[Seattle-editorial] Re: [IMC-Seattle] imc next steps (2001) - longer version

[anarch3m]

more than "nice" it would be fery effective to help volunteers get a picture of why we exist, what we DO.

This 2001 is my favorite vision document from the sea imc.  Period  Some is so concrete and clear.  some is boilerplate and never came alive...

If we give more vision/inspiration, there is more to be part of and less pulling in differing directions, less getting off task.

would it make sense to file it into "get involved" around the media work group page?

We have to redo all the statics anyway...might as well design where they fit at the same fell swope.

walt




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--------- Original Message ---------

DATE: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 07:56:59
From: Sheri Herndon <sheri at speakeasy.org>
To: IMC-Seattle <IMC-Seattle at indymedia.org>
Cc: 

>hi,
>
>be nice to have a kind of wiki page for this "older" documents that actually demonstrate the good work that's been done, the ideas we had for what we'd like to see happen.  i think reflecting on these in terms of (1) why we didn't do some of them (2) what we'd like to see happen would be a really great thing - not just in terms of the seattle local imc (in a large space or a small space or multiple satellite spaces) but also independent media in the region.  this work can't just stand still.  
>
>IMC OBJECTIVES AND NEXT STEPS - 2001
>
>MEDIA WORKING GROUP
>
>These are the 4 objectives the media working group is supposed to address for the action plan along with the suggested next steps.  i think this might be a good time for us to clarify our goals and objectives in relation to these, to discuss whether we agree with all the action steps and then to collectively prioritize.  i think we should also determine where there is overlap with other working groups or the larger imc collective if such working group (like outreach) does not exist:
>
>OBJECTIVES
>
>1.	Increase the coverage of current local/regional events on a regularly scheduled timeline:
>
>Suggested action steps:
>
>∑ Develop and improve local news site
>∑ Developing/Improving local news site
>∑ Identify 2-3 local issues for media coverage
>∑ Identify 2-3 local issues for ongoing media coverage
>∑ Develop a system for covering important regional stories
>∑ Develop a system for individuals and/or working groups to commit to covering specific issues
>∑ Report news, increase awareness of issues and not just discussing events
>∑ Improve reliability in posting relevant, current local issues, if not through media created by IMC members, then posted from other community sources.
>
>2.	Create a calendar and dispatch system for coverage of local/regional events.
>
>Suggested action steps:
>
>∑ IMC Weekly Email Newsletter for Puget Sound events
>∑ Develop a prioritized media events timeline and determine our involvement
>∑ Develop a prioritized media events timeline in order to make sure that important local events are covered
>∑ Develop a prioritized media events timeline for the year to identify which events we will cover and support, and to start with a project on Criminal Justice Reform.
>∑ Establish group of 5-7 volunteers who assess upcoming local news events and ongoing issues, then determines how the IMC will cover these events/issues
>∑ Organize dispatch system for coverage of local/regional events and issues
>∑ Develop web-based dispatch system
>
>3.	Recruit and collaborate with media-makers outside of the current IMC.
>
>Suggested action steps:
>
>∑ Collaborate with local media makers
>∑ Collaborate with local media makers to get content on IMC site
>∑ Invite like-minded groups to use/share the IMC as a community resource
>∑ Develop/Improve local news site & get local media makers to post their content
>∑ Collaborate with local media makers to get a variety of content sources using the IMC
>∑ Hold/Sponsor dinners that invite media clientele
>
>4.	Create a Working Group that’ll develop a print publication covering newswire, local issues, & IMC-related news.
>
>Suggested next steps:
>
>∑ Print publication
>∑ Biweekly print news/reports
>∑ Rely more on print and radio as tools for local media coverage – less on website
>
>ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
>
>OBJECTIVES
>
>1.	Define membership criteria, process, privileges, and responsibilities.
>
>Suggested next steps:
>
>∑ Define, and enforce, membership criteria and process
>∑ Define membership process
>∑ Define membership criteria
>∑ Define membership criteria!!!
>∑ Define membership: Criteria, Privileges
>∑ Develop a system of monitoring accountability within the IMC
>∑ Accountability to Rules
>
>2. Implement process for a collective evaluation of the status & continuing relevance of IMC Goals/Objectives, Structure/Process, & Work Groups
>
>∑ IS&P evaluations and extensions
>∑ Revise S&P, especially around Spokescouncil and Decision-Making
>∑ Measure “efficiency” of verious S&P models
>∑ Streamline objectives and commit to consistency
>∑ Adopt Working Group charters and create an evaluation process to see that each Working Group is compliant and still necessary
>∑ Increase communication with collective on needs to develop the organization
>∑ Develop ongoing future projects list
>∑ Have a social agenda that encourages people to voice their political opinions
>
>3. Retool and/or implement decision-making structure at the Working Group and Spokescouncil levels as needed, to ensure timely completion of action-items under their purview.
>
>∑ Define process for approval of proposals (SC & path from WG’s)
>∑ Re-Establish the Spokescouncil and decision-making process (have Working Groups pick Spokescouncil)
>∑ Hold elections for Spokescouncil
>∑ Immediately elect a Spokescouncil
>∑ Create (document) clear organizational structure for decision-making (funding)
>∑ Establish coordinators (aka. Point people or bottom-liners) for every workgroup and project
>∑ Adopt Working Group charters
>∑ Finalize relationship between Spokescouncil and Working Groups
>
>4. Develop tools and methods to facilitate open and effective communication, while preserving our history and “institutional memory”.
>
>∑ Document development of IMC – create a history
>∑ Track and record Structure and Process decisions in an accessible, user-friendly space, to ensure organizational history
>∑ Email protocol
>
>GLOBAL INDYMEDIA WORKING GROUP
>
>1. Establish Working Group within Seattle IMC to clarify and coordinate Seattle IMC role as a collective within the Global IMC Network.
>
>∑ Clarify Seattle IMC’s role in Global Network
>∑ Indymedia Working Group for Seattle IMC
>∑ Ignite the Indymedia Working Group @ Seattle IMC
>∑ Create a Seattle IMC Working Group  to coordinate our involvement in the global network in accordance with our self-determined level of participation
>
>2. Work with representatives from Global and other IMC’s to develop mechanisms for increased collaboration.
>
>∑ Facilitate organizing collective of global network
>∑ IMC steering committee to prioritize, collect data, facilitate, track progress, etc
>∑ Establish a global team that communicates to individual IMC’s what is happening with each other
>∑ Facilitate a discussion on empowering a global collective (with representation by each IMC) to make decisions on goals, editorial, etc
>∑ Designate members of Seattle collective Working Groups as representatives for major global network discussions and to report back to relevant Working Groups on results
>
>3. Organize regional, national or global IMC conference and send representatives.
>
>∑ IMC Conference
>∑ Media Convergence
>∑ Autumn 2001, Regional conference
>∑ Regional Indymedia conference this August/September in Seattle as has already happened elsewhere
>∑ Prioritize national media convergence
>∑ Organizing regional and national IMC gatherings
>
>4. Develop a plan for equitable support and distribution of resources to new and existing IMC’s.
>
>∑ IMC Blueprint
>∑ Participate in trans-local IMC “community relations” efforts
>∑ Develop a plan for equitable support and distribution of resources to new and existing IMC’s
>
>Additional action steps:  IMC blueprint document, share outreach materials, continued support for web team
>
>EDUCATION – TRAINING, MEDIA LITERACY, RESOURCES
>
>OBJECTIVES
>
>1. Provide monthly trainings in media production and distribution.
>
>∑ Develop workshops on creation and distribution of media content
>∑ Provide no/low-cost media training
>∑ Host workshops in media production (for activists) for everyone
>∑ Organize series of trainings in media production: print, photo, web, audio, video
>∑ Develop curriculum materials for media training courses
>∑ Monthly technical media training workshops for free
>∑ Plan for important training topics & create training curricula on those topics
>∑ Host regular workshops in media production for activists
>∑ Hold trainings in interviewing techniques
>∑ Hold monthly media-making trainings and workshops for under-represented communities
>∑ Host training in the use of media technology and methods at the IMC
>∑ Trainings in interviewing, news reporting, and audio/video production
>∑ Develop curriculum materials training course & develop annual plan for media training workshops with commitments from instructors.
>∑ Foster relationships with local communities to create media training programs
>
>2. Develop Media Literacy and Analysis curricular materials and workshops, and collaborate with interested schools and community groups.
>
>∑ Develop and run Media Literacy 101 and Media Activism 101 workshops
>∑ Media Literacy Working Group (collaborate with other groups on this)
>∑ Develop Media Analysis curriculum aimed at high school students, community workshops, etc.  Offer such workshops & a speakers bureau
>∑ Media Literacy Group in the form of outreach, seminars in schools and/or workshops on media
>∑ Participate in workshops on media training and literacy
>∑ Make community voices more adept in media strategy, or “teach to wage ware by media means” 
>
>3. Increase accessibility and usability of the Media Lab.
>
>∑ Develop and maintain media lab
>∑ Improve and advertise media lab
>∑ Build an accessible media lab and then educate people about how to use it
>∑ Expand hours of computer lab and find more volunteers to keep the space open longer
>∑ Develop technically up-to-date and powerful media lab adequate to support creative media making needs
>∑ Acquire mixing/editing equipment, aiding in our commitment to be a resource for local media activists and community members
>
>4. Sponsor salons and lectures on media activism topics.
>
>∑ Sponsor media salons and town hall meetings
>∑ Hold lecture series with respected activists on the topics of creating alternative media and mobilization
>
>5. Create a resource library of periodicals and other publications for lending and/or in-house use.
>
>∑ Create library of periodicals and publications for lending and/or in-house use
>∑ Develop a resource library, advertise availability, and encourage use of what we have
>
>
>EMPOWERMENT
>
>External Objectives:
>
>1. Inform “under-represented” communities of the media resources available at the IMC.
>
>∑ Acquire equipment resources to assist communities with their own media production and distribution
>∑ Acquire equipment resources to assist under-represented communities with their media production and distribution
>∑ Define what the IMC can do for under-represented communities, and develop a detailed description of this to share with representatives of those communities
>∑ Invite disenfranchised community organizations to make use of IMC facilities for media creation
>∑ Connect with under-represented communities (minorities, women, homeless, youth, seniors, etc.) so our meetings are diverse
>∑ Start outreach and hold meetings with other local organizations to inform them of what the IMC can offer and train in use/production of media
>∑ Develop an Outreach Working Group
>∑ Develop an Outreach (empowerment) Working Group
>∑ Develop outreach working group to connect with “under-represented” communities and publicize media resources available to them at the IMC
>
>Suggestions:
>
>Define available resources
>Form an outreach working group
>Define targeted communities
>
>2. Develop specific media-making proposals with media-makers from “under-represented” communities.
>
>∑ Development of specific media-making proposals in collaboration with community organizations
>∑ Connect with Indymedia-makers already working in under-represented communities
>∑ Create a section of website devoted to reporting local issues such as police brutality, enviro. racism, etc.
>∑ Media Mixers (ongoing)
>∑ Media Mixer / More Forums
>∑ Convene quarterly Independent Media Mixer nights @ the IMC (Presentation/Discussion/Party)
>
>Suggestions:
>
>Convene media mixers/forums
>Create a section on the website devoted to issues impacting under-represented communiites
>
>3. Create a Community Advisory Board.
>
>∑ Create a timeline for creating a Community Advisory Board
>∑ Develop a timeline for creating a Community Advisory Board
>∑ Reflect the demographics of Puget Sound
>
>Suggestions:
>
>Develop a timeline
>
>4. Convene forums/dialogues for discussing the concerns and needs of “under-represented” communities.
>
>∑ Convene forums & dialogues & workshops for discussing concerns of under-represented communities
>∑ With other groups doing anti-oppression work, convene forums and dialogues for discussing concerns of under-represented communities
>
>Internal Objectives: 
>
>1. Hold seminars and trainings on oppression and empowerment issues, organized by FEAO.
>
>∑ Co-sponsor anti-racism trainings
>∑ Co-sponsor no/low-cost anti-racism trainings, especially for IMC members
>∑ Host events at the IMC which educate members about empowerment issues
>∑ FEAO seminars on confronting systemic oppression as it manifests itself within us
>∑ Continue monthly screenings/meetings of FEAO-WG, and make anti-oppression materials generally available
>∑ Workshops and Educational opportunities
>∑ Hold Consensus/Facilitation training
>
>2. Hold internal sessions to examine ourselves, our work, and our practices, as they relate to instances of oppression in our organization.
>
>∑ Honest discussion of our middle-class backgrounds
>∑ Ongoing communication about overt instance of oppression
>∑ Formally evaluate IMC environments with respect to dis-empowering practices (location/time/accessibility/assumptions of knowledge, education, background)
>∑ Host monthly, internal workshops to examine ourselves and the work we are doing from an anti-oppression perspective
>∑ Create ongoing cyclical accountability workshop program for internal IMC
>
>3. Develop structures of education and orientation specifically for welcoming and involving staff and volunteers from different backgrounds.
>
>∑ Develop structure for welcoming (after recruiting or whatever) new volunteers from different backgrounds 
>∑ Organizing space and networking such that people feel a part of IMC, rather than an observer
>∑ Actively seek new members of IMC from under-represented communities and ensure that they get an equal voice within the organization
>∑ Encourage participation in fun projects in conjunction with structure and process and organizational needs
>∑ Hold a meeting for volunteers about how the web site works
>∑ Ensure that empowerment and our concern for under-represented voices is involved in any hiring process at the IMC
>
>GLOBAL MEDIA
>
>Objectives:
>
>1. Enhance regional, national and international networks for media distribution.
>
>∑ Develop Regional info sharing and content distribution
>∑ Develop distribution network including current allies
>∑ Produce Regional directory of indymedia outlets, resources & allies
>∑ Develop distribution networks for print, audio, and video content
>∑ Develop Regional Info-Sharing and content in order to eventually develop an alternative newswire
>∑ Develop distribution network, national allies, incl. Studio-X, DAMN, etc
>∑ Develop distribution network including allies, Studio-X, alternative newswire, etc
>∑ Develop a plan that tracks the distribution history of our past media productions and build on it
>∑ National/Regional issue-oriented information sharing, with Regional reporting on the global site
>
>Suggestion:
>
>Produce directory of Indymedia outlets, resources and allies for our Region…and beyond
>
>2. Support regular collaboration in global audio, video, and print/photo production, including development of a daily newswire.
>
>∑ Have a core group responsible for updating global newswire daily
>∑ Global satellite TV network with Freespeech TV
>∑ Create weekly news production (Audio/Radio) involving all IMC’s
>∑ Participate in Freespeech TV’s indymedia pilot
>∑ National IMC Radio weekly
>∑ Support the global IMC’s Radio/Internet project
>∑ Sponsor a talk radio/internet show over a global network
>∑ Develop weekly radio/audio & video news from local IMC’s to broadcast locally via. Local, radio, cable, internet
>∑ Develop local, regional and national news teams
>
>3. Enhance organization and layout of global website.
>
>∑ Enhanced website
>∑ Improve website linkages
>∑ Enhanced website with categorization of articles, etc.
>∑ Highlight stories from other IMC sites on our home page – ie. “teasers”
>
>4. Foster global awareness within local IMC’s, and lend support to building media-making capacity in areas without an IMC.
>
>∑ Foster communities to collaborate beyond their city/state to produce a more universal, but locally relevant news
>∑ Increase awareness of issues in countries not yet represented by an IMC
>∑ Partner with other IMC’s and activists in each region to help them get the skills to encourage/boost media making in their areas
>∑ Develop “Portable IMC” capacity, including training, media production and support teams.
>
>5. Foster global awareness within local IMC’s, and lend support to building media-making capacity in areas without an IMC.
>
>∑ Foster communities to collaborate beyond their city/state to produce a more universal, but locally relevant news
>∑ Increase awareness of issues in countries not yet represented by an IMC
>∑ Partner with other IMC’s and activists in each region to help them get the skills to encourage/boost media making in their areas
>∑ Develop “Portable IMC” capacity, including training, media production and support teams.
>
>_______________________________________________
>imc-seattle mailing list
>imc-seattle at lists.indymedia.org
>http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-seattle
>



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