[Boston-editorial] Rapoport, Re: what should we do about this?

Fri Mar 11 16:53:20 PST 2005

Our editorial policy is indeed posted on-line, at  
http://boston.indymedia.org/mod/info/display/policy/index.php (though  
it could perhaps be more prominent).

I agree with Pete on the use of full names thing. It would be ideal,  
but it's not realistic given the nature of Indy Media and who posts to  
our site.

I also think developing a code of ethics, posting it to the website,  
and asking all posters to abide by it is a good idea. The problem comes  
with enforcement of it--it will essentially be an honor system. Even  
the New York Times, with a large full time staff, couldn't escape from  
a scandal involving major violations of really basic journalistic  
ethics, of the kind even they care about. Indy Media has always  
operated on a system of trust and I don't think we can really do  
otherwise. I like Pete's idea about working with folks to make sure  
articles are fact-checked and all that, but I'm concerned about how  
workable the proposal is. We're an all-volunteer group and I'm not sure  
we're going to have time to handle the issue properly. It is important  
that we deal with this issue in some way though. For a feature where  
the accuracy of the reporting has become an issue, see  
http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/33732/index.php .

(BTW, Sofia, to answer your question, I'd say the article combines both  
news reporting and opinion. I've done the same thing on occasion  
(although there is a certain opportunistic feeling to the opinions at  
the end--if the article had been actively promoting some particular  
group, I may well not have centered it). While I certainly think we  
should embrace a mix of reporting styles, I'd actually like to  
encourage more of this sort of coverage. I think it would help get us  
away from the idea that reporting can be "objective" in the sense of  
neutral--there is no such thing as social/political neutrality.  
Everyone speaks from some set of political assumptions and some  
location in the social system, even if they are not conscious of these  
things. On the other hand, we should encourage "objectivity" in the  
sense of being disciplined in your research and  
reporting--fact-checking and all that.)

The problem with your second suggestion, Sofia, is that people cannot  
delete or hide their own articles--only we can do that. They can't even  
edit them unless they were logged in when they wrote them, and not  
everyone knows about that feature. We also have a policy that we will  
(after careful checking) delete articles if they endanger someone.  
(Have we written the rules for that down yet anywhere? I'd hate to get  
into another dispute about what we actually decided again.) Sometimes a  
change is life circumstances can be enough to warrant wanting to delete  
things you've posted in the past--we've gotten requests to delete  
things from our e-mail archives, by people who are applying for  
professional jobs and don't want their posts to our lists coming up in  
a Google search on their names by their potential employer. We should   
be open to these requests. (Pete, any word from John Rappport on why he  
wants his articles deleted?)

bread and roses,
Matt

On Mar 11, 2005, at 6:54 PM, Boston IMC wrote:

> THIS IS PETE
>
> There was once a time when I spoke the very words you
> are speaking Sofia.  John, I think too, said something
> to this effect once if I am not mistaken.  But both
> times there was considerable backlash to the idea and
> for what I have come to see as good reasons.
>
> A number 1 being many people would not post if there
> was a prejudice against folks who dont use names.
> Many anarchists and others fear prosecution for their
> beliefs, not only by the cops or cointelpro type
> operations but in much simpler ways.  Like losing
> their jobs because of their political beliefs.
> Fundamentally, citizen reporting is different than
> professional journalism.  A journalist's job is
> protected by free speech.  But a citizen journalists
> job is fair game.
>
> I think the reasoning behind the idea is good though,
> if I have it right.  Namely the idea that we should
> have a stronger ethical code that would increase our
> credibility.
>
> THe complaint, I think, is that people don't think
> were credible.  If we were, we would have more
> influence.
>
> I think we need to deal with this problem in other
> ways, that involve some hard work.  Here are my ideas:
>
> 1. reporter's workshops that teach ethics along with
> writing, etc
>
> 2. a code of ethics somewhere on the website,
> preferably to be seen before/during the posting of an
> article.
>
> 3. Editing/Factchecking on articles that go to center
> column, including a fair amount of feedback, advice,
> etc., directly to the author.
>
> Any takers?
>
> -Pete
>
> --- Sofia JarrinT <sofiajt at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> hi there,
>> My humble opinion... We could include this as
>> editorial policy on the manual. Something like:
>>
>> "All centered articles require the full name of the
>> author as a conscientious effort to practice fair
>> and
>> accurate reporting." (not sure if I like the word
>> fair... I definitely don't like the word balanced)
>>
>> "BIM does not delete articles per request and will
>> remain archived. Any such deletions are
>> responsibility
>> of its own author(s)."
>>
>> And whatever else language we need in order to give
>> ourselves the right to delete anything that goes
>> against our mission.
>>
>> It would be nice to have the editorial policy (if it
>> isn't already so, sorry!) right on our web page.
>>
>> cheers,
>> Sofia
>>
>>
>> --- John Grebe <indymedia at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi:  notice I prefer my comments not posted to the
>>> Discuss list. This is Editorial.
>>>
>>> Fascinating. The IMC is not obligated to remove a
>>> thing. This individual apparently
>>> posted all his articles of his own choice and
>>> volition and had every opportunity to
>>> understand that the articles on the web site would
>>> remain there.
>>>
>>> Were any of Rapoport's pieces ever put into the
>>> center column?
>>>
>>> Did the same individual post all the pieces under
>>> this name "Jonathan Dale
>>> Rapoport"? Is there a schizophrenic person
>> involved
>>> here?
>>>
>>> Why is "Rapoport's" alleged journalism filled with
>>> "?" question marks sprinkled
>>> throughout the articles, as though he hasn't
>>> bothered to check facts before publishing
>>> them?
>>>
>>> Notice his writings refer to Israel, the ADL,
>>> Vanunu.
>>>
>>> Notice the following at
>>>
>>
> http://boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/17237
>>>
>>> THIS ARTICLE IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF
>> WRITER
>>> JONATHAN
>>> DALE RAPOPORT, A WRITER BASED IN THE EUROPEAN
>> UNION
>>> MEMBER
>>> STATE OF THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN.
>>> STERLING LORD LITERISTIC REPRESENTS JONATHAN DALE
>>> RAPOPORT
>>> IN NEW YORK CITY.
>>>
>>> IT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED TO COPY, REDESTRIBUTE,
>>> PUBLISH OR
>>> PLAGARIZE THIS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
>>>
>>> ANY INDIVIDUAL, GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS OR
>> ORGANIZATION
>>> WHO
>>> ENGAGES IN THE AFFORMENTIONED CRIMES WITH THIS
>>> INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WILL BE INVESTIGATED BY
>>> PALLORIUM
>>> INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES IN NEW YORK CITY.
>>>
>>> http://www.pallorium.com/
>>>
>>> UPON COMPLETION OF THE INVESTIGATION THE OFFENDING
>>> PARTY OR
>>> PARTIES WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
>> OF
>>> THE LAW
>>> AND SUBJECTED TO CIVIL LITIGATION.
>>>
>>> DURING CIVIL LITIGATION NO OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT
>>> OFFERS
>>> WILL BE ACCEPTED.
>>>
>>> Questions:  How might the ADL be involved? Legal
>>> threats? Could someone's
>>> request be a mandated attempt under threat of
>> legal
>>> action that they don't even want
>>> to obey?
>>>
>>> Don't be scared by any of this bullshit. Follow
>> the
>>> policies of Boston IMC. Let the
>>> chips fall where they may. If legal action
>> results,
>>> we could request help from the
>>> NLG.
>>>
>>> My recommendation:  do away with the bullshit
>>> anonymity that Boston IMC allows
>>> for frightened (and less than reasonable) people
>> to
>>> hide behind. Demand a real name
>>> be put on the line. Plenty of us do that to stake
>>> our own credibility on the importance
>>> of independent media. Anyone who's not ready for
>>> that has the freedom of speech to
>>> start their own blog. If Boston IMC doesn't move
>> to
>>> require authors' names back up
>>> their claims, then we can expect more and more of
>>> this "hall of mirrors" type of
>>> distraction from genuine radical journalism work.
>> If
>>> IMC's are not devoted to
>>> authentic radical journalism, then they have no
>>> value at all. Let it begin with the
>>> Boston IMC.
>>>
>>> Kind regards
>>> John
>>>
>>> Boston IMC <imc-boston-office at indymedia.org> wrote
>>> on 8 Mar 2005 at 17:46:
>>> Subject: [IMC-Boston-Discuss] what should we do
>>> about this
>>>
>>>> Hey,
>>>>
>>>> weird thing.  this guy wants all his articles
>>> removed,
>>>> says we can verify that its him just by calling
>>> him.
>>>> but that doesnt verify anything does it?  maybe
>>> this
>>>> deal he set up does.  hmm
>>>>
>>>> anyway,
>>>>
>>>> do we remove articles?  or are they needed for
>>>> archiving.  it's an interesting question.  I
>> don't
>>>> think the new york times ever would, or any
>> other
>>>> media org.
>>>>
>>>> I weigh in on the side of, no we don't.  unless
>>> there
>>>> is some extremely compelling reason.  like I
>> will
>>> be
>>>> arrested and thrown in jail.  or something to
>> that
>>>> effect.  I will email him for his reasons.
>>>>
>>>> -Pete
>>>>
>>>> --- Jonathan Rapoport <jrapoport at hotmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>> From: "Jonathan Rapoport"
>>> <jrapoport at hotmail.com>
>>>>> To: imc-boston-office at indymedia.org
>>>>> Subject: Request for Removal of My Published
>>>>> Articles
>>>>> Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:23:01 +0100
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear Sir or Madame:
>>>>>
>>>>> Please remove all articles and comments
>>> published by
>>>>> me on your online
>>>>> publication.
>>>>>
>>>>> I request that they be permanently removed and
>>> not
>>>>> merely hidden.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you need to verify that is in fact me,
>>> Jonathan
>>>>> Rapoport, requesting
>>>>> their removal, you may telephone me on my
>>> telephone
>>>>> exchange, provisioned to
>>>>> me by SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
>>>>>
>>>>> You can verify that this is in fact a
>> telephone
>>>>> exchange provisioned to me
>>>>> through any directory assistance service or
>> any
>>>>> number of online reverse
>>>>> phone directories.
>>>>>
>>>>> That telephone number is:
>>>>>
>>>>> 510-549-9114
>>>>>
>>>>> The articles can be found at:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
> http://boston.indymedia.org/mod/search/dosearch/index.php? 
> dosearch=1&medium=text&searchtext=&author=Jonathan+Dale+Rapoport&form_s 
> ection=&lang=en_US&month_start=&day_start=&year_start=&month_end=02&day 
> _end=19&year_end=2005&submit=Search
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for your time and consideration with
>>> this
>>>>> matter.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> Jonathan Dale Rapoport
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
> _________________________________________________________________
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>> -
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>>>>> it now!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
> http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----
>>>> Boston Independent Media Center
>>>> PO Box 441414
>>>> Somerville MA 02144
>>>> 617-623-8462
>>>>
>>>> http://boston.indymedia.org
>>>> imc-boston-office at indymedia.org
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Boston-editorial mailing list
>>>
>> === message truncated ===
>>
>>
>> "Truly, there is no future without forgiveness."
>> Desmond Tutu
>>
>> "Non-violence is not inaction. It is not discussion.
>> It is not for the timid or weak...Non-violence is
>> hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is
>> the patience to win." Cesar Chavez
>>
>>
>> 		
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>
> ----
> Boston Independent Media Center
> PO Box 441414
> Somerville MA 02144
> 617-623-8462
>
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