[New-imc] IMC-SCOTLAND ( New IMC Proposal )

[Scotland / Alba]

Here is the document required to apply for 
IMC-SCOTLAND
through the new imc process.

Two contacts are:
General Contact: Ulla (imc @ fempages.org)
Tech Contact: Harry (imctech @ j12.org)

Space Bunny (lists @ j12.org) will be our global communications contact
on the imc communications listserv.

Thanks so much - and e-mail us any problems, complaints, as are gushes
of approval!

Note by going to www.imcscotland.org you can get see the full history
of this document, and other background.

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    What is Scotland Indymedia Center / IMC-SCOTLAND?

    The Scotland Independent Media Center (IMC-SCOTLAND) is an
    non-corporate, anti-authoritarian network of independent media
    makers, media activists, and media outlets, and is the local
    organizing unit of the global Indymedia  network. Indymedia was
    founded in direct action reporting and the Global Days of Action,
    and it in this path we walk in.

    IMC-SCOTLAND Reasons for Having its own IMC:

       IMC-Scotland is an official IMC in all but name only. It has
    regular  meetings with good attendance in multiple cities,
    currently Glasgow and  Edinburgh. It has put on workshops on tech
    and media activism, throws on  regular alternative and
    anti-capitalist movies (including showing the European IMC
    Newsreel), and  regularly updates the sub-page it was given on
    indymedia.org.uk. However, IMC-SCOTLAND, while grateful to the
    rest of Indymedia UK, has had its growth  significantly hampered
    by not being a fully independent IMC. First, the current web-page
    allows posting of features with only the utmost of technical
    difficulty  by manually hacking together HTML. This is a skill
    IMC-SCOTLAND has tried and  is trying to spread, however this
    process excludes non-technical people from posting features to
    IMC-SCOTLAND. Although we realize that IMC-UK is switching to Mir
    and this may correct many of the technical issues IMC-SCOTLAND is
    facing, we have no firm deadline, and would rather have the
    autonomy to solve our own problems. We also realize that IMC-UK
    is attempting to use a network architecture for decisions, however,
    at the current moment that process has just begun and at our
    local meetings members of IMC-SCOTLAND have unanimously decided
    in favor of local autonomy, co-operating with IMC-UK and remaining
    in the network, but limiting our dependence on the network. Removal
    of this load should work in the favor of both activists in Scotland
    and IMC-UK. Also, There are many activists
    in Scotland who have  expressed interest in an independent
    IMC-SCOTLAND newswire, and cite  the high-turn over rate of the
    IMC-UK newswire as intimidating and a reason why they aren't
    posting. Lastly,  the name IMC-SCOTLAND has been in  use for
    almost a year now, and is becoming known among the local activism
    and media community, and the inevitable question is: 'Where's the
    web-page?' or 'Why  is scotland.indymedia.org  not working?'. We
    have recently convinced the server www.ibiblio.org to host us and
    our streaming media for free, and with the aid of ibiblio staff
    have already commenced  setting up versions of both Mir and
    DadaIMC and hope to have dadaIMC fully running by the end
    of March. On March 7-9th Indymedia Scotland is hosting a 3-day
    Guerilla Camcorder weekend in Glasgow, with workshops on media
    activism and video editing. We expect this to be a large and
    well-attended event. Indymedia Scotland also
    intends to remain fully active in the Indymedia UK network, and
    will only be strengthened by the changes it is suggested. We are
    sending multiple representatives to the Lancaster IMC UK network
    meeting.  Since both dadaIMC and Mir support full RSS syndication,
    we also plan to continue syndication with IMC-UK. We believe our
    own IMC would strengthen IMC-SCOTLAND's active participation
    globally, in the UK network, and locally.

    IMC-SCOTLAND Mission Statement

    The Scotland Independent Media Centre is a network of activists
    that are  committed to using media and journalism as a tool for
    social change. As a network, we will make decisions through a
    consensus process and do our best at representing the diversity of
    our local communities. Though  currently based in Edinburgh and
    Glasgow, the IMC-SCOTLAND will attempt to cover issues anywhere
    in Scotland that are not being given adequate coverage by any
    other media. The Scotland Independent Media Center will also work
    to  network with existing independent media and publications that
    are committed to  social, ecological, and economic change
    throughout Scotland, the UK, and beyond. The IMC-SCOTLAND will
    continually oppose hierarchy within its structure.The Scotland
    Indymedia Center advocates and promotes  media democracy through
    video showings, skill-share workshops and teach-ins,  which are to
    be open for the benefit of all. Along with web publishing, we will
    also hopefully produce print resources and videos to spread media
    democracy amongst those who  may not have access to on-line
    resources. The Scotland Independent Media Center will actively
    oppose racism, homophobia, classism, sexism, mobbing, nationalism,
    and any other form of domination and discrimination within our
    framework and within the framework of society. As a collective, our
    attitude is assertive, and where necessary confrontational, and we
    will defend and keep free the space we are helping create. Mainstream
    corporate media exist to propagate the power of capitalism, attempting
    to hide their corporate interests underneath the banner of objectivity
    and impartiality. IMC-Scotland is proudly a network of subjective
    voices reporting the reality of their own lives, and their passionate
    desire for a world large enough to hear all of our voices.

    We believe that Scotland  is only as large as our collective
    imagination, and that since we are a regional media center, we
    will include other parts of Scotland by allowing them to have as
    much autonomy as they wish, including full access to all features
    of the site and moving main IMC-SCOTLAND meetings  from city to
    city so one group does  not centralize undue influence on
    IMC-SCOTLAND. This process has already admirably  worked with the
    two IMC working-groups set up in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland
    UK.

    IMC-SCOTLAND How to Join

    IMC-SCOTLAND is a regional IMC network, with a single web-site
http://scotland.indymedia.org (assuming we get approved) available
    to the many  groupings of independent media activists in
    Scotland. This is a network that maximizes autonomy by having all
    decisions being made from the bottom up.

    Other IMC-SCOTLAND groups may and hopefully do form in other parts
    of Scotland. These groups should  abide by the IMC- SCOTLAND
    editorial\newswire policy and Principles of Unity\Mission
    Statement.  When they do, they are an official IMC-SCOTLAND
    group. They are subscribed to the
    imc-scotland-discussion at lists.indymedia.org listserv  to which all
    meeting minutes and proposals are  sent and we meet with all other
    groups, when they form, at least face-to-face biannually to
    discuss IMC- SCOTLAND. Decisions are made by active
    consensus. This means that consensus is reached by IMC-SCOTLAND
    about issues effecting the IMC, and that this consensus implies
    both active participation in the consensus process and in getting
    the work done.  Region groups in Scotland all  have the ability to
    autonomously communicate using  face-to-face meetings and
    listservs,to help create front-page IMC features and regulate
    IMC-SCOTLAND with respect to our newswire and editorial policy. If
    there is any conflict between members of IMC-SCOTLAND, it will be
    solved through meetings, discussion, and possibly
    mediation. Currently IMC-SCOTLAND groups in Glasgow and Edinburgh
    meet together  at least monthly and locally more often.

    IMC-SCOTLAND Principles of Unity

    The Scotland Indymedia Center:

a) Agrees in spirit to the IMC Mission Statement and Principles of
Unity

b) has a committed membership substantial enough to sustain a
functional IMC.

c) has open and public meetings (no one group can have exclusionary
"ownership" of IMC-SCOTLAND). Currently such meetings are held nearly
bi-weekly,  although that is subject to change given circumstances.

d) has a local Mission Statement and a Statement of Purpose.

e) has established and published an editorial policy which is
developed and  functions through democratic process, and with full
transparency.

f) agrees to the use of open publishing as described in the IMC
Editorial  Policy, with the understanding that clarification of the
terms and practice of  open publishing is constantly evolving and is
subject locally to the approval of IMC-SCOTLAND. If there is a
conflict between IMC-SCOTLAND and any global decision-making process,
IMC-SCOTLAND will exercise full autonomy.  IMC-SCOTLAND is also
currently investigating options like GNU licenses and Creative Common
licenses as a way to take open content publishing to the next level of
evolution,

g) has adopted a decision-making policy that is in alignment with
consensus  principles which include open, transparent and egalitarian
processes and  active participation in the work of running the IMC,

h) has a participant(s) willing and capable of participating in the
global decision-making process and meetings as a rotating liaison/
representative, with a clear understanding of the responsibilities
that come with this role,

i)  will participate in the key IMC Network Communication Methods that
pertain  to the health and vitality of the Network and that contribute
to the work of  the IMC. At least one person from the Scotland IMC
will participate at any  given time on the IMC-Communications list.

j) has no affiliation with any political party, state or candidate for
office, although individuals have freedom to do whatever they like and
local IMCs may "feature" stories influenced by various political
parties and  initiatives.

k) does in no way engage in commercial for-profit enterprises and is
committed to the decommercialization and decolonization of information
and so will disassociate from any other IMC that decides to become a
for-profit media corporation.

l) will display a _local version_ of the IMC logo on our website and
literature.

m) will include the IMC Network current Cities List on our site,
preferably on the front page.

    Scotland IMC Editorial Policy


    The process for making changes/additions/deletions to featured
    content on the  website is:

    A request is presented at the weekly meetings detailing the
    requested changes.  Anyone may request changes to the website.
    For the changes to be made a consensus must be reached by the
    IMC-SCOTLAND  network if the change effects the whole website.
    If a IMC-SCOTLAND network request receives two rejections it will
    not be acted  upon, rejections must be sent to the
    imc-scotland-discussion list within one  week of the initial
    proposal.  One week after the initial consensus if two rejections
    have not been registered the website will be updated at its
    earliest convenience.  The feature request originator may make
    further updates to the feature without  further consensus.

    Members of the IMC-SCOTLAND network who  participate in
    maintaining the site will update the site.

    Suggestions for helping the editorial process run smoothly:

    An editorial request should be made at the meeting of the working
    group or  through the imc-scotland-discussion listserv. Always
    feel free to contact the  IMC-SCOTLAND network at
    scotland at indymedia.org or imc at imcscotland.org . A consensus
    process will  approve or reject the request.

    Make requests as specific as possible, i.e. include all wording,
    url's, etc.  Having a specific, well-formed request will allow the
    website to be updated  more quickly.

    In most cases, post it to the imc-scotland-discussion listserv
    first, then make the request. Write a short introductory paragraph
    summarizing the content of the posting.  The introductory
    paragraph will appear on the front page with a link to the  actual
    posting.

   Scotland IMC Newswire Policy

    The Scotland Independent Media Center is a grassroots collective
    committed to  using media production and distribution as tools for
    promoting social and  economic justice. Through this work, we seek
    to promote diversity and unity in  the progressive community
    throughout Scotland and the rest of Great Britain,  further
    the self-determination of people under-represented in the media,
    and  to illuminate and analyze local and global issues that impact
    ecosystems,  communities and individuals. We are dedicated to
    generating alternatives to the corporate media and to identifying
    and creating positive models for a  sustainable and equitable
    society, particularly in Scotland since it is our local community.

    In accordance with the Scotland IMC's overall mission, the online
    newswire is  designed to empower individuals to become independent
    journalists by  providing a direct forum for
    presenting media, including text  articles, audio and video
    recordings, and photographs, to the public via the  internet.

    IMC-Scotland has the following maxim it would like to apply to
    publishing: The article should be relevant, written for
    IMC-SCOTLAND and not spam.

    The Indymedia Scotland website operates on a system of 'open
    publishing'  i.e. anyone can upload a written report, image or
    audio clip directly to the  site through an openly accessible web
    interface, given the guidelines detailed.

     Indymedia Scotland encourages:

        . Grassroots coverage of important social and political
        issues, especially those ignored my mainstream media.

        . A focus on events and issues relevant to people living in
        Scotland.

        . Announcements of any forthcoming actions or campaigns (in
        the Calendar section).

        . Comments added to any news report on the site.

        . Participation in Indymedia Scotland is encouraged!

Also, please remember Indymedia Scotland hides and may delete:

       · Language or imagery which is racist, sexist, anti-semitic,
       bullying, mobbing  or homophobic, or in any other way
       discriminatory and domineering.

       · Commercial advertising.

       · In-factual or misleading reports.

       · Repeated posting of any text, image or audio clip.

       . Party political propaganda.

       . 'Spam' includes 'tofu', spam relating to activism that is
       mass-posted.

       . Postings by individuals who have a pattern of behavior that
         leads to the above mentioned discouraged postings.

    After stories have been published, they can be edited, linked or
    even deleted  by IMC-SCOTLAND. We like to link related stories, so
    that they appear grouped  together on the summary pages. For
    instance, this can be used to display together:

    sound bites from the same event;  a picture with text about the
    same thing;  a lower quality real audio or quick-time file with a
    higher quality (but slower to transfer) MP3 audio clip for radio
    stations to re-broadcast;  a video in real video or quick-time with
    a freeze frame picture;  a group of stories about the same issues;

    The newswire is an open-publishing resource, as detailed by
    above. The newswire is not intended for promotion of commercial
    enterprises, advertisements, religious diatribes, or as forum for
    sociopaths to abuse the community. To serve this end, the network
    is empowered  to delete posts that are sexist, racist, homophobic,
    pornographic, fascist, or repetitive  (spam). The decisions to
    make  newswires center-column features on the main page will also
    take place  through an IMC-SCOTLAND active consensus process.