[Imc-alternatives] [content] drafts of alternatives texts

[Jay]

Hi all,

Here are a bunch of drafts for text to plug into the new version of 
the Alternatives site that Josh, Nick and others are hoping to whip 
into better shape this weekend.  These are all drafts and surely 
subject to change.  I think our editorial policy is most in need of 
development.  We don't have a process in place for being transparent 
about moving articles from the SolutionsWire if they don't fit our 
mission.  We should apply very soon to listwork to open up an 
imc-alternaties-content list so we can have a place to discuss 
articles that we want to hide and also to work on features 
together.  Also, could someone (sheri? josef?) fill out the 
explanation of the taxonomy?

Thanks, everyone, for your input.
Jay
p.s. I offered my e-mail address below in places where haivng an 
individual contact for content seemed appropriate.  I'll definitely 
share that task if anyone wants to join me.

***

Mission Statement (and tag line above "featured news")
"The Alternatives Independent Media Center is a global news and 
networking site through which users both share information about 
current efforts toward creating fundamental change and work 
collaboratively on projects to make change happen in their communities."

***

Make sure to call the "newswire" the "SolutionsWire"

***

I think we should change "Contribute" to "ACT."  What do you think?

***

Under the ACT button:

"The Alternatives IMC is an interactive project that will only thrive 
if you participate.  Click the "ACT" button to post your news about 
viable alternatives to current political, social and economic 
systems.  (link to editorial policy)

[we'll update this when the networking and knowledge sections are working]
***

On the Knowledge main page:

The Alternatives IMC site is building something we're calling the 
"KnowledgeBase," which will be a place for site users to share 
practical, step-by-step advice for how to build a better world 
starting with their own communities.  The knowledge base will grow 
and improve as more users become part of the Alternatives community 
and become an  resource for those want to generate change.  If you 
would like to be part of the Alternatives IMC Knowledge Base, please 
contact Jay at "jay at fundamentalchange.net".

***

On the Network main page:

The Alternatives IMC is working toward becoming a place for "social 
justice networking" for both individuals and social justice 
orgainzations so they may connect with each other as they make change 
in their communities.  The site will soon feature individual and 
organizational profiles and communication tools that will enable 
activists to collaborate with each other both locally and 
globally.  If you would like us to contact you when the networking 
function is working so you can post a profile, please e-mail Jay at 
"jay at fundamentalchange.net".

***

On the About page:

SUMMARY:
The Indymedia Alternatives project is a new globally-organized 
topic-based IMC that puts a focus on positive steps people are taking 
around the world to create viable alternatives to the current social, 
political and economic structures.  It intends to not only be a hub 
for information about these Alternatives, but a networking hub for 
the community of those who are actively building them.

The Alternatives site will eventually have three sections:

-- "News": an open-publishing "SolutionsWire" and news features about 
Alternatives projects worldwide
-- "Knowledge": a place for sharing practical "how-to" information 
about how to build these alternatives
-- "Network": an area for individuals, organizations and networks 
working toward building these alternatives to have home pages, to 
have access to practical tools that will help them in their work 
(wiki project pages so they can work together online, a database of 
wants and needs, etc.), and to communicate with one another and to 
develop a community that functions both online and in the real world.

Alternatives IMC organizers come from several continents, speak many 
languages and are involved in an inspiring diversity of projects that 
aim to create a better world.  We will post profiles on the 
Networking section of the site as soon as it's working.

Please contact us at "imc-alternatives at lists.indymedia.org" with any 
questions or comments.

More background information about the Alternatives project can be 
found at "http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives".  A 
wikipage with basic information about the project can be found at 
"http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives".  The 
Alternatives IMC team communicates via the 
"imc-alternatives at lists.indymedia.org" list which you can join 
through "http://lists.indymedia.org".

We are especially looking for people to provide and coordinate 
content and help us develop our website code (we currently use 
Drupal).  Join the imc-alternatives" list and contribute!

***

For the Help page:

Please contact us at "imc-alternatives at lists.indymedia.org" with any 
questions or comments.

More background information about the Alternatives project can be 
found at "http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives".  A 
wikipage with basic information about the project can be found at 
"http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives".  The 
Alternatives IMC team communicates via the 
"imc-alternatives at lists.indymedia.org" list which you can join 
through "http://lists.indymedia.org".

We are especially looking for people to provide and coordinate 
content and help us develop our website code (we currently use 
Drupal).  Join the imc-alternatives" list and contribute!

***

Editorial policy:

The Alternatives Independent Media Center is a global news and 
networking site through which users both share information about 
current efforts toward creating fundamental change and work 
collaboratively on projects to make change happen in their communities.

The Alternatives IMC editorial team ensures that the Alternatives IMC 
site is a welcoming, vibrant and empowering space for news about 
alternatives to current social, political and economic structures and 
networking among people who create those alternatives.

The SolutionsWire (our open publishing newswire) and our features 
column focus on reports about individuals, organizations and thier 
projects worldwide, large and small, that are working toward a better 
world.  It is a place for news and ideas from the forefront of 
communities that strive to make positive change.

The editorial team will strive to keep this focus and will therefore 
move articles that don't fit within our scope of content into our 
"hidden articles" area.  [Put link to "hidden articles" there.]  The 
articles will not disappear, but they will not be available on the 
front pages of the site.

We are working on a system to enable the hiding of articles to be 
transparent and give those who post a chance to challenge the hiding 
of any articles.  Please check back here for more details as this 
process develops.  Currently the Alternatives IMC editorial team 
communicates through the imc-alternatives at lists.indymedia.org mailing 
list.  Please e-mail us at "imc-alternatives at indymedia.org" with any 
content-related questions.  (Put "[content]" in the subject of your message.)

The Alternatives IMC is not a place for hate speech and 
discrimination and will hide such postings and comments. The 
editorial team can hide comments that appear to be posted just to 
provoke and insult other users.  Please do not post copywritten 
content without permission.  (You may post a blurb, excerpt or 
summary from a copywritten article with a link to the full article.)

The Alternatives IMC will not make changes to any post, with 3 exceptions:
    * broken links can be fixed if the mistake is something obvious 
like a typo in the URL
    * sensitive personal data, like addresses can be replaced by "xxx"
    * spelling mistakes in our own features and translations.

Currently the editorial team of the Alternatives IMC creates features 
for the center column of the main news page and promotes articles 
from the SolutionsWire to the features column.  We are working on 
ways to enable all site users to participate in this process.

If you would like to be part of the Alternatives IMC editorial team 
please volunteer by joining the 
"imc-alternatives at lists.indymedia.org" e-mail list through 
"http://lists.indymedia.org".

***

Wherever we link for more information about the Topics (we should 
definitely have somewhere to explain this, perhaps even an "about" 
link in the category list or something equally as prominent)

The Alternatives IMC has chosen to use a list of categories developed 
by the Syngergy Center (http://www.evolve.org) as the basic topic 
structure for information on our site The Synergy Center based their 
list on Buckminster Fuller's "12-Around-1" framework.  For more 
information please visit http://www.evolve.org/pub/doc/synergy_sectors.html.






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