[New-imc] CvilleIndymedia

[lexus51 at juno.com]

CvilleIndymedia would like to link to the rest of the indymedia network.
Following find documents relevant to CvilleIndymedia. What is printed
here is reformatted from CvilleIndymedia's documents which can be found
in their entirety at
http://cvilleindymedia.org/newswire/display/79/index.php
Jay has been kindly serving as our liason. 
Alexis
lexus51 at juno.com
CvilleIndymedia.org


a. Agree in spirit to the NIMC Mission Statement and Principles of Unity,
(PrinciplesOfUnity) 


CvilleIndymedia agrees with NIMC Principles of Unity. We find these
principles to be in allignment with our own values and mission. 


b. Have a committed membership substantial enough to sustain a functional
IMC, 


CvilleIndymedia has solid core group, including experienced activsts,
people already involved in numerous independent media projects, and
numerous sponsoring organizaitons that are interested in being involved
in this project. We have an established office (cooperatively shared by 6
social justice and environmental organizaitons for 7 years). We have our
own server on our own DSL line. Our sponsoring organizaitons include
Tradelocal, Community Yellow Bikes of the Piedmont, Alternatives to
Paving, Virginia Forest Watch, The Living Education Center for Ecology
and the Arts, Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation,
Charlottesville Food Not Bombs, and the National Forest Protection
Alliance.


c. Have open and public meetings (no one group can have exclusionary
"ownership" of an IMC), 


We currently have bi-weekly meetings that are advertised and open to the
public. Anyone who comes to one of our meetings is invited to participate
in our consensus-oriented process. 


d. Work toward developing a local Mission Statement or Statement of
Purpose. Network Mission Statement may be adopted or used on an interim
basis, 


Mission Statement


The first object of CvilleIndymedia is to empower average citizens to
investigate such actions, as well as events and issues of local,
regional, national and international importance that have been
effectively ignored by the modern corporate media.


CvilleIndymedia provides an avenue for ordinary people to independently
present their own honest, accurate, relevant reports – and a free venue
for people to access these reports. It hopes to become a safe,
established public forum for a diversity of views, giving voice to
previously marginalized issues and populations. 


You do not need to be a professional reporter to deliver truthful,
accurate, honest news. You need a connection to the realities behind the
issues. A point of view arises once the evidence has been tabulated. The
trouble with corporate-owned media is that the point of view often
precedes the evidence and therefore is selective about what news to
publish and how to portray the events and issues that effect our lives on
a local, regional, national and international level. Cville Indymedia is
a forum where all people can present their viewpoints.


CvilleIndymedia operates on the principle of "open publishing," that
allows independent journalists, activists organizations to publish their
own articles, analysis and information – in a thorough, honest, accurate
manner – on our web site or in our print, on radio or on television. 


While CvilleIndymedia reserves the right to censor egregiously
unsubstantiated, insulting, hateful or offensive material (as well as
duplicate posts and commercial messages), we will seek to the maximum
degree practical to let people speak for themselves and not edit material
submitted to our web, print, or broadcast media. 


A secondary objective of CvilleIndymedia is to empower local
community-building organizations and activists, by increasing their
outreach, providing a permanent network and facilitating a sharing of
resources. Finally, community-building organizations will not have to
rely on coverage from traditional media sources. They can post their own
articles, unedited and unspun. They will become more aware of each others
missions and approaches to social and political issues. And they can
maximize event planning, by either partnering with like-minded
organizations, or at least not conflicting with coinciding events. 


We will operate our organization in a manner that is inviting and
encouraging for a diversity of people to be involved. We have and will
contact people from other organizations in our area and encourage them to
participate. We will conduct our meetings in a manner that encourages
cooperation and input, particularly from women and ethnic minorities who
often are not encouraged to participate and whose voices are often not
heard in public decisions making processes. We see the incorporation of
diverse viewpoints as fundamental to the operation of real democracy, and
will encorporate this diversity into our group. We will encourage a
reasonable openness to the feelings and opinions of each individual in
each meeting, while maintaining an energetic and directed campaign for
the organization. All decisions of CvilleIndymedia will be transparent.
All meetings will be open to the diversity of our community, and all
decisions will be made openly, and subject to review of the whole of the
organization. 


Political parties or organizations may choose to publish articles on
CvilleIndymedia, but in doing so they invite public debate about their
positions from any reader of the site; and any reader may respond by
publishing his/her comments, in turn. 


CvilleIndymedia will encourage responsibility in reporting. Optimally,
submissions will be tied directly to sources, to facilitate further
investigation and elaboration of reports on issues and events published
in CvilleIndymedia. 


Because CvilleIndymedia is not-for-profit and wholly independent of the
potentially corruptive influences of corporate sponsorship, all original
content posted to CvilleIndymedia is free for reprint and rebroadcast, on
the net and elsewhere, for non-commercial use, unless otherwise noted by
author. 


If CvilleIndymedia succeeds in its mission, and ultimately becomes a
popular fixture in the local community, issues will be more diversely
represented, the public will be more thoroughly educated, and citizens
will find more equitable, permanent, and democratic solutions to the
problems that face our society. 


The right to free speech is largely irrelevant in this country because we
have been subjected to a media and consumptive monoculture for too long.
The right to free speech like any other right is only so vital as how it
is exercised. Americans appear to no longer have the stomach for
democracy, so dependent have we become on a "lifestyle" of want and fear
fed to us by corporate profiteers. We are failing this democracy, it is
not failing us. It is our hope that by freeing information, we will give
our brothers and sisters the stomach for struggle.


The liberal/ conservative dichotomy is a red herring. When different
members of the owning class debate each other in a false opposition, it
fosters empty debates and hollow political process. The corporate media
serves to validate this process. 


The neo-liberal program focusing on economic growth and profit is deathly
to life on this planet. In defense of peoples the world over and for the
survival of all creatures, it is incumbent upon us all to resist this
program. In America we have the words (freedom, democracy etc.) but not
the meanings. We have a free press the way we have a democracy: In word,
not deed. By deed CvilleIndymedia joins the struggle against greed and
subjugation. 


e. Establish and publish an editorial policy which is developed and
functions through democratic process, and with full transparency, 


Editorial Mission 


Our Editorial policy relies on Open Publishing, and access for all. With
this resource we ask the question, "Who has the authority to tell the
stories of our day?" A cadre of careerists, whose agenda is set by the
corporations that they work for? Or the rest of us, whose motivation for
telling a story is that it affects our lives or our dignity as human
beings. Fundamentally, we believe that the monopoly of "journalistic
authority" has had a corrosive effect on the quality and subject of
public debate in this country. And so we here outline the principles by
which we intend to take back responsibility for the source, quality and
assumptions underlying the stories of our day.


Open Publishing is a transparent process. You post a story, it appears.
Any story is welcome though we would like to especially encourage people
to publish:


- Well written and researched, timely articles.
- Eyewitness accounts of actions and demonstrations.
- Media analysis
- Stories affecting underrepresented groups
- Media produced by underrepresented groups
- Environmental issues
- Coverage of local issues in Charlottesville including:
- gentrification
- corporate dominance
- transit issues
- tenant's rights
- labor issues
- forest defense/appalachia
- race


Good IMC reporting is guided by a basic fidelity to the truth,
understanding that everyone sees their own truth. Be factual.
Corroborate. Use Links to any and all sources and other stories thus
enabling the reader to further your work. Our journalistic work at
Cvilleindymedia will be like a village commons. No single one is
responsible for its functionality or beauty. But any one of us can damage
it through carelessness or misuse.


Criteria for Censure


This brings us to the need for an editorial policy: First, in dealing
with posts that are damaging to the integrity and/or purpose of the site.
Second, in the selection of features and newswire stories. These
practices require an editorial policy statement and a statement of unity
principles which are put forth in the mission statement, but which we
will reiterate here.


Following is a criteria for the censure or hiding of posts. Editorial
working groups will have the right to feature and censor material in
accordance with the mission and aggreements of the organization. Material
may be censored if:


1.The post is obviously incorrect or misleading.
2.The post intends to spread disinformation or impersonate another.
3.The post is abusive without merit or claim.
4.The post is primarily hateful.
5. Excessively volumnous posts intended to sabotage independent media.


Features and Newswire


There are two primary day-to-day mechanisms by which IMC members set an
agenda for the organization: by featuring an article, and by culling
articles from newswires. It is understood that not all collective members
will have immediate access to these tools, largely for security reasons.
But also because there must be a coherence to this agenda that comes from
a shared vision that we hope will grow out of this project. Let these
decisions be guided by the following:
- A sense of urgency; that people need to hear about a particular story.
Ours is a passionate journalism.
- Let us make connections between what is happening locally to what is
happening nationally and internationally. This is a part of the power of
this medium. Our local deicions affect people all over the world, and we
aim to take responsibility for that. 
- Let us aim to cover every local activist action that occurs and
encourage those that are yet to occur. 
- A sense of responsibility to the community.


Editorial Working Groups


CvilleIndymedia will appoint an editorial working group to manage our
website, and possibly other editorial working groups to manage other
media. No one may be a member of an editorial working group without the
approval of the organizaiton. Any member of the web editorial working
group may at any time remove a posting from the site, based on
aforementioned criteria, provided they immediately post a note to the
rest of the editorial working group and the CvilleIndymedia list. If
there is any disagreement regarding whether or not a post should be
removed, the post will be re-posted and the editorial working group will
meet to try to resolve the dispute. Any decision of the editorial working
group to censure posting(s) will be posted to the CvilleIndymedia list.
Any disagreement with any decisions of the editorial working group may be
brought to an organizaitonal meeting of CvilleIndymedia.


f. Agree to the use of Open Publishing as described in the NIMC Editorial
Policy [editorial collective comments: "We did agree that the term "Open
Publishing" was one that is still being defined by the Global Network
Collective, and we would wait and see what the results were before
rewriting this criteria], 


Our site is currently operating on an open-publishing process. We
currently have an editorial committee of 5 people who try to keep the
site fresh, and have the authority to remove postings (as per
aforementioned criteria). We do not anticipate censuring much, if at all.



g. Adopt a decision-making policy that is in alignment with consensus
principles which include open, transparent and egalitarian processes, 


Consensus and Decision Making Procedures


We will conduct our decision making in a manner that aims to incorporate
and consider all viewpoints. Our organizational decision-making process
will be consensus oriented. We define consensus as a process that takes
into account the viewpoints, emotions, and knowledge of all members of
the organization such as they are represented in any particular meeting.
We do NOT define consensus as the right or ability of any individual, or
small group of individuals, to halt the work of the organization. We
define consensus as taking into consideration all viewpoints represented
within the organization and incorporating those viewpoints into each
decision. Specifically, our decision-making procedures shall be as
follows:
Most meetings are likely to be small groups of people, unfacilitated or
informally facilitated. In these cases, the organization shall attempt to
establish and maintain a tradition of considering all viewpoints and
hearing all voices, including the more soft-spoken. Decisions emanating
from such small groups shall incorporate all voices to every reasonable
degree.
In larger meetings or more contentious circumstances, the organization
may choose to have formal facilitation. If so, the facilitator position
should be rotated, not between every member of the organization, but
between those members of the organization, or unaffiliated persons, who
possess some skills at facilitation. In larger meetings, any individual
may put forward proposals. Such proposals shall be incorporated into the
agenda of each meeting, preferably at the beginning of the meeting. Any
member of the organization may speak to any proposal, to modify, to
support, to oppose, or to put forward alternative proposals. If the
organization has discussed a proposal, and their is a majority sentiment
in favor or a proposal, an individual may choose to block the proposal on
the basis that they put forward an alternative proposal that is amenable
to the members of the organization. If an individual blocks a majority
opinion of the organization, and they are not able to persuade the
members of the organization toward an alternate proposal within a
reasonable time, then their block will be considered null. The
organization will under all circumstances give full and due attention to
all alternative proposals to a reasonable degree.
If the organization should ever find itself making highly conflicted
decision, as a last resort and after considerable effort has been made at
reaching consensus, a majority vote may be called for. That vote shall be
binding on the organization. In the unlikely event that our organization
is ever stormed by newcomers possessed of the intent to steer the
organization away from its original vision, a majority vote may be called
of members who have been part of the organization for at least six
months. Such a vote may only be called after every other avenue is
exhausted, most especially consensus oriented processes, and shall be
binding on the organization. In all other circumstances, anyone who
chooses to show up at a regular meeting of the organization will be
considered a member of the organization. 
If our meetings grow large, then parliamentary procedures may be employed
to facilitate the discussion. If parliamentary procedures are employed,
the organization shall still be bound by aforementioned decision making
procedures, specifically the attempt to reach consensus.


h. Have a spokesperson(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, 


Alexis is currently serving as liason to the rest of the Indymedia
network. We have two other members who have been active in LA indymedia
and Portland. They are likely to serve as liasons as well. 


i. 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. Assure that at least one person from your local IMC
participates at any given time on the IMC-Communications list, 


We are currently subscribed to the newimc list. We will subscribe to the
imc communications list shortly, assuming all goes well. We look forward
to participating in the larger imc network. 


j. (NOT FINALIZED): Have no official affiliation with any political
party, state or candidate for office (comments: but individual producers
have freedom to do whatever they like and local IMCs can "feature"
stories about various political parties and initiatives), 


CvilleIndymedia has no party affiliation. Some of our members have been
active in local green and progressive democratic politics, and that may
show up in on our site. 


k. IMCs shall in no way engage in commercial for-profit enterprises. [We
could add: The IMCN is committed to the decommercialization of
information and will disassociate from any local IMC that decides to
become a for profit media corporation.] 


CvilleIndymedia is currenlty an informal non-profit organization. We may
become an formal non-profit at some point (501-c-3). 


l. Display a i² logo on your website and literature. 


Logo displayed. See CvilleIndymedia.org


m. Include the IMC Network current &Cities List² on your site, preferably
on the front page. 


Current cities list displayed at CvilleIndymedia.org


NETWORK MEMBERSHIP 1. Network Membership is open to any group that
accepts the above criteria for membership. In the case of several
requests from the same city or region, we will encourage them to meet and
work together. 


2. Network Membership in the NIMC will be confirmed by the New IMC
Working Group, which is accountable to IMC-Process and ultimately to the
NIMC decision-making process. 




Proposed IMC Name (required)
CvilleIndymedia, website at CvilleIndymedia.org


City 
Charlottesville


State/Province 
Virginia


Country
USA
Contact Name (required) 
Alexis Zeigler


Email (required) 
lexus51 at juno.com


Phone 
434-760-1297


Technical Contact Name 
Toby Reiter


Email 
Toby at breezing.com


Phone 
434-297-1692


Supporting Groups 
Tradelocal, Community Yellow Bikes of the Piedmont, Alternatives to
Paving, Virginia Forest Watch, The Living Education Center for Ecology
and the Arts, Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation,
Charlottesville Food Not Bombs, National Forest Protection Alliance
Regional Focus, Issue Focus, or Event Focus?
We would like to give an alternative perspective on regional issues, as
well as bringing national/ international news to our area.


Critical Dates? 
Server is up and running, will be doing monthly films showings starting
early 2004. Also plan to put Democracy Now on local cable early in 2004.
We also have plans for print and broadcast media that is further down the
pipe.


What kind of resources can you contribute, in terms of
server/bandwidth/technical and organizing skills? 
We have our own server, on a 700+ DSL line. We have our site running at
CvilleIndymedia.org. I am not sure if that bandwidth will accommodate
much more than our own use. We have a surplus of geeks. We also have
experienced activists who have started and run numerous other
orgazanizations and campaigns.


What kind of outreach have you done to bring together a diverse group of
people? 
Please write an introductory statement about why you want to participate
in the Indymedia Network (see above). 


There are a number of people in our organziation who have done work with
various social justice and environmental causes in this area. It is
actually quite easy to get media coverage for some issues, local issues
in particular. But the local media is largely pitiful as concerns issues
of American foreign policy, or larger environmental issues. We would like
to be able to cover these issues in a manner that the local media is not
willing to do. 


Indymedia can also serve as a useful commmunity building and
communication tool among activists, as per activists directories,
calendars, etc. We put up our site just a couple of weeks ago, and it is
already taking off with people posting news about local anti-war actions,
the local struggle to stop a NEW nuclear reactor near here. (One of 3 in
the country that are being put forward to test the resistance.) 


We have strong connections to local social service organizations that do
work on tenants rights, housing issues, migrant workers (who pick the
apple and peach crops in VA). These groups are less computer oriented,
and thus have not been so far involved in a lot in creating the website.
Our site in brand new, but we have and will continue to approach local
organizations and inform them that they are welcome to publish news and
annoucements there. 


We have a strong commitment that the website is only a starting point. We
are pursuing multi-media approaches to the news. We have a couple of
people who are working with local access cable. It seems likely that we
will be able to put up programming there very soon. We will start a
monthly film showing in a few weeks, as both a consciousness and
fundraising venture. We have worked some on starting a newspaper, but
that will have to await more financial support. We are also working on
radio transmission, for which we have acquired the equipment.


The larger social justice organizations are not yet listed as sponsors of
our project because there decision making is more slow and cumbersome
than the lean little organizations that work so hard to make things
happen. It is some of these larger organizations that are likely to be
our best avenue for reaching the local working-class population. These
organizations include Virginia Organizing Project (a very progressive
umbrella organization that works with on numerous civil rights and social
justice campaigns), the Monticello Area Community Action Agency (a large
and more mainstream social justice organization in this area that
administers programs like Head Start, youth mentorship, etc.) Public
Housing Association of Residents (works with public housing residents)
and Legal Aid (works with migrant farm workers). There are few others
like these as well.


Charlottesville is wealthier than many American cities, but it still has
a large, working class, largely poor, largely black population in the
downtown areas. Fully half of the cities' households do not have a
computer, hence the need to reach beyond a website. There is also the
migrant farm worker population. We have people involved in our project
that have been active in all of the aforementioned organizations. We
intend to involve them to the maximum degree, recognizing that they will
only seek involvement to the extent that it serves their needs. 


Below you will find the documents we have drafted for CvilleIndymedia.
These documents include our vision statement, as well as editorial policy
and decision making procedures. The whole thing is long (11 pages) and a
bit legalistic compared to some other indymedia documents. But we wanted
to define things early on so we wouldn't have to come back and do it
later under less ideal circumstances.


Thanks for reading!
Alexis
lexus51 at juno.com
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