[imc-melbourne-work] Future of Melbourne Indymedia

[Anna Helme]

hey all,

do you think part of the problem is that this issue is wider than 
melbourne indymedia, that perhaps the model originated with the 
Principles of Unity and Membership Criteria for Indymedia as a network 
have been proved to be flawed?

http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Global/MembershipCriteria
http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Global/PrinciplesOfUnity
http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Global/MissionStatement

it seems that some of these rules are too idealistic, and thus 
unworkable. too prescriptive, and thus too easily outdated as they are 
not flexible enough to adapt to changes on the Internet and beyond. too 
easy to fight over, when local collectives should be able to choose 
their own flavour.

does this mean that in order to create the kind of website/collective 
that will be sustainable MIM needs to make a break from Indymedia as a 
network?

either

- retain the brand, the URL (if possible) and the indymedia network 
mission statement but reject the MembershipCriteria and Principles of 
Unity and come up with MIM's own rules, and voluntarily disaffiliate in 
order to have more freedom to remake MIM as a collective and as a 
website. a dialog with the network could be kept open during this 
process. a suggestion could be made that the network as a whole lose 
everything but the Mission Statement, in order to breathe new life into 
the network.

or

- lose the brand and the network and instead form a local independent 
news site that may take a very different form from an IMC?

that's if MIM is to continue at all. MIM could fold - temporarily or 
permanently. activists i have mentioned this to have been very dismayed 
by this proposition. some former/current members of MIM have been less 
dismayed. perhaps that means new people need to get involved who aren't 
jaded/burnt-out, and who have fresh ideas.

liz's teach-in is a great idea to get other people involved. at least 
some kind of announcement should be made on the website soon, i think.

i've only got time for thoughts and emails however, rather than very 
much action. hopefully this is still a contribution - if not please tell 
me to shut up, i won't mind :)

cheers,
anna