[CIMC-working] draft 2: the future of the indymedia network: reformist institutions or networks of networks

[Chris Kaihatsu]

Doug, all,

Overall I like this wording of yours just fine.

My only question is whether we should be more pointed towards
Urbana-Champaign IMC -- should we ask direct questions that we expect
answers to?


Chris






on 12/21/02 2:43 PM, Doug Morris at being@enteract.com wrote:

> A few revisions to add pts on main theme:  reformism vs. decentralized network
> 
> Draft 1, See top for discussion of how this could be revised:
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-chicago-working/2002-December/00
> 0382.html
> 
> Best,
> Doug
> 
> DRAFT 2
> 
> Greetings,    
> 
> The indymedia is undergoing major transformations now.
> 
> What do we want to create together?
> 
> Do we want the indymedia network to gradually (and without discussion) grow
> reformist institutions or to remain and grow as a decentralized networks of
> networks?
> 
> There are many promising developments in indymedia now.
> Consider:
> - the growth of imcs internationally, over 110 locals now
> - the vitality of various media projects
> - the unique coverage offered by indymedia activists in key struggles in
> last year such as in Aregentina, Chiapas, Italy, Palestine,
> - the emergence of regional networks (imc latina) and national
> collaborations (brazil, france germany, italy, etc.) across imc locals
> - the gradual improvement of the free software base for open publishing
> 
> We are doing great things.
> 
> There are some problematic developments in the indymedia network that we
> need to deal with.
> 
> To mention some of the most serious:
> - a lack of strategic planning
> - an unclear network decision process
> - yet, indymedia network processes have been are being created that are
> fairly centralized (in approach to fund raising in particular, and the
> basic tech system has often worked this way, perhaps some of it by necessity)
> 
> Of particular concern, recent approachs to fund raising have been in
> private by indymedia *organizers*
> 
> A large amount of work now is being done by long term indymedia
> *organizers* -- this is mostly not being done on indymedia
> listserves.  This may well impact greatly the future of indymedia networks.
> See the next note to this list on the tmf proposal (or see below).
> 
> For a complex network to grow and work, it is necessary to co-create and
> revise participation processes, even very detailed and ellaborate ones.
> But, we can create processes that are decentralized, rather than leaving
> the emergence and creation of network processes to a small group of
> dedicated folks, who often come from imcs with a lot of experience in local
> projects and grants (to create physical spaces, tech resources, ongoing
> projects, etc.).
> 
> We invite locals and imc participants to discuss diverse approaches to imc
> stragic development and process creation on the imc-strategies
> (unmoderated) and imc-process (now moderated) and imc-process-work (very
> new, moderated, multi-lingual) listserves:
> http://lists.indymedia.org/listinfo/imc-strategies
> http://lists.indymedia.org/listinfo/imc-process
> http://lists.indymedia.org/listinfo/imc-process-work
> 
> In an extra note, included below, we discuss some pressing, perhaps urgent
> indymedia funding issues.
> 
> In solidarity,
> Chicago IMC
> 
> [Should this be a separate note refering to the one above?]
> 
> On grants for indymedia: Soros and the Tactical Media Fund
> 
> There is a new proposal being develop by some indymedia participants, on a
> private listserv with little announcement to indymedia lists: the tactical
> media fund, tmf.  The tmf proposals states itself as being independent of
> indymedia.
> 
> See here:
> PROPOSAL TO THE OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE FOR THE TACTICAL MEDIA FUND
> AND IN SUPPORT OF SEVERAL INDYMEDIA PROJECTS
> http://internal.protest.net/osi/
> 
> The tactical media fund while claiming to be independent of indymedia has
> these 5 characteristics, we think:
> written by long term indymedia participants who've been very active in the
> imc network
> cites indymedia success specifically
> is proposed by an imc local, Urbana-Champaign imc
> to be administered by same
> aims to fund specifically various imc projects, some at a network level
> 
> This new tactical media fund proposal includes a proposal to fund a network
> strategy planning meeting and an elaboration of an "open editing" model and
> a tech training aspect and a summaries documentation aspect.
> 
> These ideas have very interesting and creative aspects.
> 
> An independent media fund (which obtains funds *without specific indymedia
> grant-making ties*, which has widespread *participation* in its
> development, which has *unity principles* like indymedia, and which dolls
> out funds *without (or with vanishingly) few strings*) could be great, very
> helpful.
> 
> However, as the tmf project does not seem to be a funding project
> independent of the indymedia network:
> This project needs to be considered on indymedia listserves and in light of
> indymedias unity principles and local membership criteria and previous
> positions taken on grants by a number of locals.
> 
> Of very serious concerns, and in light of the statements made by imc locals
> on the Ford grants and against capitalist foundations in particular by
> numbers locals, the tmf is pursusing a grant from the Soros foundation. See:
> statements against grants from capitalist funds by imcs
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-chicago-working/2002-December/00
> 0327.html
> 
> As part of this consideration, we (Chicago IMC) would like to ask the
> Urbana Champaign IMC:
> Why are you pursuing the Soros funds for the TMF and other indymedia
> projects, in respect to previous imc statements about grants.
> 
> We, Chicago IMC participants, support the development of funding processes
> both outside and inside indymedia to fund an array of projects.
> 
> We are further very grateful to those who are working on the imc-finance
> list to send funds to various imc locals and projects.
> 
> But, we have serious concerns separately about the tactical media fund, the
> role of urbana-champaign imc in this, and with soros affilicated grant making.
> 
> People, please consider reading this long and well researched article on
> very serious, negative results of Soros funded projects:
> George Soros, Imperial Wizard - Covert Action Quarterly
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-chicago-working/2002-December/00
> 0332.html
> 
> We invite locals and imc participants to discuss the tactical media fund -
> its promise and problems
> and serious problems -- and the issue of seeking and accepting funds for
> indymedia from the open society institute of George Soros, an agent of
> imperial capitalism of the worse sort.
> 
> However this all works out, we wish the people working on the tactical
> media fund the best luck in their pursuits.  We hope they drop seeking
> grants from Soros and turn to other less dangerous sources, in terms of
> cooptation (see article above).
> 
> For the future of indymedia as a decentralized network of networks, we
> invite you to discuss these issues of strategy (imc-strategies) and process
> (imc-process).
> 
> In solidarity,
> Chicago IMC 
> 
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