[Imc-india] Editorial changes

Mon Sep 8 21:34:50 PDT 2003

Dear Sivaraman (and everyone else)

I am truly surprised by this odd suggestion, that is a coup de etat. 
This is certainly nothing of the sort or to do with property taking 
and thumping chests by taking power, but calling a point of order and 
principle. IMC India has done a reasonable job till the far right 
nearly took over the newswire, and also began to badly maul the main 
content of IMC India by posting offensive comments in the right side 
column comments area. I like many readers (and those making postings) 
of the newswire have been appalled by the situation, and have kept 
out our cool leaving fully the previlage of taking due action to the 
Madurai collective. Various messages were posted on this list, cc'd 
to IMC Bombay, to the madurai collective address, seeking a response. 
There has been no response, sure they may be good reasons, and you 
attribute this to the fact that  they are in the third world, they 
were in the same third word when they started and have done their job 
till very recently. I would like to assure you that we are no first 
world media group eating up IMC India.

If the Madurai collective hasnt responded, it is the moral 
responsibility of all concerned to express concern at this very 
serious situation seemingly getting out of control, and to help and 
intervene in some way so that this changes. If you have been 
associated with the IMC India operation for a while it is your moral 
duty too do all to raise alarm do something practical re misuse of 
the IMC india newswire which has been inundated with bigoted and 
hateful matter. You saw our tempers flare in some of our posts, but 
that was very clearly intended to draw attention of all and in 
particular the Madurai collective. We cant let this go on any longer 
than it has; and have no personal interests in this other than to see 
IMC India up and functioning as a progressive space. We are open to 
collaborate and work with the Madurai collective, and others to 
engage in a process of rejuvenating IMC India. I hope that the 
Madurai collective, will signal back at some stage and then we can 
inclusively try to figure the problems and understand what led this 
situation. Anyhow we are for the moment doing the minimum to try to 
clean up the hate laden archives and to keep the space afloat. We 
would like others to be involved and to reflect on how IMC india can 
become a more effective and responsive even if its a third world 
group. We are all in it together  . . .

The initial reactions to our intervention have been positive and 
mostly expressing relief. If you think you would like to contribute 
please do join in and give you precious time and advice.

regards

Harsh

At 9:47 AM -0700 9/8/03, Sivaraman Balachandran wrote:
>All,
>
>How was a measure passed by people not involved in the
>Madurai collective (or did they approve it also)?  I
>know they haven't responding, but given that it is a
>third world non-profit group, I think some patience
>would have been in order, regarding people getting
>back on email.
>
>And if they are not responding at all, there is a
>bigger  problem than an editorial policy that will
>require discussion amongst the larger IMC collective,
>to formally change control from the madurai collective
>to another group.
>
>This passing of the editorial policy feels like a coup
>de etat by about three people, two of whom were
>throwing temper tantrums.
>
>
>Also, Madurai Collective, What is going on?  Please
>respond....
>
>Sivaram
>
>
>
>
>--- Montgomery Cheddar <ganeshmukti at yahoo.ie> wrote:
>>  The emergency editorial policy, which targetted
>>  racism
>>  and violence on the India Indymedia newswire, was
>>  passed on Sunday without opposition.
>>
>>  Despite fears of a Hindutva right-wing backlash over
>>  the introduction of the new policy, the first 24
>>  hours
>>  have been successful and only a few articles have
>>  been
>>  hidden from the newswire. It appears that even
>>  Rajesh,
>>  Jaigopal et al, who have been responsible for much
>  > of
>>  the abuse and flame war in the past, have toned down
>>  their postings and have learned to accept the
>>  democratic decision of the collective ... so far ...
>>  Let's wait and see whether this level of maturity
>>  persists.
>>
>>  As well as maintaining standards on the newswire, it
>>  is necessary to come up with features for the middle
>>  column on the main page. If anyone has any ideas or
>>  wants to contribute, please speak up.
>>
>>  In the long-term, it will be necessary to move to a
>>  different format for india.indymedia.org as the
>>  current format is due to become obsolete. This could
>>  be combined with formation of local news
>>  collectives,
>>  similar to the ones formed on the UK indymedia site
>>  (www.indymedia.org.uk), which has separate sections
>>  for different cities.
>>
>>  I hope that all Indymedia users will be supportive
>  > of
>  > the changes made to India Indymedia and that we can
>  > truly make this a source of alternative media in
>  > India. This requires more outreach activities and
>>  original reporting on activism and protests, rather
>>  than being a bulletin board for bores.
>>
>>  Many thanks to those within the Indymedia community,
>>  particularly Boud, who gave sound advice in making
>>  this all happen.
>>
>>  Best regards,
>>
>>  Ganesh.
>>
>>
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