[New-imc] Handing out local URL's through the IMC-UK network

[Tony]

Hello New-imc'ers

Below is an explaination of where imc-uk is heading with its 
decentralisation precess - a bit of history and background - For the 
UK (United Kollectives) Network to work well we hope to be able to 
have our own 'new-uk-imc' application process - where new regional 
collectives in the UK can be given their own URL (ie. 
oxford.indymedia.org) when they agree to the Mission statement, 
Working practices, and Principles of Unity etc...

We would most likely use the UK-process list for new applications, 
but first i need to know if we can hand out our own URL's and who 
/where /how we can do this. (I am not sure at the moment if all these 
would be listed on the global list of IMC's - maybe all of us would 
come under 'UK' banner - to be discussed) We would of course be 
putting together an application proceedure much like the global one 
but regionally based - to come soon but based on alot of this text.

cheers tony

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WORKING PRACTICES ON uk.indymedia.org/ mir

uk.indymedia.org is a collaborative project of local imc groups who 
agree on some basic common grounds. Participation involves taking 
responsibility for shared tasks and gives each group access to the 
knowledge and resources of other groups. Transparency is crucial - 
especially on the tech side.
uk.indymedia.org is run by volunteers. A part from agreed shared 
tasks, everything relies on the motivation of individuals or groups - 
a good reason to maintain a spirit of solidarity and support in our 
communication.

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I. historical bits

Since a few months, imc uk has kicked off as a network.
In the first years, imc uk was mainly maintained by a group in London 
- we simply could not find other imc groups in the uk who were 
willing to join in. Then the network slowly started to build. Bristol 
set up their separate website, Scotland is working on one. Imc uk 
temporarily hosted imc ireland while they were setting up their 
separate site. Manchester and Scotland asked for subsections on the 
UK page. We started to have network meetings. Lancester, Sheffield 
and Leeds joined in. Oxford and Cambridge applied for imc lists. The 
contact page was updated to include new groups 
[http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-uk-network/2003-March/000253.html]
Several groups started to  share "housekeeping duties" like newswire 
cleaning, the editorial guidelines were updated 
[http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-uk-process/2003-March/001105.html].

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II. Migration to MIR - a collaborative project

The first major project of the imc - United Kollective network is the 
migration to mir. This is much more than just a change of software. 
It is the outcome of a years long process to establish imc uk as a 
network of local imc groups who work together on a shared website, to 
build a platform where people from all over the country can share 
information/news.

The final deadline of the migration, the looks of the site, and the 
way we set up the admin depends on the input of each imc group. The 
development of the MIR site works a bit like opensource software 
developing, very pragmatic. Some people do things, then it's wait and 
see if others take them up. At the same time, imc uk has elements of 
a more structured, collective approach, because there are some things 
that we have to find consensus about.

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III. uk.indymedia.org Communication tools

The consensus process is non-hierarchical, there is no formal 
decision-making body of delegates. But some communication tools for 
sharing knowledge, discussion and decision making have developed. 
Generally, things are being discussed in a variety of communication 
channels, before they come up as a proposal.

/1 face to face meetings
Although we are using a variety of electronic communication channels, 
local imc groups rely on face to face meetings in intervals that suit 
them, mostly announced on their publicly archived imc list.

/2 Lists
Every local imc group currently liaises with some uk lists: 
[imc-uk-network]  for information, [imc-uk-process] for discussion, 
developing proposals etc, [imc-uk-tech] to sort out how to do things.

Every imc worldwide is committed to be in touch with some global imc 
lists. Reports from global lists are fed to [imc-uk-process]. 
Sometimes, global lists are asking for feedback.

/3 Network Meeting
Every local imc group can propose a f2f network meeting. If a 
critical mass of local groups agrees that a network meeting is needed 
or that it would be fun, time and place are being sorted.

/4 irc (internet relay chat)
The channels on irc.indymedia.org is helpful to discuss things, 
establish common grounds, work out how to proceed, share infos, 
knowledge and resources. Irc logs are being archived on the 
appropriate list. While major proposals often develop on irc it irc 
is not a decision making channel, because so far, only few imc uk'ers 
use it.

/5 twiki
imc uk uses the indymedia twiki on [docs.indymedia.org]. Twiki is a 
piece of opensource server software that allows users to freely 
create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. Everybody can 
register on the twiki and start using it. A special site has been set 
up for the migration to mir:
http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/MovingToMir Like irc, twiki is 
not a decision making body, because not many imc uk'ers are using it 
so far.

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IV. Shared tasks

imc uk has developed a supportive attitude. People help each other 
out with major and minor questions, and generally respect each others 
work and listen to each others points of views.
Some tasks are shared between all local imc groups who work on 
uk.indymedia.org:

/1 crucial from the beginning: liaising with 3 uk lists: 
[imc-uk-network], [imc-uk-process], [imc-uk-features], [imc-uk-tech].

/2 liaising with global lists:
Every imc worldwide is committed to be in touch with some global imc 
lists: [imc-finance], [imc- process], [imc-communication], [new-imc]. 
There are a few other useful lists, like [imc europe]. Since imc uk 
is a network, we can share this workload between the local groups. 
Each group should be prepared to take on a global list for some time 
and occasionally forward reports from those lists to [imc-uk-process].

/3 list admin:
The administration of the shared [imc-uk] lists rotates within the 
local imc uk groups, both to share the workload and to make sure that 
power is decentralised.

/4 newswire cleaning
Presently, on the imc uk active site, every newswire posting goes 
straight to the frontpage. Admins from local imc groups then screen 
the newswire and hide postings if necessary according to the 
editorial guidelines.
The main point is that all regional pages on imc uk mir will continue 
to share one database for newswire postings, i.e. the regional imcs 
will have to take responsibility to look after the main newswire, not 
only after their own.

/5 features:
Presently, features for the imc uk middle column on the active site 
are being proposed on [imc-uk-features]. All local imc groups are 
responsible to look after the uk middle column.
On the IMC UK Mir page, each imc group with their own site will 
produce their own features. In addition, the startpage of 
uk.indymedia.org will also have features. We haven't discussed yet 
how these will be generated. Options are:
- to generate them automatically from the local middle columns (needs 
a tech to implement).
- to generate them manually, for expl by a dedicated startpage 
features group, a dedicated list, individuals or a mix of all.

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V. Setting up a regional page on IMC UK mir

To run a regional page on IMC UK mir means to be part of a network. 
Each local imc group that runs a regional page on IMC UK mir 
positions itself on the common grounds of the uk network, agrees to 
the "principles of unity" and takes on some of the shared tasks. The 
following paragraphs refer to those groups who are working on the 
uk.indymedia.org site - I assume that separate sites like Bristol 
have their own process.

/1 Common Grounds

* Agree with the UK "Mission statement" [link]

* Agree with the current "Working practices" of the site [link]
The paragraphs on communication (III) and shared tasks (IV) sum up 
some of the current working practices of uk.indymedia.org. It would 
be good to work on and discuss a document which can be approved by 
the uk.indymedia.org network.

* Agree in Spirit to the "Principles of unity" [see below 3/]

* Have open and public meetings
This is to make sure that indymedia uk has a presence outside the 
virtual world of digital communication channels, to encourage more 
local participation, transparency and face-to-face contact. (...more?)

* Participate in outreach of uk.indymedia.org to local groups, 
encouraging more people to understand and use the site.

2/ steps towards a regional site on uk.indymedia.org

* Make sure you have enough people to run the regional page - and to 
keep in touch with the uk network. Please be aware that imc is a 
global network, i.e. every imc group should keep track of what's 
happening there.

* Tell the UK Process list that you're interested. Somebody will get 
back to you.

* customise your regional page. Manuals and documentation are on a 
twiki page [http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/MovingToMir] - 
incomplete but better than nothing. Check also mir.indymedia.org.

* if you want your local imc group listed on the global linklist of 
all imcs, i.e. have your own localgroup at indymedia.org URL, you have 
to go through the new imc process via the global [new-imc] list. More 
info on the new imc process here: 
[http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Global/NewImcHowTo]
We are thinking of moving this process to the UK, so that you don't 
need to go through the global lists, but this is only at the 
beginnings.

3/ principles of unity

A draft UK version of global "principles of unity":

[1] Indymedia UK Network is based on principles of equality, and 
local decentralisation, made up of self-organised autonomous 
collectives that recognise the importance of developing a union of 
networks.

[2] IMC-uk considers open exchange of and open access to information 
a prerequisite to the building of a free and just society.

[3] Contributers and readers can use the open web based publishing to 
express their views freely, based on the trust and aderhence to the 
Editorial guidlines.

[4] Indymedia is a non-profit network

[5] IMC-uk recognises the importance of process to social change and 
is committed to the development of non-hierarchical and 
anti-authoritarian organising.

[6] IMC-uk is committed to the priciple of Consensus decision making 
and the development of a participatory democratic process that is 
transparent to its members.

[7] IMC-uk is commited to sharing of resouces including skills, 
knowledge and equipment where possible.

[8] ....

The current global draft for principles of unity is included in an 
email: 
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2001-May/000159.html


Please note: this snapshot is an effort to to describe the present 
shared working practices on uk.indymedia.org and the development of 
the new IMC UK mir site - i.e. the consensus that we have developed 
over the past few weeks/months. The process is still ongoing and can 
be found on the UK 'network' and 'process' lists.

imc-UK-network.