[New-imc] Proposal: developing guidelines for "syndication" sites

[clara]

summary (en|es):
let's start discussing some new general guidelines for "syndication" sites 
on imc-process, using the most recent examples of the oceania syndication 
site and the proposed imc-us website.  these guidelines should be different 
from the current process for new local imcs.

(es)

sorry we don't have a spanish translation; could someone please translate 
this proposal?

(en)

Dear all,

first of all, we think that syndications sites are a good approach to make 
news from numerous local IMCs accessible to people from within and outside 
the region.

syndication in this proposal is being defined in the broadest sense, which 
would include the more "traditional" syndication sites using rss feeds and 
which are more automated, and those which would include an editorial 
component (ie culling from the syndication newswire).  along that spectrum, 
we imagine there to be multiple ways of "syndicating" content and we need 
new guidelines for these kinds of sites and pages.

we need to make sure that these kinds of syndication pages or sites are 
given some prominence on the "cities list" and to recognize the diversity 
of projects within indymedia.  syndicated sites are of little use if they 
are hard to find (like the oceania site currently) and it would be good if 
they are approved by the indymedia network, show up in the cities, 
countries and project list, and given an indymedia.org url as well.

we hope that we can agree on the fact that a syndication site (whichever 
form it takes) is different from a local IMC, and therefore doesn't fit 
into the current new-imc procedure and application form.  it would be good 
not to squeeze them in through that form and that process, but instead we 
need to develop some guidelines and an application form for these kinds of 
syndication sites, so that they can be approved with all the benefits if 
gives them, the indymedia network and the users.

Spontaneously, there are 4 points which spring to mind when considering any 
new guidelines:

- a "syndication" site has to be open to all IMCs in the region that it is 
covering

-a mission statement is needed (by the way: I think all working groups 
should define what they are doing and why as well)

- if a site goes beyond pure syndication, and has an editorial team for 
what ever tasks they consider relevant, then the group should have have an 
editorial policy

- decision making: any IMC and working group should be transparent about 
how they make decisions

we don't mean to define "the" syndication page, just some make some 
suggestions for basic guidelines that can include as much diversity as we 
have diverstiy in local IMCs as well.

Such a discussion should certainly not stop oceania or the us from 
developing and running their sites. In contrast: we need those discussions 
and practical experiences, to further develop the possibilities of 
Indymedia as a network.

Are people willing to discuss this further?
Preferably on imc-process and not on new-imc

In solidarity,
Clara and Sheri
(after multiple face to face breakfast meetings - oh yes more f2f meetings!!!)

PS: There is still a general proposal for topic imcs and one for a 
biotech-topic site in the making, but now the some of the people working on 
the first drafts are on their way to Cancun. But it's coming....Clara