[Imc-newsroom] Newsgroup notes 7-1-01

[peterm at shout.net]

IMC Newsgroup
7/1/01

Avram, Ben, Steven, Paul K, Andy T., Mark E, Pauline B., Peter M.,
Danielle, Molly.

1. Last week's work
2. Stories in progress
3. Newshour--
	a. Plea for help for Monday
	b. Continue?
4. Life in the Bike Lane
5. Print
6. Announcements
7. Email list

Last week's work--
* Newshour was fun.  No disasters, explosions; perfectly timed (ended at
exactly 7:00).  Pre-produced content:  2 long interviews (pre-taped); live
headlines, psa's, intro's and outro's.  Pauline thinks it worked
well.  Omar wrote the headlines, emailed them to Pauline.  Should we ask
Omar to regularly write the news?  (He's very reliable...)

* FSRN--Paul and Peter produced a 2:38 feature that was broadcast on Free
Speech Radio News on Thursday.  The feature was about the Firestone plant
closing in Decatur.  Peter and Paul talked about the process of working
with FSRN.  If anybody wants to submit a story to them, they should talk
to Paul or Peter, first.

In Progress...
Mark E. is working on a program about a crackdown on a USGS employee who
was fired after publishing on the web maps about Caribou calving sites in
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Mark will do a phone interview with
him.

Ben--Genoa/G8/Corporate Globalization.  Has been following the media in
the Guardian (UK newspaper).  This week's news describes efforts to
appease protesters (a "charm offensive" by former WTO Director
Ruggiero) and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi's declaration that he'll
shut down the city of Genoa.  Ben will write a 50-100 word summary of the
week's events for Monday's newshour. 

Steven--Someone posted an article about the Coalition for Traditional
Values, presenting a "Family Value Award" at the Champaign City Council
Chambers on July 3, 8:30 a.m.  Steven will attend.

Peter will write a headline for Monday's newshour, regarding the Monday
a.m. contract vote at Bunge-Lauhoff grain Co., in Danville.

Paul--Animal brutality.  A friend saw someone beat a dog to
death.  Someone from the ASPCA will address the Champ. City Council
regarding training of police for incidents of extreme police
brutality.  (7 p.m., Tues, July 3).  Related incident:  someone was
arrested in Normal for running down and killing some ducks.  Avram will
attend the meeting.

Ben--El Centro por los Trabajadores.  They've filed lawsuits charging
worker mistreatment in Arcola(?).  Ben will post some info if he learns
anything.

The Bloomington-based Post-Amerikan newspaper is looking for
articles.  July 20 is their submission deadline.  Paul K. has the contact
info for the editor.  

Someone from Fruited Plain co-op would like more coverage of alternative
economic institutions.

Newshour
July 9:  Danielle.  Looking for a topic... Other possibilities (aside from
those above): Bellflower dairy: Rantoul super-slaughterhouse.  If someone
wants to learn how to produce a newshour, Danielle will show them.

July 2:  Ben and Peter are submitting headlines.  Others are
needed... (Paul will write about animal abuse/city of champaign; Mark
E. is writing about alt economics/Fruited Plain co-op; is Omar
writing?--Mark E. will email him.  Paul K. is not available for production
help after 6 tonight.  He is available from ~11 until program time
tomorrow.  Lucy McCullom(?) has taped material from the Pride march in
Chicago.  Andy will ask Sandra if she can produce a story.

Life in the Bike Lane--Pauline needs help, she's getting really burned
out.  Pauline sent a request and found 3 people to produce, but it's hard
to get them to follow-through.  Avram will help Pauline, try to take
responsibility for it.  How to make it work.  Encourage people with
stories to tell (people in organizations) to tell their own stories.  How?  

Continue newshour?  Yes, if we can find producers for each of the
programs.  Some ideas are already out there.  Yes, if we have a better
producers' manual.

Aug 6 Danielle
13 Avram
20 Peter
27 
Sep 3 (Labor Day) Peter?
10  

Email List
Peter proposed closing the imc-newsroom email list to people not involved
in the IMC, saying that we need to have a forum to discuss problems and
issues that aren't appropriate for public consumption.  Mark responded
that such a move conflicts with the IMC's policy of openness:  "If you're
going to make a revolution, it's going to be with the jerks of the world,
as well as with the nice people."

The proposal was dropped.

Print
Forward things you write to the print group.  Pauline invites people to
write articles for the enviro section.

Paul will facilitate the next meeting.

The meeting ended at 3:00 p.m.