[IndyMedia Bombay] Minutes of Meeting on 21st July
Sanjay Bhangar
sanjayb at hotpop.com
Thu, 25 Jul 2002 01:52:23 +0530
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C2337D.EBA19900
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hello all,
Below are the minutes of our meeting at the PUKAR office on the 21st of =
July.
minutes:
No. of people in attendance: 17.
Names of the people who attended: Shekhar Krishnan, Astaad Randeria, =
Raunak Parikh, Ashani de Silva, Nazia Vasi, Srikant Rajan, Sanjay =
Bhangar Aspi Mistry, Shehzia, Riddhi Parekh, Riddhi Shah, Nikhil =
Lalwani, Surabhi Kukke, Freya Irani, Lucanoo Alvares, Leo Mirani, =
Priyanka Srivastava.
Agenda for the meeting:
1. Get intro's of people involved in the IMC. (to be done also through =
discussions on the list)
2. Discuss the editorial policy, decision making policy and projects =
being worked on.
3. Figure out a comprehensive project on gujarat and communalism.
=20
With reference to the Indo-Pak project, Riddhi said the group plans to =
go to different schools and read excerpts of pakistani history texts and =
film reactions of the chihldren. Also, take different opinions on the =
distortion of perceptions...
=20
Nihalf is going to be working on a collection of stories on Abduhl =
Kalam.
=20
We discussed collecting list of local NGO resources and gathering =
information on groups doing work on certain issues etc.
=20
We discussed the need to form working groups, especially a tech group, =
to handle the technical aspects of the website and also to hopefully =
serve as a resource base for other technical needs. If anyone can =
volunteer to be a part of such a group, it would be highly appreciated.
=20
We discussed the issue of hawkers, hafta's and slum demolition. Shekhar =
volunteered to get us in touch with people working in the field and =
working with hawkers unions, etc. We discussed documenting hawkers/slum =
dwellers stories, the economics of hafta collection, and the issue of =
ensuring that anonymity is guaranteed wherever required.
=20
=20
=20
We then began our discussion on editorial policy.
Editorial policy needs to be figured out. We discussed the need to form =
a group of editors who look into the content and stuff published =
everyday and remove spam/pornography/slanderous, and abusive articles. =
The editorial team should reserve the right to remove stuff while =
keeping in mind the fact that everything should be transparent and open. =
Aspy raised a theoretical policy issue : what if the VHP decides to =
flood us with 200 new legitimate articles a day? What would we do? A =
question that was raised was- Should people who are subscribed and =
listed only be allowed to publish? We decided that this idea was against =
the basic principles of open publishing. In the case of right-wing =
articles, or articles that advocate racism, opression, etc. but without =
being overtly abusive or slanderous, we decided it would be against the =
principle of open publishing to censor. Instead, we would encourage =
people to use the comments area to further debate and dialogue. However, =
in the case of any one group or individual sending a large amount of =
articles everyday and attempting to monopolize the newswire, our =
reaction should be the same, whatever that group is - it was discussed =
that perhaps if so many articles come in, we could club them all =
together and give them a common link.
We then discussed specific moderation issues - Moderating on the basis =
of what? Offensive stuff.. articles that advocate racism towards a =
particular group? Again, we decided its against the concept of indymedia =
to ban an article of that sort unless it is directly abusive or =
vindictive. For these "middle-ground issues", the editors would have =
discretion, but would be encouraged to use the list to discuss...
One of our goals will be to encourage a culture of debate,dialogue.
Encourage people also to verify their email addresses. (through the =
DadaIMC interface)
More relevant questions raised - Who is a member? who are the decision =
makers? what is the dedcision making policy? is there an expectation for =
a structure? could it turn chaotic? We decided we would deal with =
uncertainty and risk in time in an open manner - we cant have a fixed =
and rigid decision making/ editorial policy so soon but for things to =
start functioning, we need a basic understanding of why we're doing =
this, and a flexible open policy for people to use and modify even 2 =
years down the line. To the question of who is a member - the response =
generally was that you are as much of a member as you want. You decide =
to be as involved as you want to.
We discussed further ways of outreach - get people involved, get their =
email addresses, get them to subscribe to the list, find ways of =
explaining to people what we're doing and why we're doing it.
We then had a short discussion on the nature of "openness" - however =
open the process is you still need people to keep the process moving : =
writing minutes, gettiing the site up, deciding meetings etc. role of =
facilitator out to anyone who is ready to help out.
We decided to fix regular meetings and consensus was reached on the =
following:=20
Starting next month -=20
The second Saturday of the month, at 3:30 P.M. meetings will be held at =
the PUKAR office.
On every fourth Friday of the month, at 5:30 P.M., meetings will be held =
at the Comet Media Foundation.
Details of the same will be put up on the website, and we are always =
trying to look for alternative places to host the meetings, especially =
in the suburbs.
People will put up things on the list that add up to the agenda for the =
next meeting and if you feel strongly bout a certain issue, you should =
be there for the meeting to discuss it or write into the mailing list =
about your point of view.=20
We discussed the site, the need for tech volunteers and appreciated the =
fact that the site should be made by people who know what theyre doing.
Again, about the concept of openness and flexibility, we realized that =
there is stuff that you're willing to change , and stuff that youre not =
willing to change, which includes basic principles and ideology, as =
reflected in the IMC Principles of Unity,our Mission Statement and IMC =
Membership Criteria.
On the issue of sub-mailing lists, it was decided that we bifurcate into =
one list for discussion about the organization of the IMC, meetings, =
agendas, decisions, editorial policy, decision making, etc. and another =
list to serve as a "newswire" to report news, information about =
protests, etc. For now, everyone on the current list will be =
auto-subscribed to both. Then people can chose to unsubscribe as per =
their preference.
Sub-mailing lists for editorial, tech, etc. can be formed in the future, =
but for now, the "admin" mailing list will be used for all those =
functions.
We went on to discuss the particulars of an editorial group and what =
that job would entail.
We must work on forming a voluntary editorial group willing to go work =
on the site everyday. Editors should have to come for meetings.The =
editor needs to be a neutral person. Policy question that needs to be =
discussed - can you make a VHP person an editor, if he does agree to =
follow principles laid down? The editorial group needs to remain =
completely voluntary and open so anyone can join. Perhaps editors should =
only be appointed at meetings, and if anyone opposes a specific =
appointment, that should be taken to vote. This is an issue that =
requires further discussion.
We also discussed the need to figure out legal issues : stuff we're not =
allowed to publish : advocating anything illegal, advocating illegal =
activity, crime, copyrighted material, "anti national sentiments", are =
some of the legal issues we need to look into. Astaad volunteered to do =
further research on guidelines on the legal issues.=20
We discussed the need extensively to get ourselves aware on legal issues =
and discussed the need to perhaps be in constant touch with a lawyer or =
something that basically keeps us out of trouble. If anyone can help =
with this, it would be much appreciated. We would not want to get too =
paranoid about "legalities", and editors would be strongly encouraged to =
discuss things they are doubtful about on the list.
We decided to put a draft of an editorial policy on the list and =
continue working on it, but get stuff up and continue working on the =
site, as well as we work out the policy.
We disbanded, after having quite a bloody good time at the meeting, =
thanking PUKAR for their hospitality, and hoping that more and more =
people will attend future meetings, and generally be a part of the IMC.
------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C2337D.EBA19900
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2716.2200" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hello all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Below are the minutes of our =
meeting at the=20
PUKAR office on the 21st of July.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>minutes:<BR>No. of people in =
attendance:=20
17.<BR>Names of the people who attended: Shekhar Krishnan, Astaad =
Randeria,=20
Raunak Parikh, Ashani de Silva, Nazia Vasi, Srikant Rajan, Sanjay =
Bhangar Aspi=20
Mistry, Shehzia, Riddhi Parekh, Riddhi Shah, Nikhil Lalwani, Surabhi =
Kukke,=20
Freya Irani, Lucanoo Alvares, Leo Mirani, Priyanka Srivastava.<BR>Agenda =
for the=20
meeting:<BR>1. Get intro's of people involved in the IMC. (to be done =
also=20
through discussions on the list)<BR>2. Discuss the editorial policy, =
decision=20
making policy and projects being worked on.<BR>3. Figure out a =
comprehensive=20
project on gujarat and communalism.<BR> <BR>With reference to the =
Indo-Pak=20
project, Riddhi said the group plans to go to different schools and read =
excerpts of pakistani history texts and film reactions of the chihldren. =
Also,=20
take different opinions on the distortion of =
perceptions...<BR> <BR>Nihalf=20
is going to be working on a collection of stories on Abduhl=20
Kalam.<BR> <BR>We discussed collecting list of local NGO resources =
and=20
gathering information on groups doing work on certain issues=20
etc.<BR> <BR>We discussed the need to form working groups, =
especially a=20
tech group, to handle the technical aspects of the website and also to =
hopefully=20
serve as a resource base for other technical needs. If anyone can =
volunteer to=20
be a part of such a group, it would be highly =
appreciated.<BR> <BR>We=20
discussed the issue of hawkers, hafta's and slum demolition. Shekhar =
volunteered=20
to get us in touch with people working in the field and working with =
hawkers=20
unions, etc. We discussed documenting hawkers/slum dwellers stories, the =
economics of hafta collection, and the issue of ensuring that anonymity =
is=20
guaranteed wherever required.<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>We then =
began our=20
discussion on editorial policy.<BR>Editorial policy needs to be figured =
out. We=20
discussed the need to form a group of editors who look into the content =
and=20
stuff published everyday and remove spam/pornography/slanderous, and =
abusive=20
articles. The editorial team should reserve the right to remove stuff =
while=20
keeping in mind the fact that everything should be transparent and open. =
<BR>Aspy raised a theoretical policy issue : what if the VHP decides to =
flood us=20
with 200 new legitimate articles a day? What would we do? A question =
that was=20
raised was- Should people who are subscribed and listed only be allowed =
to=20
publish? We decided that this idea was against the basic principles of =
open=20
publishing. In the case of right-wing articles, or articles that =
advocate=20
racism, opression, etc. but without being overtly abusive or slanderous, =
we=20
decided it would be against the principle of open publishing to censor. =
Instead,=20
we would encourage people to use the comments area to further debate and =
dialogue. However, in the case of any one group or individual sending a =
large=20
amount of articles everyday and attempting to monopolize the newswire, =
our=20
reaction should be the same, whatever that group is - it was discussed =
that=20
perhaps if so many articles come in, we could club them all together and =
give=20
them a common link.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We then discussed specific moderation =
issues -=20
Moderating on the basis of what? Offensive stuff.. articles that =
advocate racism=20
towards a particular group? Again, we decided its against the concept of =
indymedia to ban an article of that sort unless it is directly abusive =
or=20
vindictive. For these "middle-ground issues", the editors would have =
discretion,=20
but would be encouraged to use the list to discuss...<BR>One of our =
goals will=20
be to encourage a culture of debate,dialogue.<BR>Encourage people also =
to verify=20
their email addresses. (through the DadaIMC interface)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>More relevant questions raised - Who is =
a member?=20
who are the decision makers? what is the dedcision making policy? is =
there an=20
expectation for a structure? could it turn chaotic? We decided we would =
deal=20
with uncertainty and risk in time in an open manner - we cant have a =
fixed and=20
rigid decision making/ editorial policy so soon but for things to start=20
functioning, we need a basic understanding of why we're doing this, and =
a =20
flexible open policy for people to use and modify even 2 years down the =
line. To=20
the question of who is a member - the response generally was that you =
are as=20
much of a member as you want. You decide to be as involved as you want=20
to.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We discussed further ways of outreach - =
get people=20
involved, get their email addresses, get them to subscribe to the list, =
find=20
ways of explaining to people what we're doing and why we're doing=20
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We then had a short discussion on the =
nature of=20
"openness" - however open the process is you still need people to keep =
the=20
process moving : writing minutes, gettiing the site up, deciding =
meetings etc.=20
role of facilitator out to anyone who is ready to help out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We decided to fix regular meetings and =
consensus=20
was reached on the following: <BR>Starting next month - <BR>The second =
Saturday=20
of the month, at 3:30 P.M. meetings will be held at the PUKAR =
office.<BR>On=20
every fourth Friday of the month, at 5:30 P.M., meetings will be held at =
the=20
Comet Media Foundation.<BR>Details of the same will be put up on the =
website,=20
and we are always trying to look for alternative places to host the =
meetings,=20
especially in the suburbs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<DIV><BR>People will put up things on the list that add up to the agenda =
for the=20
next meeting and if you feel strongly bout a certain issue, you should =
be there=20
for the meeting to discuss it or write into the mailing list about your =
point of=20
view. <BR>We discussed the site, the need for tech volunteers and =
appreciated=20
the fact that the site should be made by people who know what theyre=20
doing.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Again, about the concept of openness and flexibility, we realized =
that=20
there is stuff that you're willing to change , and stuff that youre not =
willing=20
to change, which includes basic principles and ideology, as reflected in =
the IMC=20
Principles of Unity,our Mission Statement and IMC Membership =
Criteria.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On the issue of sub-mailing lists, it was decided that we bifurcate =
into=20
one list for discussion about the organization of the IMC, meetings, =
agendas,=20
decisions, editorial policy, decision making, etc. and another list to =
serve as=20
a "newswire" to report news, information about protests, etc. For now, =
everyone=20
on the current list will be auto-subscribed to both. Then people can =
chose to=20
unsubscribe as per their preference.<BR>Sub-mailing lists for editorial, =
tech,=20
etc. can be formed in the future, but for now, the "admin" mailing list =
will be=20
used for all those functions.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We went on to discuss the particulars of an editorial group and =
what that=20
job would entail.<BR>We must work on forming a voluntary editorial group =
willing=20
to go work on the site everyday. Editors should have to come for =
meetings.The=20
editor needs to be a neutral person. Policy question that needs to be =
discussed=20
- can you make a VHP person an editor, if he does agree to follow =
principles=20
laid down? The editorial group needs to remain completely voluntary and =
open so=20
anyone can join. Perhaps editors should only be appointed at meetings, =
and if=20
anyone opposes a specific appointment, that should be taken to vote. =
This is an=20
issue that requires further discussion.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We also discussed the need to figure out legal issues : stuff we're =
not=20
allowed to publish : advocating anything illegal, advocating illegal =
activity,=20
crime, copyrighted material, "anti national sentiments", are some of the =
legal=20
issues we need to look into. Astaad volunteered to do further research =
on=20
guidelines on the legal issues. <BR>We discussed the need extensively to =
get=20
ourselves aware on legal issues and discussed the need to perhaps be in =
constant=20
touch with a lawyer or something that basically keeps us out of trouble. =
If=20
anyone can help with this, it would be much appreciated. We would not =
want to=20
get too paranoid about "legalities", and editors would be strongly =
encouraged to=20
discuss things they are doubtful about on the list.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We decided to put a draft of an editorial policy on the list and =
continue=20
working on it, but get stuff up and continue working on the site, as =
well as we=20
work out the policy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We disbanded, after having quite a bloody good time at the meeting, =
thanking PUKAR for their hospitality, and hoping that more and more =
people will=20
attend future meetings, and generally be a part of the=20
IMC.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_000D_01C2337D.EBA19900--