[Imc-drupal-dev] Knight Foundation Grant for Drupal IMC

[Benjamin Melancon]

[meant to send this out a while ago]

Robbt, too detailed for the proposal but I'd be interested in your plans for 
more complex RSS or other integration between sites.

Mark, I think we should list you as Drupal developer, [list of 
companies/projects worked for] and [pick a role], Indybay


robbt wrote:
> You can count Columbus Indymedia as interested, we have been using 
> Drupal since we launched and I think I proposed something akin to this 
> idea after sitting through the informational session about the Knight 
> Drupal initiative at last DrupalCon. We are aligned with a few 501c3's 
> as well if that becomes important at any point in the process.
> 
> My only input at this point, would be a few ideas.
> One we should develop this so that it would be functional for other 
> networks beyond Indymedia. So other small independent but networked news 
> organizations could utilize the code.
> 
> The focus should be on easy to set-up tools to aggregate and 
> interconnect diverse news organizations, utilizing RSS and drupal 
> modules such as feed API. There are also some tools to connect sites but 
> I think this would be the easiest. We have been meaning to develop this 
> for our CbusIMC site beyond the simple use of aggregation we already have.
> 
> As far as fund dispersment goes, that is tricky. Let me think of what 
> comes to mind. A few ideas, we would definitely need a single person or 
> team bottom-lining the install profile aspect, collecting best practices 
> and then developing the instant install recipe. The modular 
> implementation of anything that needs code improvement or whatever could 
> be handled by a bounty or individual contract type basis and paid as 
> needed. Documentation is also a huge benefit of drupal and something in 
> need of improvement. Beyond that I think getting some money set aside to 
> pay for developers to help test out the process on helping set-up some 
> IMC's (specifically those like Tenesee IMC that have gone down due to 
> lack of technical. Also hosting should be addressed in there as well.
> 
> Another consideration is the proposals being put out by IMC-CMS's team 
> about a concept of a totally decentralized IMC network where all content 
> is mirrored through out the network and other decentralization 
> principles to help against server seizure/censorship/anonymity etc. I'll 
> try to set aside some time to review what's already on there, just 
> wanted to say this is great and I'm glad people are working on it, even 
> if it doesn't get funded we should try to go forward with something like 
> this.
> 
> Robbt
> 
> Sofia JarrinT wrote:
>> Hi there!
>>
>> In the past couple of days, we've created a loose coalition of 
>> Indymedia people to apply for a Knight Foundation grant 
>> (http://www.newschallenge.org/) to build an Indymedia Drupal prototype 
>> for ALL Indymedias (which I guess will include an Indymedia install 
>> profile)...  The deadline is November 1st.
>>
>> The idea developed originally from Belgium and Boston Imc and since 
>> then has snowballed to include UK Imc, Indybay, and possibly, Urbana 
>> Champaign and Bolivia Imc. Please let us know who else we need to 
>> invite...
>> The goals so far on how exactly to use the money or manage it, if we 
>> get it, are a bit up in the air. We originally thought that we could 
>> pay IMC Drupal developers so that they could spare the time to make 
>> this possible. Why get paid now? I guess it's a feeling of urgency 
>> that if we don't, this will take too long to get done, and Imcs 
>> continue to close down because of tech difficulties. Techs lack the 
>> time and the money should hopefully give them the space to allocate 
>> that time.
>>
>> Another idea is to allocate $ to local Indymedias through the global 
>> fund, so they in turn could "hire" an Imc Drupal tech to help them 
>> implement the site...
>>
>> I've just uploaded our First Draft to the Drupal wikki here... And 
>> will be uploading suggested changes very very soon:
>>
>> http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Devel/ImcDrupalDev
>>
>> We also need to work on a proposed Budget and Timeline.
>>
>> Worries, concerns, uncomfortable ikkyness, excitement, ideas?
>>
>> peace,
>> Sofia
>> Boston Imc
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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>>   
> 
>