For those who do not use Google docs, here is the text copy of my proposal:<br><br><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" id="internal-source-marker_0.19454968514437165"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">IMC website Redesign plan: June 2011</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">INTRO: </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The
purpose of this document is to create collaborative effort among IMC
members to redesign the IMC website. The goal of this document is to
start a discussion, receive feedback, and move forward using a model of
consensus regarding the design vision of the IMC website. Please, please
PLEASE use this document, consciously and assertively, as a spring
board for ideas, a starting point. No changes will be implemented on the
current IMC website until brought to Steering. </span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">BACKGROUND</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">: The IMC web presence has two very specialized, very different purposes that need to be met. </span><br>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">1). The UC-IMC as an organization</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">2). The IMC as a space for creating and disseminating news</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Currently,
the IMC combines both of these purposes into a single website, which
has created a cacophony of information. It’s difficult to navigate and
overwhelming to inexperienced users. This is a major barrier for both
increasing IMC membership and encouraging new users to submit news
stories.</span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">PROPOSAL: </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The UC-IMC organization and the IMC news creation/dissemination have their own spaces on </span><a href="http://ucimc.org/"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000099;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">ucimc.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> in order to breathe and grow sustainably.</span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">IMPLEMENTATION: </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Two distinct spaces would be designed to meet the needs specific to either the organization or online publishing, respectively.</span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The
organization portion of the website would focus on UC-IMC projects and
outreach, while the news website could highlight news stories from
online contributors and the IndyMedia movement abroad. </span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The
two spaces should compliment each other, borrow content when
appropriate, but give viewers a clear understanding that we are a
multi-purpose community, committed to both our organization and citizen
journalism. </span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">REASONING: </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Up
to this point, it’s sort of been like two siblings who are sharing the
same room. And there’s a spare room right next door! With secret
pathways, and regular pathways, and windows. And Little Sis really wants
to paint her room green. And Big Sis really wants a drum set. You get
the picture.<br><br><br>Please reply with responses.<br><br></span><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 3:45 PM, Kristina Williams <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kristinawho@gmail.com">kristinawho@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">Hello everyone,<br><br>I'm sharing the document, <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xRT3AWCciQVmC8WU6LDPSdmFIr2G1n29w_2J8ASxlAc/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CMPtw4EK" target="_blank">IMC website resign plan</a>, with a proposal for how to approach redesigning the IMC's web presence. This is step one of a multi-tiered process for the re-design.<br>
<br>I know my proposal seems like a very basic one, but it is absolutely crucial that an approach be established before going forward in flushing out the site's purpose, scope, features, etc.<br><br>Please offer your feedback in this thread. <br clear="all">
<br>-Kristina<br><font color="#888888"><br>-- <br>Kristina Williams, News Media Coordinator<br><a href="http://ucimc.org" target="_blank">Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center</a><br>kristinawho[at]gmail[dot]com<br>202 S Broadway<br>
Urbana, IL 61801<br>
217.344.8820<br><a href="http://www.americorps.gov/" target="_blank">AmeriCorps</a> member<br><br>
</font></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Kristina Williams, News Media Coordinator<br><a href="http://ucimc.org" target="_blank">Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center</a><br>kristinawho[at]gmail[dot]com<br>
202 S Broadway<br>Urbana, IL 61801<br>217.344.8820<br><a href="http://www.americorps.gov/" target="_blank">AmeriCorps</a> member<br><br>