Fwd: Re: [New-imc] SANTA BARBARA (internal decision deadline,
Nov. 17, 16:00 GMT)
KT Jarmul
kt-jarmul at umail.ucsb.edu
Fri Nov 14 17:45:38 PST 2003
Hi Jay and New IMC-istas.
I just got off the phone with some people in our web group and they have
done some research on IMC code unsigned posting. They determined that
what we will do, and what most IMCs do, is to allow posting with an
anonymous handle, however, the levels of trust and authenticity of
anonymous posting is lower. Also, of course, we have an editorial
disclaimer that states that we are not responsible for researching posts
on the newswire, however, we will obviously not feature stories written by=
=20
uninformed posters. =20
On the copyright issue, we had not encountered this previously in reading
over numerous IMC policies. Although we do have an editorial disclaimer,
modeled after many we saw on IMC sites, I have never seen such a ban in an
editorial policy. Mike, how does your IMC deal with this?
I spoke briefly with some other SB IMCers and the general consensus is
that some things need to be cited (such as AP, etc); but that some
educational news and writing is easily republished under academic freedom
if the organization is not using it for personal gain. In any case,
feedback and advice from more experienced IMCs is necessary (that's why we
came to you all in the first place... :)
In solidarity,
KT=20
--
KT Jarmul
kt-jarmul at umail.ucsb.edu
KCSB Associate News and PA Director
news at kcsb.org
(805) 893-2426
On Fri, 14 Nov 2003, Jay wrote:
> Ginny and KT,
>=20
> A short question about your information from Mike who is part of the=20
> new-imc working group.
>=20
> Jay
>=20
> >X-Symantec-TimeoutProtection: 0
> >X-Symantec-TimeoutProtection: 1
> >X-Apparently-To: jaypsand at yahoo.com via 216.109.117.227; Fri, 14 Nov 200=
3=20
> >07:30:40 -0800
> >Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 10:29:43 -0500
> >From: Mike R <micro.zen at verizon.net>
> >X-Mailer: The Bat! (v1.49) Personal
> >To: Jay <jaypsand at yahoo.com>
> >Subject: Re: [New-imc] SANTA BARBARA (internal decision deadline, Nov.=
=20
> >17, 16:00 GMT)
> >X-Authentication-Info: Submitted using SMTP AUTH at out005.verizon.net=
=20
> >from [141.158.229.201] at Fri, 14 Nov 2003 09:30:38 -0600
> >
> >Hi Jay,
> >
> >do other IMCs hide unsigned material? Should SB also hide illegally
> >reprinted copyrighted material?
> >
> >Friday, November 14, 2003, 10:17:07 AM, Jay said:
> >
> >J> Hi new-imc working group,
> >
> >J> This is from the aspiring Santa Barbara (U.S.). Take a look at it an=
d
> >J> respond, if you have any responses, by 16:00 GMT on November 17.
> >
> >J> Jay
> >
> >J> > At 10/28/2003, ginnybrowne at riseup.net wrote:
> >J> >>IMC MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA - Santa Barbara IMC
> >J> >>
> >J> >>Each IMC and Global Working Group is expected to:
> >J> >>a. Agree in spirit to the NIMC Mission Statement and Principles of=
=20
> >Unity,
> >J> >> We have consensed on them.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>b. Have a committed membership substantial enough to sustain a=20
> >functional
> >J> >>IMC,
> >J> >> We currently have a core organizing group of about 20 mem=
bers,
> >J> >> with over
> >J> >>50 people on our internal email lists, many of whom attend meeting=
s
> >J> >>sporadically.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>c. Have open and public meetings (no one group can have exclusiona=
ry
> >J> >>"ownership" of an IMC),
> >J> >> Our meetings are always open and announced publicly.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>d. Work toward developing a local Mission Statement or Statement o=
f
> >J> >> Purpose.
> >J> >> Our MISSION STATEMENT is as follows:
> >J> >>The Santa Barbara Independent Media Center is an autonomous,
> >J> >>community-based collective committed to using media production and
> >J> >>distribution as a tool for promoting social and economic justice. =
By
> >J> >>providing the training and the channels, SB-IMC creates=20
> >opportunities for
> >J> >>individuals and groups who are misrepresented in the mainstream me=
dia to
> >J> >>report on the issues they face within the community. Through our
> >J> >>affiliation with the IMC network, we seek to draw connections betw=
een
> >J> >>local and global struggles. We generate alternatives to the curre=
nt
> >J> >>profit-based and state-dominated media to contribute to the develo=
pment
> >J> >> of
> >J> >>an equitable and sustainable society.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>Toward these goals, we aim,
> >J> >>
> >J> >>* To encourage, facilitate, and support the creation of independen=
t news
> >J> >>gathering and reporting.
> >J> >>* To offer training in news reporting, internet and media skills.
> >J> >>* To encourage all people to view themselves as news makers, and t=
o look
> >J> >>for news sources and inspiration within their daily lives.
> >J> >>* To cover local events that are ignored or poorly covered by corp=
orate
> >J> >>media.
> >J> >>* To provide edited audio, video, and print stories of the above o=
n the
> >J> >>internet for independent media outlets and the general public.
> >J> >>* To facilitate networking and coordination for the coverage of lo=
cal
> >J> >>events as well as share information and announcements about events=
of
> >J> >>interest to the Santa Barbara social justice community.
> >J> >>* To build a more inclusive and representative community through
> >J> >> bilingual
> >J> >>Spanish/English communication
> >J> >>* To provide links to alternative media, activist, and research gr=
oups.
> >J> >>* To encourage a world where globalization is not about homogeneit=
y and
> >J> >>exploitation, but about diversity and cooperation.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>
> >J> >>e. Establish and publish an editorial policy which is developed an=
d
> >J> >>functions through democratic process, and with full transparency,
> >J> >> Our ED POLICY is as follows:
> >J> >>SB-IMC is dedicated to open publishing [link] as a means of creati=
ng a
> >J> >>transparent community forum for events and issues of social concer=
n in
> >J> >>Santa Barbara and around the tri-county region. Anyone can post a=
n
> >J> >>eyewitness or investigative report, news analysis, or video or aud=
io
> >J> >> clips
> >J> >>of events to the newswire. The newswire is not edited for content=
, but
> >J> >>SB-IMC will not tolerate messages of hate.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>SB-IMC is participating in a global experiment in free speech, in
> >J> >>transparent, open structure, unconstrained by the pressures of
> >J> >>advertising, corporations, or government. We recognize that no=20
> >reporter,
> >J> >>whether professional journalist or IMC contributor, speaks from a =
place
> >J> >> of
> >J> >>objectivity, and that all news takes shape through a series of cho=
ices
> >J> >>informed by the unique perceptions and biases of its reporter. We
> >J> >>therefore encourage all SB-IMC contributors to strive for fairness=
,
> >J> >>breadth, and accuracy in their reporting, and to tap into their ow=
n
> >J> >>experiences as sources of wisdom and knowledge. We support grassro=
ots
> >J> >>reporting and will not be restricted by the standards of commercia=
l=20
> >news.
> >J> >> We believe that people communicating in their own voices about t=
he
> >J> >> issues
> >J> >>that matter to them is the first step to creating a truly democrat=
ic
> >J> >>society.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>The SB-IMC editorial group checks the newswire regularly for stori=
es to
> >J> >>feature on the website's main page. Features may be edited for=20
> >spelling,
> >J> >>format, and clarity. We expect all contributions to the SB-IMC ne=
wswire
> >J> >>to meet one or more of the following guidelines, and will assess=
=20
> >possible
> >J> >>features according to them:
> >J> >>
> >J> >>timely stories on local issues
> >J> >>stories with picture, video or audio
> >J> >>well-researched pieces
> >J> >>upcoming events
> >J> >>stories not yet reported in other media
> >J> >>stories offering opportunities for immediate response/action
> >J> >>
> >J> >>Occasionally, the editorial group will hide certain posts. (Hidde=
n=20
> >posts
> >J> >>can be viewed on this page [link].) Posts meeting one or more of =
the
> >J> >>following criteria may be hidden:
> >J> >>
> >J> >>duplicates
> >J> >>spam
> >J> >>hardcore porn with no news or cultural value
> >J> >>details of illegal actions or plans
> >J> >>advertisements
> >J> >>slander or libel
> >J> >>unsigned articles
> >J> >>unreadable or corrupted material
> >J> >>
> >J> >>To post to the SB-IMC newswire, please click here.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>f. Agree to the use of Open Publishing as described in the NIMC=20
> >Editorial
> >J> >>Policy [editorial collective comments: "We did agree that the term=
"Open
> >J> >>Publishing" was one that is still being defined by the Global Netw=
ork
> >J> >>Collective, and we would wait and see what the results were before
> >J> >> rewriting
> >J> >>this criteria],
> >J> >> We definitely agree, as is hopefully shown by our editori=
al
> >J> >> policy.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>g. Adopt a decision-making policy that is in alignment with consen=
sus
> >J> >>principles which include open, transparent and egalitarian process=
es,
> >J> >> From the beginning, we have operated through formal conse=
nsus
> >J> >> process.
> >J> >>We are working with other local activist groups to make sure that =
open
> >J> >>consensus facilitation trainings occur on a semi-regular basis to
> >J> >>decentralize these skills within and among our organizations.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>h. Have a spokesperson(s) willing and capable of participating in =
the
> >J> >>global decision-making process and meetings as a rotating
> >J> >>liaison/representative, with a clear understanding of the
> >J> >> responsibilities that come with this role,
> >J> >> We have consensed on a global representative, Ginny Brown=
e
> >J> >>(ginnybrowne at riseup.net). Our tech representative is Bryan Brown
> >J> >>(bryan.brown at kcsb.org). (As you will hopefully notice, no relatio=
n. :)
> >J> >>
> >J> >>i. Participate in the key IMC Network Communication Methods that p=
ertain
> >J> >> to
> >J> >>the health and vitality of the Network and that contribute to the=
=20
> >work of
> >J> >>the IMC. Assure that at least one person from your local IMC=20
> >participates
> >J> >>at any given time on the IMC-Communications list,
> >J> >> Our global representative and others from the group will
> >J> >> participate on this list.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>j. (NOT FINALIZED): Have no official affiliation with any politica=
l
> >J> >> party,
> >J> >>state or candidate for office (comments: but individual producers =
have
> >J> >>freedom to do whatever they like and local IMCs can "feature" stor=
ies
> >J> >> about various political parties and initiatives),
> >J> >> We have no such ties!
> >J> >>
> >J> >>k. IMCs shall in no way engage in commercial for-profit enterprise=
s. [We
> >J> >>could add: The IMCN is committed to the decommercialization of
> >J> >> information
> >J> >>and will disassociate from any local IMC that decides to become a =
for
> >J> >>profit media corporation.]
> >J> >> We passionately agree.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>l. Display a =B3local version=B2 of the IMC =B3i=B2 logo on your w=
ebsite and
> >J> >>literature.
> >J> >> The logo is already on our preliminary website design.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>m. Include the IMC Network current =B3Cities List=B2 on your site,=
=20
> >preferably
> >J> >>on the front page.
> >J> >> Absolutely.
> >J> >>
> >J> >>We look forward to working with all of you!
> >J> >>
> >J> >>with thanks and solidarity,
> >J> >>Ginny Browne
> >J> >>SB-IMC-to-be
> >
> >J> Answers to some questions asked by Jay:
> >
> >J> From Ginny:
> >J> "Jay and new-IMCistas,
> >
> >J> Thanks for the words of encouragement!
> >J> Some answers...
> >
> >J> -- What kind of contact have you had with already-existing IMCs in yo=
ur
> >J> region, especially the Los Angeles IMC? (We've found that regional
> >J> organizing is both important and a lot of fun.)
> >
> >J> *Oddly, we don't have contacts with LA IMC. However, over the past f=
ew
> >J> months, members of our group have met in person with folks from San D=
iego
> >J> IMC, NYC-IMC, Chappel Hill IMC, and Urbana-Champaign IMC. We have ke=
pt
> >J> regular correspondence with some of these people, and they were all
> >J> fabulously helpful in offering guidance and tips about various IMC is=
sues.
> >J> (UPDATE: The SB IMC group is sending people to an LA-IMC general=20
> >meeting on
> >J> November 22)
> >
> >J> -- do you have an e-mail list for discussions? Not that an IMC has t=
o
> >J> discuss everything on-line, but having an open e-mail list helps assu=
re
> >J> people access if they can't physically make it to meetings.
> >
> >J> *We have a general list, a process list, an editorial list, a web lis=
t,
> >J> and a youth list, all on riseup.net.
> >
> >J> -- In your editorial policy you say the IMC won't tolerate messages o=
f hate
> >J> and also list a number of things that would cause a post to be hidden=
=2E Do
> >J> have any sort of mechanism for how that would happen? Meaning, if a =
hate
> >J> post comes onto the newswire, what's the process you're going to go t=
hrough
> >J> to decide to hide it. I don't think that's necessarily something you=
have
> >J> to spell out fully in your editiorial policy, but it's something impo=
rtant
> >J> to discuss.
> >
> >J> *Assuming by this question you mean what would be our process for com=
ing
> >J> to consensus on what needs to be hidden (as opposed to the standard
> >J> logistics of editorial decision making), I think, first of all, we al=
l
> >J> recognize there will be instances where we don't have immediate agree=
ment
> >J> on hiding a post, and, in many of those cases, coming to consensus wi=
ll
> >J> not be simple. Throughout, we will use the our mission statement and =
IMC
> >J> principles of unity as guides for what is not acceptable. (Please sa=
y so
> >J> if we haven't full answered your question!) Are you suggesting we
> >J> incorporate a larger discussion of this into the Ed policy itself?
> >
> >J> -- You mention you are in the process of doing outreach for racial
> >J> diversity. How is that going, and do you feel comfortable joining th=
e IMC
> >J> network with that still being an active concern?
> >
> >J> We have begun to form relationships with folks in local Raza/Chican@,=
and
> >J> Asian organizations, some of whom are planning to come to our next me=
eting
> >J> and be the liasons for their orgs. Certainly, it's a balance between
> >J> recognizing lack of racial diversity as a problem that needs to be de=
alt
> >J> with immediately and making sure we do so through good process in ord=
er to
> >J> build trust over time. This is a central focus for our group right no=
w,
> >J> and we are confident in our process to be comfortable with joining th=
e IMC
> >J> network at this point.
> >
> >J> -- (something we haven't been asking very often but something that se=
ems
> >J> important) Do have any sort of conflict resolution system built into =
your
> >J> decision-making processes?
> >
> >J> Very important, yes, and no, we do not have a conflict resolution sys=
tem
> >J> built in to our decision-making process. This is definitely somethin=
g we
> >J> will be tackling soon."
> >
> >--
> >Mike
> >mailto:micro.zen at verizon.net
>=20
>=20
>=20
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