[New-imc] prague imc criteria

[edwardcz at volny.cz]

A. PRINCIPLES OF UNITY

The group endorses the NIMC mission statement and the principles of 
unity

B.  COMMITTED MEMBERSHIP

In the six months we have been working so far to re-establish the IMC 
here in Prague, we have formed a small but dedicated team. Two 
members are taking care of the technical side of things, and we have a 
good balance of Czech and English speakers.
For more on our experiences please see our personal introduction.

C. OPEN MEETINGS
We have open public meetings which are advertised on the website and 
the listserve, also by email and by adverts in local venues.

D. MISSION  STATEMENT
Our draft statement of purpose is below and is taken from our website.
http://www.praha.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3920&grou
p=webcast

The Czech IMC is an necessary project because in the Czech 
Republic there is a severe lack of alternative media. Apart from 
minority publications, there is only one alternative newspaper 
(Respekt) and one alternative website (www.bristkylisty.cz) The 
problem is exacerbated by the refusal of many groups of differing 
aims or politics to work together on shared issues. Thus green 
groups are suspicious of communists and environmentalists shun 
anarchists. It is of course a common problem worldwide. 
The task then as we see it for the Czech IMC is then to bring these 
disparate groups (and more) together to report news which is of 
interest to all. This is an ambitious project but we feel certain that 
in the long term we can achieve success.
The Czech IMC is an necessary project because in the Czech Republic 
there is a severe lack of alternative media. Apart from minority 
publications, there is only one alternative newspaper (Respekt) and one 
alternative website (www.bristkylist.cz) The problem is exacerbated by 
the refusal of many groups of differing aims or politics to work together 
on shared issues. Thus green groups are suspicious of communists and 
environmentalists shun anarchists. It is of course a common problem 
worldwide. 
The task then as we see it for the Czech IMC is then to bring these 
disparate groups (and more) together to report news which is of interest 
to all. This is an ambitious project but we feel certain that in the long 
term we can achieve success.  
Aside from the website we have plans for benefit gigs and a film night 
in an infoshop space. In time we like to produce a newspaper too and 
build a resource of translated articles on the internet.
Get involved !! Come to a meeting or contact us on the list through imc-
prague at lists.indymedia.org

E. EDITORIAL POLICY
Our collective is small enough at present for our open meetings also to 
function as editorial meetings. As we get larger, we will develop a 
working editorial team. We always endeavour to post articles in Czech 
and English. 
So far we have not been troubled by postings from extremists, right-
wing or otherwise. If in the future we are abused by posters who do not 
respect our mission statement and the IMC principles of unity, we have 
agreed to use the standard IMC policy of hiding posts whilst leaving 
them accessible to scrutiny.

F OPEN PUBLISHING
We use and endorse open publishing, for freedom of expression. We 
have had no real problems so far and if we did would deal with them 
according to our editorial policy.

G.  DECISION MAKING
The group has from the beginning worked by consensus decision-
making procedure. Open meetings are held in Czech and English.

H. GLOBAL REPRESENTATIVE
Edward is the global representative at present. He is a member of the 
New IMC and IMC Europe groups. 

I. NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS
Mara is a member of the IMC Communications group

J.  AFFILIATIONS
Whilst some (not all) individuals are members of a range of political 
groups, we are agreed that the website and our reporting should not be 
affiliated to any particular group or movement.

K. FOR-PROFIT ENTERPRISE
This IMC is run entirely by volunteers. As a correspondent recently 
commented : "The day when Indymedia will start paying I think it will be 
just as any media..." 

L. IMC  LOGO
Mara has designed a Prague IMC logo which is used both on our 
website and on literature we have produced (flyers and stickers)

M. LOCAL  CITIES LIST
The website already contains a city list in the left hand column.