[Imc-communication] taking a critical look at where we are.

[Jay]

bht, everyone,

There seem to be three distinct, though intertwined, questions here.

1) how do we deal with IMCs that are just forming and would like to be part 
of the network? (new-imc)
2) how do we support current IMCs to help us all do the best work we can?
3) how do we deal with an IMC that are accused of not acting with the 
network's best interests at heart? (disaffiliation)

I don't know what other new-imc "sponsors" face, but once an IMC goes 
through the new-imc process I try to continue to answer questions that they 
have along the way.  Some IMCs continue to ask me for advice.  Most of the 
time, though, I don't hear very much from the new-imcs again.  That may 
mean they're doing well, that they don't think I'm the one to turn to for 
questions anymore, or that they know I don't know the answers (I make sure 
they all know I'm not very technically proficient).  I should keep in 
better contact, but I usually don't.

Over time Indymedia has developed a new-imc process (about which people are 
supposed to be commenting in another thread on this list).  Whether or not 
current IMCs continue to have problems, there always seem to be new groups 
that want advice as they're organizing, so I think improving new-imc is an 
issue we're going to have to address.   We are wrestling with 
"disaffiliation" and haven't really come up with any solutions to how to 
deal with it without a big mess.

As for the issue of how to best support current IMCs that need somewhere to 
turn for advice, maybe we should open up some kind of general "internal 
help" e-mail address for current IMCs that are in need of some 
help.  People who have been involved with IMCs for a while can be on the 
list and give advice if the IMC's problem seems to fit their 
knowledge.  That kind of resource wouldn't replace all the other wonderful 
resources in the network, but it could be a last place to turn for IMCs 
that are in trouble and feel disconnected.  Or, at least, as part of the 
new-imc information, we could gather some key, currently existing IMC 
e-mail lists, and make sure new-imcs know they should feel free to contact 
any one of them with any questions as they go along.

Jay


At 5/17/2005, bht wrote:
>Hi everyone, sorry I have been out of the loop of discussion.  I would 
>just like to take a critical look at where we are as an independent media 
>network.
>
>today and in the last few days i have been able to catch up with the 
>portland cities list.  i have been trying to keep it regularly updated 
>with new imcs and to keep on the list only imc's that are active and 
>work.  because of language i mostly only communicate with us based imc's, 
>but have communicated with others and will soon enough take the task to 
>follow up the rest of the list.
>
>however, i am removing many imc's from the list.  mostly because they are 
>dead links.  here is a short list of imc's that i have REMOVED from the 
>portland cities list recently because they either point to advertisements 
>or they are timing out:  newmexico.indy, erieindymedia.org, 
>vancouver.indy  and kamloops.indy (these were replaced by bc.indy), 
>idaho.indy (collective has been seeking tech help for months), ontario, 
>toronto, and hartfordimc.org, sonora.indymedia, taiwan.indy, and others.
>About half of these werent official imc's to begin with, but when the 
>cities list was first redone quite a few 'official' imc's were not readded 
>becasue they didnt work.  like hawaii.indy or nigeria.indy, i can get a 
>complete list if necessary.
>
>anyway, my critical analysis is that while all these indymedia projects 
>are failing for whatever reason, those with the most access are 
>squabbling.  i think the situation in belgium is fucked up.  personally i 
>think the best idea, the most humane and practical idea, would be to make 
>indy.be syndication site and the current indy.be become 
>brussels.indy.  that makes sense from outside, only because i beleive in 
>helping each other and working together in this network, not trying to 
>'one up' each other.  there are practically books of dialogue about this 
>disaffiliation and almost none about these other imc's that with just a 
>little bit of help or guidance could possibly become something.
>
>it is disgusting to me.  but it is also important.  why cant we be more 
>human with each other, recognize that we have flaws find a way to work 
>together to overcome a common enemy and just be solid.
>also, the new-imc stuff is tough for me.  what does it matter if more 
>imc's are created if an equal number are failing?  i would rather see 
>support effort than expansion effort.
>i dont have all the answers and i definately dont know where to go.  i 
>talk to quite a few imcistas and here problems.  most recently at a caucus 
>t the media reform conference, someone asked what happened to idaho 
>indymedia, he said it was an amazingly valuable tool for him and it sucked 
>for him when they went offline 6 months ago.  i have been in contact with 
>them and they just need tech help.  they dont know much about it, and i 
>dont know how to help them because i am not techie.
>it would be great if people could sit back a moment, breathe.  look at all 
>the emails of squabbling and then all the successes of indymedia.
>sometimes i wonder if this squabbling is just a tactic that is being used 
>against us to make us more ineffective and to help us to forget that other 
>collectives exist and need help.  anyway, i dont want to derail the 
>conversations that are happening, i just want people to reprioritize and 
>see where their time is fit best.
>
>bht
>portland imc volunteer
>
>ps.  if anyone can help with the cities.inc file that most imc's use, i 
>would like to get it up to date so that there arent so many dead links on 
>there.
>
>
>--
>"Having a feeling is not illegitemate, unprofessional etc. Being 
>emotionally unbiased is living a life with no passion." --Laila Imc-Sweden
>
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