Decentralisation of IMC - Excerpt from previous debate
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Wednesday August 28, 2002 13:36
by blisset (slight return)
I suggested decentralisation as something we need to think about - debate happened at related link
The contributions I thought which suggested a realistic way forward were from Amanda (IMC Volunteer) and Chekov. I am excerpting from them here to try to keep the debate going and to encourage others to involve themselves in the Indymedia.ie process in their local areas.
Checkov:In terms of getting this type of thing going, it could be a good idea to do some type of IMC tour as soon as the colleges are back. We could arrange speaking dates of IMC people in the various colleges around the country with the idea of trying to get people to set up their own regional site, or at least to give more non-Dublin input to Indymedia Ireland, encouraging people to write local articles and all that.
So how about an October IMC tour of the colleges? We could even combine it with an RTS tour, since RTS is the type of thing that could probably take off in a few different cities without too much trouble. It could be organised through One World, environmental and socialist societies in the various colleges, I know that gluaiseacht have good links with many of these groups and would be very sympathetic, What do people think?
Amanda: I'm not exactly against the idea of lots of different sites but it isnt something that should be rushed. It needs to be well thought out and all aspects need consideration. And decentralisation doesn't have to mean splitting up.
But what is desperately needed is active members outside of Dublin. Enough people seem to have an opinion or talk about being interested if it happens, but how about actually going for it and make it happen. Indymedia didnt happen by accident. Somebody had enough interest to make it happen. And that is what it needs. Don't wait for someone to organise a meeting in your area. Organise one yourself and even if only one person shows up then thats one more person who you can work with to make this happen.
Blisset: Personally I agree with both of these comments except for the suggestion of a close and explicit linking of RTS and IMC. I could go into the difficulties the exact same thing has led to in the UK but won't here. Except to say that the connection (more imagined than real)has been used to question the Independence of IMC there. This is why IMC UK turned down an offer of rts space for an office.
Anyway a combination of a tour and the encouragement of local activists to set up geographically spread imc working groups seems to me a way forward on decentralisation without the necessity of new sites for the moment.
What d'yiz think??????????????????
Comments (9 of 9)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9i'll organise it if u want to come to sligo!!!!
I want to join indymedia here, although I'm new around here, but I have the odd feeling that I am about join something that is falling apart.
I think the assumption that decentralization is an inherent good needs to be challenged. But, I also recognize that I do not know the history of this IMC, so I will defer to those who do.
Personally, I don't really care if it is decentralized or centralized - the media I want to create will or can be shared with all. No borders.
There should be unity in what we do and how we do it, first - and where we are from, second.
If so much local media is produced that it becomes relevant to have other Irish IMCs, so be it. Then it will be a measure of success and not breaking apart for it's own sake.
just my €2 worth,
redJaDe
IMC Here is best it has been to date but too dublincentric in my humble opinion - don't need to break up site necessarily but do need outreach encouraging activists writers etc to get involved in their local areas -
I think a major drive in the IMC project is the idea that what happens to you is news - and should be reported on. There is a dublin centric element to IMC Ireland at the moment - that's cos what happens to a lot of the people who fell 'ownership' over IMC Ireland live in Dublin. We need to look at ways to extend this ownership without having a load of empty, inactive sites.
There's some technical things that the existing IMC crew can do (categories, easy features) but the big thing is that groups form and people commit to the creation of independent media for their area. After that i think the collective (with all it's borg like connotations) will work to facilitate it.
There is a meeting in Manchester in a couple of weeks on this issue - looking at how the various groups in the UK will decentralise - we've been invited. Anybody interested in going?
The tour should include workshops as well as talks.
Not falling apart but understaffed.
two or three of the most active members of the site have had to take a back seat, its kicked the wind out of us
Combined with the traditional august crap, attempting new software, some of us still caught up with reclaim the street legal stuff, a shortage of editorial staff etc....
We're winded not out. What we need are fresh faces, new people, a blood transfusion, and an ideas session.
I was impressed by the video footage you shoot with Ciaran, and think it'd be great to have you involved. Don't think we're down. We've got alot on our plates and few people.
We've taken a beating from a variety of sources in the past few weeks. I'd hate for it to take away from a simple fact. Indymedia is everyones. Anyone can particpate and anyone can get involved, so it's never dead if people don't want it to be dead. It just requires a collective effort.
We've got alot of work to do.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 7th or 8th. Hopefully we'll see you there
Indymedia is both improving and having to deal with bigger hurdles, imo. A call went out a couple of months back for more contributioms from the north, and since then , there have been a lot more day to day and detailed comments from the north. Sure, a lot of party political and paramilitary Spam, a lot of polemics, but also a lot of news and comment.
The fact that Ecotopia happened outside of Dublin, and the fact that Gluaiscacht aren't Dublin-based should help give non-Dublin news more prominance than it presently has...just give them a week to recover...
At the risk of being attacked as consumerist, might I suggest advertising throughout Ireland. The main problem with Indymedia is that most people don't know about it (I only came across it after the so-called Battle of Dame Street).
Decentralisation could actually kill IMC. We have to take into account the fact that the island of Ireland has a population of just five million (and the number of these people who are interested in alternative/left-wing issues is pretty small).
In my view, what's needed is more input from people in large towns and cities in the regions, more stories about issues that affect people outside of Dublin and an awareness campaign to let people with alternative views know that there is a forum when they can publish articles and bring issues to the attention of activists, citizens and interest parties throughout this island.
We also need regular original articles that highlight issues the mainstream media is ignoring. Party political press releases and lengthy cut-n-pastes from other sources are off-putting to people who want Indymedia to be something fresh and different...
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.