
and to say when I think it is a waste of resources and that there is a 
better way to accomplish something or if I believe something is being 
conceived and carried out in a manner that is not ethical or fruitful.

FSTV claims to expose abuses of power, including those within the media 
that place private profit over the public interest. (taken from their 
own blurb)

I would say that in the scope of this project, $15,000 in salary for 
the people who select themselves for the tour is putting private profit 
above the public good.

As Chris suggests, this tour may go on regardless of what people think 
of it. That does not obligate me to approve of it, or support it.

regards
deva




On Jun 17, 2004, at 9:08 PM, Ana wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>
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