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hi all,<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
--sascha<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<font size=3>GLOBAL INDYMEDIA OVERVIEW<br>
<br>
(written Feb. 20, 2001; Updated March 1, 2001. Tune in to later
versions for updated information)<br>
<br>
This document is a general introduction to the inner workings, of the
loose-knit Global Indymedia Network. This document is especially
intended for<br>
people in local IMCs who are curious about how they can become a part of
the<br>
international indymedia organizing effort -- though individuals can also
use the<br>
information below to learn about opportunities to get involved with the
Global IMC.<br>
<br>
WHAT IS GLOBAL INDYMEDIA?<br>
<br>
That’s a good question. In one sense, global Indymedia is a
thriving<br>
organization composed of thousands of activists from around the world
who<br>
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<br>
<font size=3><a href="http://irc.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl">http://irc.indymedia.org</a><font size=3>
in your browser or find an IRC program at<br>
<font size=3><a href="http://www.mirc.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.mirc.com</a><font size=3>), often in the #indymedia channel. Sometimes they get<br>
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<br>
in ’99, Washington and Prague for the World Bank/IMF protests in 2000 and<br>
Switzerland for the World Economic Forum protests this year). "Indymediacs" also<br>
gather sometimes at independent media conventions and sometimes (gasp!) they<br>
even visit each other just for fun. In a very real sense, global Indymedia is<br>
a loose organizing network of individual activists who support each other and<br>
each other’s independent media activities. In this way, global Indymedia is a<br>
virtual entity, a network, and a "big ball of energy" that is impossible to quantify.<br>
<br>
Over the last several months, individuals who are interested in harnessing the<br>
power of Indymedia to produce inspiring, informative media, have come together<br>
to work on a number of international Indymedia projects. For example, the features<br>
in the center column of the <a href="http://www.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>http://www.indymedia.org</a><font size=3> web site as well as<br>
international print, audio and video productions. You will find information<br>
about how to get involved in these projects below. <br>
<br>
WHY SHOULD YOUR LOCAL IMC GET INVOLVED?<br>
<br>
Indymedia is nothing if the non-virtual, local IMCs are not strong. However, the<br>
idea that each local IMC is part of a thriving international network helps<br>
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.”<br>
<br>
HOW CAN YOUR LOCAL IMC GET INVOLVED? <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Recently global Indymedia has begun to have international biweekly meetings on<br>
the “irc.indymedia.org” IRC server (channel “#communication”). Each local IMC<br>
is strongly encouraged to have a liaison attend the global meetings. These<br>
meetings will be a place for liaisons from local IMCs to discuss their local<br>
IMC’s reaction to proposals (found on the imc-proposals@indymedia.org list) and<br>
issues that effect the global Indymedia network. Decisions about indymedia<br>
<font size=3>policy will happen on the local level, in local IMCs, and the local IMCs will<br>
send their liaison to the global meeting to let everyone else know what they've<br>
decided. <br>
<br>
On an ongoing basis, other than making an effort to visit people at local IMCs<br>
when you travel, and/or trying to get to any regional independent media<br>
gatherings or events an IMC is covering, the best way to get involved with<br>
global Indymedia organizing is to participate in the global Indy e-mail lists. <br>
Some local IMCs are making an effort to have at least one member on each list. <br>
Below is a description of the global Indymedia lists. All of the lists would<br>
LOVE to have representation and involvement from all local IMCs.<br>
<br>
INDYMEDIA E-MAIL LISTS:<br>
<br>
You may sign up for all lists and view all list archives through<br>
<font size=3><a href="http://lists.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl">http://lists.indymedia.org</a><font size=3>.<br>
<br>
Imc-proposals@indymedia.org<br>
This list is for proposals ONLY. Only proposals that working groups (i.e. the<br>
people working on each of the Indymedia mailing lists) have made with the<br>
intent of being brought back to local IMCs for feedback will appear on this<br>
list. Each local IMC should have someone on this list, and when a proposal<br>
appears s/he should raise the issue in his/her local IMC. We are moving toward<br>
developing a place for focused discussion of these proposal, and to creating a<br>
decision-making process for how to put these discussions into action. <br>
<br>
Imc-process@indymedia.org<br>
People have used imc-process as a place to discuss the organizational structure<br>
of Indymedia. Participants on imc-process have been focusing on the approval<br>
of new applications for local IMC sites and what “being an IMC” entails. <br>
People are also posting process documents and having process discussions on the<br>
web at <a href="http://global.indymedia.org.au/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>http://global.indymedia.org.au</a><font size=3>.<br>
<br>
Imc-editorial@indymedia.org<br>
People on imc-editorial have been working on issues such as the editorial<br>
policy for the <a href="http://www.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.indymedia.org</a><font size=3> news wire, and on broader issues related<br>
to how to present the content on the <a href="http://www.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.indymedia.org</a><font size=3> site.<br>
<br>
Imc-communications@indymedia.org<br>
The purpose of this list is to develop better communication between the local<br>
IMCs and to initiate a global Indymedia communication structure. The people on<br>
this list have been coordinating the global Indymedia IRC meetings that have<br>
started to occur, and will continue biweekly. <br>
<br>
Imc-tech@indymedia.org<br>
This is the list for people who are working on general indymedia technical<br>
issues and programming concerns. There is also a list for people working on<br>
the web code that underlies the indymedia sites at webcoders@cat.org.au. <br>
<br>
Imc-print@indymedia.org<br>
A global print team is developing through this list to work on network-wide<br>
print projects such as the PDF project (discussed below) and, potentially, a<br>
regular global Indymedia print publication.<br>
<br>
Imc-presentation@indymedia.org<br>
This group coordinates the way the <a href="http://www.indymedia/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.Indymedia</a><font size=3> site looks (fonts, type<br>
colors, etc.)<br>
<br>
Translation@indymedia.org<br>
This list is an organizing group for the Indymedia translation team. People on<br>
this list are developing the system by which translation team volunteers will<br>
translate things like Indymedia process documents and <a href="http://www.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.indymedia.org</a><font size=3> center column<br>
features. <br>
<br>
www-features@indymedia.org<br>
This is a list for people who are coordinating the features that appear on the<br>
center column of the <a href="http://www.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.indymedia.org</a><font size=3> page. Anyone can suggest a feature to<br>
this working group by e-mailing the suggestion to the list. <br>
<br>
Imc-global@indymedia.org<br>
The purpose of this list is still being defined, but people have been using it as<br>
a place to discuss general issues that effect the whole network, such as what<br>
to do with donations and what kind of general ideas people have for the future<br>
of Indymedia.<br>
<br>
Listwork@indymedia.org<br>
People on this list are working to coordinate the creation and management of<br>
the indymedia e-mail lists. <br>
<br>
General-discussion@indymedia.org<br>
This list is for discussion of issues surrounding the variety of questions<br>
people send to the general@indymedia.org e-mail box. The people on this list<br>
are using the helpdesk.indymedia.org system to answer those varied requests. <br>
<br>
Upcoming lists:<br>
Imc-finance@indymedia.org <br>
An imc-finance list has been proposed for people working on the financial<br>
aspects of the global Indymedia project, including accepting, encouraging and<br>
organizing donations, and figuring out how to spend what we raise. Currently<br>
Sheri sheri@indymedia.org and Jay jay@tao.ca are answering people who ask how<br>
they can donate to Indymedia, so if you have any general questions about<br>
Indymedia finances for the moment you can contact them. So far almost all of<br>
the donations to Indymedia have gone to local IMCs, but some people and<br>
foundations have expressed interest in supporting the global Indymedia entity,<br>
which in turn would support the local IMCs, especially formation of local IMCs<br>
in the Global South. <br>
<br>
HOW DOES YOUR LOCAL IMC SHARE CONTENT WITH GLOBAL INDYMEDIA PROJECTS?<br>
<br>
Text features: <br>
If you have a feature that you think has international relevance, send notice<br>
about it (and the proposed text, which would be helpful), to the<br>
www-features@indymedia.org list. Features for the <a href="http://www.indy/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.indy</a><font size=3>media.org page should have<br>
some kind of international relevance and should include links to articles on a<br>
local IMC newswire or on the <a href="http://www.indy/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.indy</a><font size=3>media.org newswire. <br>
<br>
Photos:<br>
Post interesting photos from your local IMC that you think have international<br>
relevance to the <a href="http://www.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>www.indymedia.org</a><font size=3> newswire. In the future, when the PDF<br>
project is active, you may also suggest your best photos to the<br>
imc-print@indymedia.org list for inclusion. <br>
<br>
Audio:<br>
The IMC radio team is currently working with the National Radio Project<br>
(<a href="http://www.radioproject.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>http://www.radioproject.org</a><font size=3>) to produce a weekly five minute news headlines<br>
report as part of their Livewire news month-long pilot project, which perhaps<br>
will become a regular production. To become part of the radio headlines<br>
project e-mail radio-headlines@indymedia.org. <br>
<br>
Video:<br>
An Indymedia network-wide video production is in the works, to be broadcast<br>
regularly on the Free Speech TV (<a href="http://www.freespeech.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>http://www.freespeech.org</a><font size=3>) U.S. satellite<br>
channel (DISH Network, 9415) and in local screenings around the world. The<br>
project is planning to debut in March or April, 2001. Local IMCs that produce video<br>
segments regularly should contact Rachel rarinald@midway.uchicago.edu, Robert rjwyrod@midway.uchicago.edu and/or Eric programming2@fstv.org to get involved. <br>
<br>
Upcoming projects:<br>
<br>
PDF: <br>
The imc-print list is currently moving forward on a project to post a<br>
weekly page of Indymedia news in printable (PDF) format. Having a printable<br>
page of news will enable individuals all over the world to print and distribute<br>
information that Indymedia has gathered, bringing Indymedia news off the<br>
computer and into the real world.<br>
<br>
News Blast:<br>
There is a proposal floating around to start producing a weekly index of the<br>
most intriguing news that has passed through the Indymedia news wires in the<br>
previous week. We will distribute this via e-mail, and perhaps will use it as<br>
a fundraiser and/or subscription service. <br>
<br>
FOR MORE INFORMATION:<br>
There is some information about how to organize an IMC at<br>
<font size=3><a href="http://process.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl">http://process.indymedia.org</a><font size=3>. While that site is quite out of date, there<br>
are a couple “blueprints” from event-based IMCs that give good advice about how to<br>
put together local event-based coverage. You can also get to a global<br>
Indymedia “to do list" at <a href="http://todo.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>http://todo.indymedia.org</a><font size=3>, and find some imc-tech<br>
information at <a href="http://tech.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl"><font size=3>http://tech.indymedia.org</a><font size=3>. If you have any general questions<br>
about Indymedia or anything related, direct them to general@indymedia.org. <br>
Remember that the volunteers who answer those requests are quite overtaxed and<br>
may take a few days to get back to you.<br>
<br>
Thanks for reading and please send comments concerning this document to Jay <jay@tao.ca> AND Sascha <sascha@aya.yale.edu>. </font><br>
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