PDF pamphlet about RTS

by Daithi Fri May 09, 2003 21:10

Actually there aren't inverted commas on the headline, just on the story - that's the problem! the paragraph taken from the story is a quote but it's in smaller writing and 99% of people read the headline first, which isn't as a quote.

Features - there have been a couple of emails on the mailing list (imc-ireland-editorial) with step by step instructions on proposing a feature, but basically the deal is write it (in HTML if you can, in text if you can't), email it around with an image and the appropriate links, it should appear in a day or so if there are no objections. Most features are based around a collection of stories from the newswire but can be completely original or based on one newswire story. Obviously if you write a newswire story and then propose it as a feature on its own, it might seem a wee bit funny (especially if it's pushing a party line...) but it's rare that we turn down features. Anyone can propose a feature. Of course we wouldn't run a feature based on a spammed or copied newswire article, or a story covered in the corporate media without a different angle / new information etc.

http://lists.indymedia.org/listinfo/imc-ireland-editorial is the mailing list archive. You need to join the list (though you can switch off delivery, I think) to browse the archives. One of the how-to guides is by Graham from 3 months ago, at http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/private/imc-ireland-editorial/2003-February/000864.html . The only correction on that is it seems to be me doing the server uploading stuff at the moment ([email protected] remove NOSPAM) and because the mailing lists are under strain approval can sometimes be delayed. Also look thru the recent mailing list posts for some discussion on approving/not approving features!

by hunter Fri May 09, 2003 20:52

Thanks for clearing that up. I must say I didn't even notice the inverted commas on the headline, but there ye go. anyway, it's nice to have got an intelligent response. so can anyone write a feature, then or what? what do you do, email it to the ed board and they will review it? and one other question, is there a plan for a search facility (because i think would be a big help)?

by Daithi Fri May 09, 2003 20:20

Hunter - all constructive, all welcome (and no you don't have to be a 24-hours-a-day editor to offer an opinion, it's those who start demanding this and that that get the 'whaddya gonna do to help?' response.

On the photos. Yes, you're absolutely right. There are too many peaks in activity in terms of photos (and text as well), however it's easier for us to manage text by combining a lot of reports or comments. Cannot be done at the moment with photos. The limit of five photos per page is to stop the site being unusable on older computers and running out of webspace. My personal opinion would be that you should (a) select the best/most representative (and if there are already 20 pages of photos think whether yours add anything new) or (b) upload them to free webspace (even nasty ad-supported) if you know how to, and put the best five here and link to the rest. A couple of users to this and it's great. But it's not an editorial function really (because we can't add photos as comments like we do with extra stories), so it's about those who contribute photos taking responsibility for what they're at.

The headline - some of the most recent features are based on newswire stories rather than features written by the 'editorial board' (not much of a board, but that's another story). This is to open up the process rather than have the same two or three people writing all the front page stories. Certainly I think we'll be considering the headline and the presentation next time and making clearer that it's one person's opinion. Using inverted commas wasn't necessarily the most obvious way to make this point and the more people point out the way it's seen, the more likely we are to beware of this next time around.

However a lot of the criticism (not yours, I stress) has been more along the lines of 'you criticised me boo hoo' - in the grand old Indymedia tradition that censorship only happens when it's your writing that's deleted, but it's encouraged when it's someone you disagree with! Indymedia's role is not to shut up and stand with 'the movement' because it is its own movement and doesn't represent anyone else's movement. A member of GR sent a mail to the Indymedia list saying well done for the Evian feature, but shame about the IAWM one (I'm paraphrasing). That's the kind of reaction that shows that the purpose of an independent news site is being fulfilled - when you are simultaneously delighted and annoyed something is going right...

by hunter Fri May 09, 2003 19:31

so funny you had to post it twice. my sides are splitting (just like the irish left).

i find it interesting tho, i noticed a while back that someone from the anti-war movement was criticised for posting up 15 or so pics from a demo down the country somewhere. the basic gist of the argument was "pick 5 pictures that best reflect the day". i think that's fair enough, but then we have loads and loads of repetetive pics and articles on an RTS (which i support btw) where largely nothing of 'interest' (by which i mean cop violence) happened. outside of a few spanners smoking in a petrol forecourt. i mean jesus christ, what were they thinking? some rules are there for very good reasons, not just to oppress you.

and now the ed board sees fit to have as the feature headline an article openly critical of the IAWM, with a very subjective headline. as a member of the IAWM i do indeed have my problems with it, but to promote such a critical article as headline news on ireland's only independent media site is to my mind, divisive and cynical. would an article criticising the GNAW merit such special attention? i seriously doubt it. this is not to say that i have a problem with the article itself (free speech) but to promote it in such a way is what i am referring to.

and before we get the usual retorts of 'you too can be on the editorial board', i don't have the time nor the will to get involved in indymedia. if I did i would have a long time ago (if only out of curiosity). but the ed board does have a responsibility to the users of this site, and like it not, to how the irish left is seen by interested observers who may happen upon this site.

by Anybody Fri May 09, 2003 18:07

' The articles were all written by Irish anarchists who have been involved in organising Reclaim the Streets parties over a number of years'
Indeed many anarchists have been involved in RTS but also many independent non-aligned individuals too!

by Durutti Fri May 09, 2003 16:30

If you want to find out how to do those things, you should read Socialist Worker or The(ir Masters) Voice.

by Durutti Fri May 09, 2003 16:30

If you want to find out how to do those things, you should read Socialist Worker or The(ir Masters) Voice.

by Josef Fri May 09, 2003 16:09

By being a pain in the ass and obstructing ordinary people trying to go about their business.

And trying to shove your views down people's throats.

By being a pain in the ass.

And preventing ordinary decent people from going about their business?

by iosaf-ipsiphi-O'asif Fri May 09, 2003 14:38

Thank you!
I've skim read it, and it seems interesting.
Nice to see Aileen and Ray C. in the same Pamhplet;-) I wrote a piece for the Cambridge Architecture Graduates Mag. on Urban Regeneration and RTS thought years back, the idea within mirror those in the pamphlet on sustainable city designs, we hope to see them discussed more earnestly at Forum2004 BCN next year, many of the largest urban areas now hold more than 20million people without any regard to the pollution. I believe Floody was in Chaipas years back and ifg he went the way most do, would have had to negotiate Mexico city for five hours alone. The Floody alone with a map, no Sub C. Marcus to help and oxygen sold by the bottle. meanwhile if some WSM/RTS local Irish heads could go on doing the excellent work they do and help those people of Western Dublin Reclaim "their" streets that would be lovely.
Thank you!
you dot the "i"s and slash the "t"s for Eire.
:-)
though since RTS history and background links between activists and urban planners is now part and parcel of seven Universiry faculty reading lists it seems a pity that no mention is made of that academic work, especially since several "Irish" RTS activists were involved in that process.