[Imc-alternatives] Content irc chat notes

[Jay]

Strypey,

Great summary.

-- I'll ask listwork for the tech list.
-- a calendar sounds like a good step, especially with regular irc 
meetings to keep straight (next week Monday night June 8/Tuesday 
midday June 9 is to discuss content).
-- at some point I'll dig up the list of things we need to do for the 
new-imc process.  The reason I think we should wait to apply is that 
we should do all the things on the new-imc process list first, like 
having all the discussions about editorial policy etc.  When I was 
working with new-imc a lot of IMCs applied before doing all the 
groundwork they needed to do before becoming an IMC, then got 
frustrated with how long the process took. We've been having the 
necessary discussions all along but having the list of new-imc 
requirements on hand will make everything clearer.  That's something 
we can start doing right away.  Once we've completed all the new-imc 
requirements, getting "approved" could be pretty quick.

Jay

>Kia ora
>
>Jay and I had a good chat on irc today about the editorial/ content side
>of things. Here is a summary:
>
>Tech List
>
>One of the most important things from an organisational point of view,
>we were in agreement that it's time to set up a separate imc-alt-tech
>list. That way detailed tech discussions can carry on without swamping
>the non-geeks, and we can get into some detailed content discussion on
>this list, in readiness for the (hopefully) immanent launch of version
>1.0 of Alt-IMC.. Off the top of my head this will include:
>- editorial policy
>- gathering suitable seed content
>- networking with like-minded organisations to invite articles
>
>Unless anyone objects, Jay will contact listwork about setting up a tech
>list.
>
>Editorial Tasks
>
>With the tech team moving in observable lurches towards a 1.0 site, we
>need a checklist of tasks that need to be completed on the editorial/
>content side of things in time for launch. Keeping in mind that our
>goals for the 1.0 site were to have the news aspect of the site fully
>usable - including both features and solutions-wire, from the editorial
>side of things that means we need to have:
>
>- website text
>http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives/static-texts
>
>- editorial policy to guide moderation of solutions-wire
>http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives/editorial-policy
>
>- opening feature
>http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives/alternatives-to-corporate-globalization
>
>Please have a look over the drafts for both of these on the OpenPlans
>wiki, and send any feedback to the list, or add edit notes on the wiki.
>
>Content and Tone
>
>We talked a bit about the editorial tone we wanted the site to have,
>focusing on the positive, the constructive, steering away from the
>demoralizing habit of reporting defeats more often than victories that
>has afflicted some IMC sites at times.
>
>To achieve this, editors will need a clear set of criteria for deciding
>when to hide stories. Then, if an ed decision is challenged, the policy
>can be the basis for a structured discussion, rather than descending
>into formless ideological headbutting. Suggestions for what these
>criteria could be, and how to word them are welcome (I will put forward
>my own ideas in a separate email). This will be the first agenda item
>for the next content chat.
>
>The opening feature will also help to set the tone. I think having a
>body of sample solutions-wire articles, photos, graphics, audio-visual
>media etc ready to upload before open-publishing is opened would help too.
>
>Group Calendar
>
>We agreed that it would be good to have a group calendar, where we could
>enter details about upcoming irc chats, and maybe start putting together
>a timeline for when we want to have different things completed, as we
>move towards launching Alt-IMC 1.0.
>
>New-IMC Process
>
>I am keen to kick this off as a way to provide some external motivation
>and help us checklist the things that need doing before our official
>launch. Jay, having been a new-IMC volunteer, is a bit more hesitant -
>he feels we need to do our homework before we approach new-IMC. Perhaps
>if someone can post the list of things we need to have sorted, we could
>start breaking it up into discrete tasks people can volunteer for?
>
>Tasks
>
>Strypey has taken on:
>- send out reminders for ed chats every fortnight
>- sorting out a group calendar
>
>Jay will:
>- ask for a volunteer to send out reminders for the tech chats
>- ask listwork for tech list
>
>Following my suggestion of alternating tech/ ed chats in the same weekly
>timeslot, the next editorial chat would be in a fortnight, say:
>UTC (GMT) Tuesday, June 9, 1AM
>Philadelphia: (U.S.A.) Monday, June 8, 9PM      UTC-4 hours EDT
>Aotearoa: Tuesday, June 9, 1PM  UTC+12 hours
>
>If anyone would like to be involved but can't make it at that time, let
>me know asap, and we can try to reschedule.
>
>(The next text chat will be next Monday/ Tuesday after the weekend's
>code sprint).
>
>RnB
>Strypes
>
>--
>BTW Defend free culture and the open internet!
>http://www.disintermedia.net.nz
>
>"...Marxism was a simple substitute for Christianity. Replace God with
>Marx, Satan with the bourgeoisie, Heaven with a classless society, the
>Church with the Party, and the form and purpose of the journey remained
>similar - an obstacle race with a prize at the end."
>- Arundhati Roy, 'The God of Small Things'
>
>http://www.creativecommons.org.nz
>http://www.indymedia.org.nz
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