[imc-baghdad] Web site

[Sheri Herndon]

hi everyone,

sorry i haven't been more engaged in this important dialogue; i've been
traveling and in barcelona and leave for colombia in less than a week.  but
there are many people i know on this list and it's a very excellent group of
people who obviously care about making things happen in a good way.

a quick introduction for those of you who don't know me (and i believe intros on
a list are essential).  i am from the seattle imc but work on many network
issues in indymedia.  i was one of the people who helped organize the first imc
in seattle and have been basically a full time volunteer since then.  i work
closely with sascha on a number of projects and work extensively on fundraising
and new imc support (in various capacities) and have been interested in
supporting imcs outside of the united states in all ways (not just funding) for
several years.  i'm on the new imc working group since we started the list 2
years ago, work on imc commwork and many of the other critical global lists.  my
journalist work (before diving into full time organzing and networking) has been
in radio, local community radio as well as pirate radio, media advocacy and
public access programming.  i consider myself a media activist and believe in
the network of networks in terms of communication and independent media
(thinking of zapatista solidarity work and the ideas of marcos).  just to give
you an idea of who i am and my interests.

a few quick comments.  jacquie wrote:

that said, my opinion is that the indymedia baghdad 'working group' 
could be a good opportunity to think about how the 'imc model' could be 
changed to be more of a network of collectives than local media 
centers. why shouldn't we support independent media projects, when the 
'collective' decides, that provide the larger network with information 
and knowledge. the caravan is maybe an early example. i think we should 
pursue funding from global imc (as well as alternate granting agencies 
and NGOs) proposing this model.

my response:

i am supportive of how the imc model can be changed to allow more of what i have
called the "spreading of the meme and not the brand".  this essentially means
that we are spreading out the ideas of independent media and the values of
indymedia and supporting those projects as imc, but we do not demand that all
media efforts and projects become imc official members.  this would basically
mean that we'd need to have some other criteria for things like imc affiliates
or allies.  these could still then be linked off the global page and off of
every local imc (which is where people get to participate as part of the network
and where people find you - on the cities list).  i'm not sure what else jacquie
had in mind, but i think i am supportive in general.

the tactical media fund and the global south fund could possibly have some
smaller amounts of money, but i am also in agreement about purusing other
funding opportunities because it's obvious people would be supportive.
especially if they see it's well organized and from the ground up and will be an
independent voice.  i can help in this when i return from colombia.  

i don't think under the current process on imc-finance that the global fund can
disberse funds to a local media project that is not a member of the imc network.
we do not have a process to give money to those projects that are outside of the
network (indymedia).  but if people decide it's a good thing to do and there's
consensus, who knows, maybe that money could be available. 

more comments to christopher's comments below:

This process was developed to make sure that IMCs are formed in a 
>sustainable way - some IMCs in the early days were formed by a small 
>group 
>of people who thought it would be neat, then they lost interest and the 
>IMC 
>website languished.  So in order for a group to join the network, they 
>must 
>demonstrate a commitment to the project.

i agree with christopher's comments about the new imc process.  as i mentioned
above, this has come up before - where a local media projects wants to be
'connected' to indymedia because we have a larger readership and we're a kind of
radical brand out there in the world of independent media.  but perhaps for them
to become an official imc member it might be pushing it too much.  so then they
try to squeeze into the imc box in order to go through the new imc process.  i
have seen this on a number of occasions over the past 2 years.  if the group in
baghdad really wants to become an imc that is awesome and we can make that
happen. 

we can also set up a website or a website can be set up of course, but it would
not be linked off the "cities list" until the group goes through the new imc
process.  i think the process, for whatever its faults, is about a commitment to
some very important values that indymedia holds as being critical to our work.
that does not mean that all groups or media efforts should have to do the same.
that's why having allies and affiliates (depending on the criteria and proximity
to the original principles of unity and membership criteria) is important.  we
could be broadening the "network of networks" and allowing for the kind of
difference and initiative that comes in many different shapes and sizes.
sometimes people have criticized the new imc process because it doesn't fit
their agenda.  fair enough.  but then the criticism should not be with the
process we've set up for membership necessarily but with the need for other ways
of being connected to each other in a web.  

i would rather see more media projects that are out there and connected to
indymedia in very strong and clear and favorable and supportive ways; than to
see more of a brand and people and groups frustrated with having to fit into our
membership.

i share all this because it is important and it is not talked about enough.  

>
>Non of this is to suggest that the group in Baghdad isn't good enough or 
>committed enough to be an IMC - that would be a ridiculous judgement.  
>What 
>I am saying is that the process of becoming an IMC takes time and right 
>now, I think the interest in Baghdad is to create indepedent news - not 
>to 
>worry about what international network they have to join to do it.   So 
>I 
>think we should support them as best we can - and when they are ready, 
>they 
>can decide if they want to go through the new IMC process.

i agree with this fully.  groups have different needs and different goals and
it's obvious that the people in baghdad are doing critical work and it should be
supported.  

>
>As for now, they need support and a website.  The website is being 
>provided 
>by the folks at bristol IMC - and I have just purchased a domain name 
>suggested by Ramzi - almuajaha.com
>I got a dot.com because in my experience, com is the most widely 
>recognized 
>and though they are not a business, many non-businesses still use a .com 
>address.
>
>If someone else would like to register a different name - feel free!  
>You 
>can do it via register.com or other services (many that are cheaper) - 
>but 
>since I spent my own limited funds on it (not group money) - I don't 
>feel 
>like I should be criticized for getting a .com ... if the group decides 
>that it would be better to have a different name, then someone else or 
>the 
>group can get it quite easily ( the most you would have to pay is $35 a 
>year).
>
>I hope we can table this discussion of indymedia stuff for now - as I 
>think 
>we have more pressing things to discuss - such as how to get 
>supplies/money 
>to the people that are heading to Iraq...before they leave and we miss 
>an 
>opportunity.
>

thanks everyone for all the work you are doing to support this work in baghdad
to make media.  i wish i had more time right now to help but in june i can
participate more fully and will be happy to do some fundraising and looking for
money for this essential project (whether it's indymedia or not).

peace,
sheri
seattle imc
tactical media fund

>cheers
>--christopher
>
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