[Imc] Global IMC organization document.

Fri Mar 2 03:15:39 UTC 2001

hi all,

several folks have been asking about ways to tie in to the global IMC effort. 
below is a document that Jay Sand and i have been putting together that
gives a
brief overview of the global IMC structure.  it is a good reference in case
you
want to know what groups are responsible for what so you may want to save this
e-mail.  

--sascha

GLOBAL INDYMEDIA OVERVIEW

(written Feb. 20, 2001; Updated March 1, 2001.  Tune in to later versions for
updated information)

This document is a general introduction to the inner workings, of the
loose-knit Global Indymedia Network.  This document is especially intended for
people in local IMCs who are curious about how they can become a part of the
international indymedia organizing effort -- though individuals can also use
the
information below to learn about opportunities to get involved with the Global
IMC.

WHAT IS GLOBAL INDYMEDIA?

That’s a good question.  In one sense, global Indymedia is a thriving
organization composed of thousands of activists from around the world who
communicate regularly via e-mail, telephone, and other communications devices
to coordinate the development of an international network of independent media
projects and community-based media centers.  In other ways, the whole idea of
“global Indymedia” is a misnomer.  People who are helping organize “global
indymedia” do so primarily via the internet, in virtual space, communicating
via e-mail lists and meeting sporadically on the “irc.indymedia.org” IRC chat
server (type
http://irc.indymedia.org in your browser or find an IRC program at
http://www.mirc.com), often in the #indymedia channel.  Sometimes they get
together in the non-virtual world to help coordinate event-based IMCs (e.g.
around anti-globalization events such as those in Seattle for the WTO protests
in ’99, Washington and Prague for the World Bank/IMF protests in 2000 and
Switzerland for the World Economic Forum protests this year).  "Indymediacs"
also
gather sometimes at independent media conventions and sometimes (gasp!) they
even visit each other just for fun.  In a very real sense, global Indymedia is
a loose organizing network of individual activists who support each other and
each other’s independent media activities.  In this way, global Indymedia is a
virtual entity, a network, and a "big ball of energy" that is impossible to
quantify.

Over the last several months, individuals who are interested in harnessing the
power of Indymedia to produce inspiring, informative media, have come together
to work on a number of international Indymedia projects.  For example, the
features
in the center column of the http://www.indymedia.org web site as well as
international print, audio and video productions.  You will find information
about how to get involved in these projects below.  

WHY SHOULD YOUR LOCAL IMC GET INVOLVED?

Indymedia is nothing if the non-virtual, local IMCs are not strong.  However,
the
idea that each local IMC is part of a thriving international network helps
inspire local IMCs to do good work.  The Gobal IMC provides a venue for
dissemination of locally produced media as well as a support network for
organizing IMC activities and events.  When people in local IMCs become
involved with global Indymedia projects they build strong bonds between the
local, real-life, community-based Indymedia organizing and the global
independent media “movement.”

HOW CAN YOUR LOCAL IMC GET INVOLVED? 

First of all, do not be discouraged by any of the techno-babble you read
below.  We try to make everything as user-friendly and accessible as possible,
and people are more than willing to answer any questions you have.  Remember,
the fact that you are reading this very statement would be an incomprehensibly
difficult task for most people working with computers only a decade or two
ago!  While some of the procedures may seem complex at first, you will find
them easy if you follow the steps provided.

Recently global Indymedia has begun to have international biweekly meetings on
the “irc.indymedia.org” IRC server (channel “#communication”).  Each local IMC
is strongly encouraged to have a liaison attend the global meetings.  These
meetings will be a place for liaisons from local IMCs to discuss their local
IMC’s reaction to proposals (found on the imc-proposals at indymedia.org list)
and
issues that effect the global Indymedia network.  Decisions about indymedia
policy will happen on the local level, in local IMCs, and the local IMCs will
send their liaison to the global meeting to let everyone else know what
they've
decided.  

On an ongoing basis, other than making an effort to visit people at local IMCs
when you travel, and/or trying to get to any regional independent media
gatherings or events an IMC is covering, the best way to get involved with
global Indymedia organizing is to participate in the global Indy e-mail
lists. 
Some local IMCs are making an effort to have at least one member on each
list. 
Below is a description of the global Indymedia lists.  All of the lists would
LOVE to have representation and involvement from all local IMCs.

INDYMEDIA E-MAIL LISTS:

You may sign up for all lists and view all list archives through
http://lists.indymedia.org.

Imc-proposals at indymedia.org
This list is for proposals ONLY.  Only proposals that working groups (i.e. the
people working on each of the Indymedia mailing lists) have made with the
intent of being brought back to local IMCs for feedback will appear on this
list.  Each local IMC should have someone on this list, and when a proposal
appears s/he should raise the issue in his/her local IMC.  We are moving
toward
developing a place for focused discussion of these proposal, and to creating a
decision-making process for how to put these discussions into action.  

Imc-process at indymedia.org
People have used imc-process as a place to discuss the organizational
structure
of Indymedia.  Participants on imc-process have been focusing on the approval
of new applications for local IMC sites and what “being an IMC” entails. 
People are also posting process documents and having process discussions on
the
web at http://global.indymedia.org.au.

Imc-editorial at indymedia.org
People on imc-editorial have been working on issues such as the editorial
policy for the www.indymedia.org news wire, and on broader issues related
to how to present the content on the www.indymedia.org site.

Imc-communications at indymedia.org
The purpose of this list is to develop better communication between the local
IMCs and to initiate a global Indymedia communication structure.  The
people on
this list have been coordinating the global Indymedia IRC meetings that have
started to occur, and will continue biweekly.  

Imc-tech at indymedia.org
This is the list for people who are working on general indymedia technical
issues and programming concerns.  There is also a list for people working on
the web code that underlies the indymedia sites at webcoders at cat.org.au. 

Imc-print at indymedia.org
A global print team is developing through this list to work on network-wide
print projects such as the PDF project (discussed below) and, potentially, a
regular global Indymedia print publication.

Imc-presentation at indymedia.org
This group coordinates the way the www.Indymedia site looks (fonts, type
colors, etc.)

Translation at indymedia.org
This list is an organizing group for the Indymedia translation team.
People on
this list are developing the system by which translation team volunteers will
translate things like Indymedia process documents and www.indymedia.org center
column
features. 

www-features at indymedia.org
This is a list for people who are coordinating the features that appear on the
center column of the www.indymedia.org page.  Anyone can suggest a feature to
this working group by e-mailing the suggestion to the list. 

Imc-global at indymedia.org
The purpose of this list is still being defined, but people have been using it
as
a place to discuss general issues that effect the whole network, such as what
to do with donations and what kind of general ideas people have for the future
of Indymedia.

Listwork at indymedia.org
People on this list are working to coordinate the creation and management of
the indymedia e-mail lists.  

General-discussion at indymedia.org
This list is for discussion of issues surrounding the variety of questions
people send to the general at indymedia.org e-mail box.  The people on this list
are using the helpdesk.indymedia.org system to answer those varied requests.  

Upcoming lists:
Imc-finance at indymedia.org 
An imc-finance list has been proposed for people working on the financial
aspects of the global Indymedia project, including accepting, encouraging and
organizing donations, and figuring out how to spend what we raise.  Currently
Sheri sheri at indymedia.org and Jay jay at tao.ca are answering people who ask how
they can donate to Indymedia, so if you have any general questions about
Indymedia finances for the moment you can contact them.  So far almost all of
the donations to Indymedia have gone to local IMCs, but some people and
foundations have expressed interest in supporting the global Indymedia entity,
which in turn would support the local IMCs, especially formation of local IMCs
in the Global South.  

HOW DOES YOUR LOCAL IMC SHARE CONTENT WITH GLOBAL INDYMEDIA PROJECTS?

Text features: 
If you have a feature that you think has international relevance, send notice
about it (and the proposed text, which would be helpful), to the
www-features at indymedia.org list.  Features for the www.indymedia.org page
should
have
some kind of international relevance and should include links to articles on a
local IMC newswire or on the www.indymedia.org newswire.  

Photos:
Post interesting photos from your local IMC that you think have international
relevance to the www.indymedia.org newswire.  In the future, when the PDF
project is active, you may also suggest your best photos to the
imc-print at indymedia.org list for inclusion.  

Audio:
The IMC radio team is currently working with the National Radio Project
(http://www.radioproject.org) to produce a weekly five minute news headlines
report as part of their Livewire news month-long pilot project, which perhaps
will become a regular production.  To become part of the radio headlines
project e-mail radio-headlines at indymedia.org.  

Video:
An Indymedia network-wide video production is in the works, to be broadcast
regularly on the Free Speech TV (http://www.freespeech.org) U.S. satellite
channel (DISH Network, 9415) and in local screenings around the world.  The
project is planning to debut in March or April, 2001.  Local IMCs that produce
video
segments regularly should contact Rachel rarinald at midway.uchicago.edu, Robert
rjwyrod at midway.uchicago.edu and/or Eric programming2 at fstv.org to get
involved. 

Upcoming projects:

PDF: 
The imc-print list is currently moving forward on a project to post a
weekly page of Indymedia news in printable (PDF) format.  Having a printable
page of news will enable individuals all over the world to print and
distribute
information that Indymedia has gathered, bringing Indymedia news off the
computer and into the real world.

News Blast:
There is a proposal floating around to start producing a weekly index of the
most intriguing news that has passed through the Indymedia news wires in the
previous week.  We will distribute this via e-mail, and perhaps will use it as
a fundraiser and/or subscription service.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
There is some information about how to organize an IMC at
http://process.indymedia.org.  While that site is quite out of date, there
are a couple “blueprints” from event-based IMCs that give good advice about
how
to
put together local event-based coverage.  You can also get to a global
Indymedia “to do list" at http://todo.indymedia.org, and find some imc-tech
information at http://tech.indymedia.org. If you have any general questions
about Indymedia or anything related, direct them to general at indymedia.org. 
Remember that the volunteers who answer those requests are quite overtaxed and
may take a few days to get back to you.

Thanks for reading and please send comments concerning this document to Jay
<jay at tao.ca> AND Sascha <sascha at aya.yale.edu>. 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/imc/attachments/20010301/969c0dd5/attachment.html>