[Imc-tech] Student projects at the UCIMC.

[Sascha Meinrath]

Hi Todd,

I've thought about the questions you posed in your last e-mail, and I think 
this proposal will address your concerns:

There are currently enough different areas at the IMC that it would 
probably be better to have each group of students work on a different 
project.  One possibility would be for each group of students to work on a 
project in coordination with a different working group at the Independent 
Media Center (e.g. librarians, news, print media, outreach, fundraising, 
technology, etc).

I will be in Brazil between late June and July 20th or so, so this would be 
a great way to devolve the oversight of the project among the working 
groups -- each of which would find a project to have your students work 
on.  I would work out the logistics between each working and student group 
before I left.  Each working group has regular meetings throughout the 
summer, so meeting with the students regularly would not be a problem and 
the working groups are at the heart of the organization, so the students 
would really be immersed in the IMC.

I've cc-ed the working groups on this e-mail so folks can provide input 
about this idea.  The process I envision would look something like this:

1.  Interested working groups would propose ideas for the student 
involvement on writing projects;

2.  I'd get back to you with a list of opportunities for your students 
within the next week or so;

3.  Students would choose to work with certain working groups;

4.  Each working group would meet with the student groups and oversee the 
different projects the students were working on.

Let me know what you think.

As for additional reading for students, "The Media Monopoly" by Ben 
Bagdikian (especially Part 3: Mass media without masses) provides a good 
overview.  Also, Chapter 12 ("Challenging the Press to do its Job") from 
"Drive-by Journalism" by Arthur Rowse -- himself a longtime journalist -- 
would be a great place to start for your students.  I would also have your 
students check out both our website: http://urbana.indymedia.org and the 
global indymedia webpage: http://www.indymedia.org .

I'm putting the call out to the IMC's working groups for project proposals, 
let me know if you have any further questions or concerns,

--Sascha Meinrath
Urbana-Champaign IMC



At 12:14 PM 06/08/01 Friday, you wrote:
>Sascha,
>
>I'm glad the IMC can use some writing help this summer and that you're 
>willing to work w/my class. I apologize for not replying more quickly, but 
>I've been trying to nail down my syllabus so that I could have a more 
>definite answer for you about our next step. Right now it looks like there 
>are two main questions we should answer:
>
>1. Will you be willing to meet with each group (possibly more than once 
>per group) to talk to them about the projects you would like them to do? 
>The alternative would be for me to be a liason between you and the 
>students, but that's less preferable because it seems less "real" to them. 
>Either way, most of the communication can probably be done via email...
>
>2. Would you like 4 groups of students to all work on the same project, or 
>would you like each group to work on something different? It doesn't 
>matter either way to me; however, having 4 groups work on 4 different 
>projects will mean more work for you in keeping those 4 different balls in 
>the air, whether you're working through me or directly w/the students.
>
>Please let me know your perspective on these two questions -- your 
>experience working w/Carin Sychterz might be helpful. How did you work 
>things w/her, and did that work well for you or would you prefer some 
>changes? I believe she said you only worked w/one group of students, so 
>that would have been a little different...
>
>Again, the dates for this will be roughly July 11-Aug 1. Between now and 
>then, I'll be preparing them w/some background readings from *Rich Media, 
>Poor Democracy* and ...? If you have suggestions for background that will 
>help them understand the history, function, and goals of the IMC, that 
>would also be great and might go a long way toward making sure whatever 
>work my students do for you is actually usable.
>
>Thanks, and I look forward to working w/you on this.
>
>-toddc
>
>>Hi Todd,
>>
>>Yes, the IMC has plenty of options for students who would like to do 
>>hands-on technical writing projects.  Some ideas off the top of my head 
>>include:  outreach flyers to different constituencies, monetary 
>>fundraising letters, informational brochures about the IMC, grant 
>>writing, progress reports about different IMC programs, and item donation 
>>solicitations and thank you letters.  In addition, each focus group of 
>>the IMC may have additional areas where your students would be able to do 
>>relevant projects.
>>Let me know what our next step would be,
>>
>>--Sascha Meinrath
>>Urbana-Champaign IMC
>>
>>
>>
>>At 08:58 AM 05/30/01 Wednesday, you wrote:
>>
>>>Sascha,
>>>
>>>I teach Business and Technical Writing at the U of I. Carin Sychterz 
>>>told me you might be able to use the services of my students this summer 
>>>to help you complete some writing projects for the IMC. If so, please 
>>>reply to this email.
>>>
>>>Some basic details: My summer school course will run from June 11 
>>>through Aug. 1. My students would be able to offer their writng services 
>>>to you toward the end of that time period, meaning about July 11-Aug. 1. 
>>>If you have brochures, reports, proposals, fund-raising or other 
>>>letters, etc. to be written, such projects would be ideal. I will have 
>>>around 4 groups of 4-5 students each; each group could do a different 
>>>project for you, or they could all work on the same project and you 
>>>could take your pick of which solution works best for you.
>>>
>>>If you think the IMC could benefit from the free services of my 
>>>students, please let me know.
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Todd Chatman

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