Readers Decide! Indymedia's Best of 2007.

international | arts and media | feature

Friday December 07, 2007 01:41

by editor

"Interaction?" cries Wag "I thought this was Indymedja not the bleedin' Grauniad Unlimited."

Usually around this time of year, those of us grunts still on active service duty for Indymedia Ireland, spend a week or so trawling the archive with our virtual nets. Sometimes we return with a catch of material that we format into a review of the year. And other times - like last year - short-staffed and burnt out, we simply aren't up to the effort.

This year we are going to try something completely different - by running a competition to unearth the best of the site over the past 12 months. The editorial collective asks readers to dip into the archives, and come up with the sharpest, freshest and most spot on contributions to break through the newswire clouds. We'll be running the competition under several categories, so stick to them. When we have the nominations in, we'll open a poll and let the votes pile in on the most popular five in each. Read on for details...

"What the heck?" you say. Well there are a number of reasons driving this. Any such public vote implies feedback on what sort of content our readers find valuable. When you stick in your nominations, we''ll collectively recognize and front the quality of writing on the site - something seldom done. And for once, instead of watching their work strangled under sometimes snide and tangential comments, our contributers will finally receive the recognition they deserve.

Yes and of course, those of us on the lists can sit on our hands and let the passive among you generate your own year in review. Oh and by the way, if after you find you're one of those sadist types, and liked poking around the back tunnels of Indymedia - maybe you'll pop over to the lists and join us?

It's gonna go a little something like this:

Nomination Categories

Best Scoop - you looked at it first and thought "not another one from the green ink brigade," two days and 27 comments later it was clear Indymedia had another scoop - so who did it for you this time round?

Best Video Contribution - do you like the predictable plots of coppers battering Rossport residents or did some other tasty number slap you in the side of the head?

Best Audio Contribution - did it sound like a Rice Crispies advert, all snap crackle and pop? Yet still stand up as a priceless contribution to social history as we pen it in front of us? Good. Then nominate it and maybe get the kid a better mic.

Best Photo Contribution - so was it an SLR or a camera phone that took the standout photo from all those contributed by our roving and recording flash mobs?

Best Event or Action Report - would you like a squirt of pathetic fallacy with grey skies to set the mood there mate, or do you prefer it straight up tonight?

Best Analysis - so who fancies themselves as Indymedia Ireland's resident Chomsky?

TIME FRAME:
Get your nominations in before 12 noon, December 20th.
Our voting system will start on December 23rd and end on January 3rd.

Do's and Don'ts:

Do nominate photos with the URL of the image AND story you are taking it from provided, we need to see the context and who submitted it..
Don't re-upload the image itself again, its ALREADY online and do we look like the bandwidth fairies?

Do feel free to nominate yourself and your contributions to the site.
Don't be a sap and do it multiple times with your own troupe of personal sock puppets.

Do feel free discuss the various nominations and writing on the site as a whole on this thread.
Don't be a sap and break the editorial rules or abuse editors or contributers. You'll be missing the whole point of this feature if you do.

Do feel free to contact us directly instead of posting in public if you think you've prizes to offer our winners and runners up
Don't be moaning at us because we've no prizes. We editors do it for the RSI and have little to offer. Anyway, don't complain about the prize, be the prize...

save preference

Comments (21 of 21)

Jump To Comment:

Best Comedy

by Carmel

Fri Jan 11, 2008 14:49

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85728&comment_limit=0&c...17225

Video removed from U Tube

add your opinion on to the list

by Paula

Wed Jan 09, 2008 22:03

I think it has kinda dropped off the priorities but it's a useful way of looking over what has been produced on and for indymedia and what readers expectations are as consumers of media ;-)

Up the

by Poll

Wed Jan 09, 2008 18:07

When do we get to vote for best piece?

The Highlights were.....

by A Viewer

Sun Dec 30, 2007 18:25

Cue fanfare, as Scarrlett Johansson and Jake Gyllenhaal step out to present the awards.

Best Scoop: Welsh Gas Pipeline Protests:
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80730

Best Event Report: Personal account of Day of Support in Mayo:
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81080

Best Picture: Aerial art at Tara:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84352

Best Analysis: A Tie between:
PD Failures in Women's Health Issues
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84946

and

From Peking to Aubane:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80451

Nominations

by Peter C. Gould

Thu Dec 20, 2007 18:14

I thought this Event Report was superb
about Ballymun and the art movement:

https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81761

The most insightful article on Irish Politics
was undoubtedly Danny Mcgrain’s superb “From Peking to Aubane”,
One of the best Analysis articles it has ever been
my good fortune to read:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80451

tight categoris

by anon

Thu Dec 20, 2007 14:13

Best (video) contribution Sean Ryan Greengate, simply just walking up to minister and asking some interesting questions http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84789

Best analysis Pat Muldowney coolacrease again

by Carmel Ni Dhuibheanaigh

Fri Dec 14, 2007 09:55

Best Scoop- The Lismullin Stone
Best Pic- Aerial Harp event at Tara
Best Video- Revolt Video Rossport 84775

Carmel :)

By a Mile

by Eamonn de Paor

Thu Dec 13, 2007 22:56

Best Scoop:
Hidden History, Hidden Agenda
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84547

Best Audio:
Coolacrease, the Hidden Interview
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85285

ISN article on the Balkans

by Starkadder

Wed Dec 12, 2007 17:36

The ISN's article on "the Left and the Balkan Wars"-a powerfully argued piece dismantling
the myth of "Milosevic the victim of US Imperialism". Everything the ISN puts out is of
superb quality.

Nomination for best analysis

by jack lane

Mon Dec 10, 2007 20:01

The Coolacrease threads which showed the rest of the media how superficial, silly and prejudiced it really is.

Where does the time go?

by M

Mon Dec 10, 2007 18:24

Coilin, the Pitstop's coverage would probably win hands down but that was 2006 as is your photo.

New Irish landscape / prophetic court reporting / moving portrait

by Coilin

Mon Dec 10, 2007 17:57

aatchoo at gmail dot com

086 060 3818

Best Photo Contribution

The picture of skinny young anarchist John in white overalls and handcuffs being pushed off the field at Baldonnel by three bulky boys in blue, red-faced and puffing hard, presents a very striking landscape of a new Ireland where neutrality has been abandoned and the full weight of the law will pounce on anybody who makes a drama of it:

Administering the civil and military affairs of the Republic
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75496
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/apr2006/dscf1182.jpg

Professional photographers often use telephoto lenses to frame their pictures very tightly, and editors crop these photos even closer, so it's a delight to see this beautiful wide shot, framed to show the action unfolding against such an interesting background, complete with earthy middle ground, grassy horizon, looming clouds, etc.
.
.
.
Best Scoop / Best Photo

Some of the coverage of the Ploughshares' acquittal must also deserve consideration. I'm thinking particularly of the closing arguments for the defence, which were so cogent and rousing that they made the verdict seem to me almost foregone the Friday before. Also a certain picture of Deirdre Clancy, standing apart, somewhere between smiles and tears.

See Court Reporter's very detailed contributions here:
Ploughshares Trial - Closing Arguments
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77368

This was the clincher for me, wondering on the Friday before the verdict what the outcome would be:
"On the question of having lawful excuse: Remember when you use the defence of lawful excuse, the accused person does not have to prove it, but prosecution must convince you - also beyond reasonable doubt - that a lawful excuse does NOT apply"

And this is by all accounts the bare shadow of a speech so moving that even junior defence counsel was unable to go on taking notes:
REPORT - Closing Speech Defence Barrister Mr. Nix Acting on Behalf of Karen Fallon
Excerpt:
I was in a park today and two children were being followed by a duck.…There was the sound of children playing in the yard close by - children playing in a yard . . ., and a band was playing ... and there was no drunkenness. A sound of universal happiness is the sound of children playing. At that same time, Lebanon and Hezbollah were hammering the shite ... And I asked myself "What right have I to be happy?" Where is our shared humanity?

See picture of Deirdre Clancy vindicated, here:
At last it's over
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77460
(By the way, I'd love to have a high-resolution copy of this photo, please! See e-mail address below.)

Such raw reports, for all their gaps and approximate quotes, are honest and true in a way the mainstream media have long lost in their pretended objectivity, and such intimate pictures are moving and inspiring in ways the old media rarely capture.

Thanks for all of it.
Coilin.

modest mouse

by kbranno

Mon Dec 10, 2007 13:25

kevinbrannigan at hotmail dot com

Best Audio:
Report from the GSTQ protest
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/feb2007/mix2.mp3

Best Read/Analysis:
Andrew Floods "The 1798 rebellion and the origins of Irish republicanism"
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82684

p.s. Some of the links people have put up to stories are dead.

Thanks for all the hard work IMC Editorial/Contributors/Tech-heads

by Jimbob

Mon Dec 10, 2007 07:37

Best audio
Irish activists (Raytheon Derry Anti War Coalition) in Lebanon - Interview with Shane Cullen http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/aug2007/v012.mp3 about the Qana commemoration stone
in this story - comment 13: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83681

Best pic

Save Tara Valley Human Aerial Art
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/sep2007/taraaeriala...2.jpg
from this article http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84352

Best writing /analysis

Irish activist reflects on volunteering with the ISM in Palestine.
Good insight into the daily grind of ISM work, volunteering, ordinary struggle to live in Hebron, Palestine.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84120

Captain Moonlight Interview (Kilkenny musician-activist):
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82624

Nationalism, Socialism and Partition - very well researched piece:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82328

Best Scoop
Rossport Five man wins $125,000 Goldman Environmental Prize - Is this sufficiently scoopy?
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82086

Best Video
Route Irish
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84775

yes to this

by regular

Sun Dec 09, 2007 23:45

Best Event Report:

BY A LAND SLIDE>>>>> Hotel Ballymun - Uplifting Art or Poverty Tourism?
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81761

agreed

A few more nominations

by Margaret

Sun Dec 09, 2007 00:46

Analysis
"Shannon-a tale of two routes"
A comparison of the Shannon to Heathrow/Shannon-Iraq route in light of the controversy of Aer Lingus pulling it's Heathrow route from the airport.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84749

Reflections from an Irish Activist with the ISM in Palestine.
Informative - good account of what volunteering involves as well as daily life in Hebron.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84120

Best Photo
from "A Day in the life of the family of Terence Wheelock" by Michael Gallagher
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/nov2007/8.tw.jpg
Full piece here - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85217

"Sit-down protest" - Dublin Shell to Sea
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/sep2007/img_2365_si...b.jpg
from http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84378

"How long will it take you?"
Photo montage of how long it will take the average man on the street to earn what Shell did last year.
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/feb2007/a7.jpg
from http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80785

Noms

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin

Sat Dec 08, 2007 20:38

Best Scoop
Hidden History or hidden agenda – the real story, https://www.indymedia.ie/article/84547

Best Audio Contribution
Remember Remember the Tenth of November, https://www.indymedia.ie/article/84837

Best Photo Contribution
Bernadette McAliskey at éirígí's James Connolly commemoration by Paula Geraghty, http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/may2007/connolly91s...6.jpg at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82523

I think out of pure egotism I have to mention one or two of my own photos as well:
"C'mon Caitríona, when will our day come?", http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/sep2007/dscf4479.jpg at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84397

Shell to Sea picketer in Belfast, http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/jan2007/dscf2625.jpg at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80644

Best Event or Action Report
Personal account of Day of Support in Mayo, https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81080

Best Analysis
Independent socialists and electoralism as a strategy, https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82761 (even if only for the discussion it provoked)

My favourites

by D.O Falluin

Sat Dec 08, 2007 15:46

very quick contribution ,stuck for time...

audio:

Voices Of Republicanism
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82713

favourite photos:

one of Paula Geraghtys shots from the Bloody Sunday march
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/jan2007/bloodysunda...8.jpg

Michael Gallaghers fantastic shot of the lads on the job.
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/oct2007/4.jpg

articles:

https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81414
Rogue Anti-Choice Agency, Dorset St. - A History of Lies and Deception

special mention:
all the coverage giving to the pearson family/hidden history debates....
from kilmichael to the latest dispute, indymedia has always been to the forefront of the debate on irish history, and how it is presented.

Best scoop

by Turps

Sat Dec 08, 2007 04:31

I nominate the Hidden History threads (there were at least two) for Best Scoop. Pat Muldowney's audio and written documentation expertly exposed the hidden agenda of the RTE documentary makers.

another year

by seedot

Fri Dec 07, 2007 23:02

best audio
two kbranno pieces stood out for me

voices of republicanism http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82713
Argos shop steward http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85304

best pic
loved all the Free the weed photo essay http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82410
especially enda kenny spliffing http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/may2007/freetheweed...5.jpg

also the tara samhain celebrations had small images but really good
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/nov2007/tmpphpe1qqm...k.jpg
at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84950

Best writing /analysis
Third History Jack White play
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82004

Best Scoop
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84547 Hidden history: Coolacrease

and multiple tara stories for scoop especially
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85303

Best Video

Revolt work was strong as ever but Route Irish
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84775
was worth the wait.

To Kick Start

by Himself

Fri Dec 07, 2007 17:13

Best Audio Effort:

Voices Of Republicanism
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82713

Propaghandi On Parecon Veganism and The Politics of Punk
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80550

Free Derry Museum Review
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80905

Remember Remember the tenth of November,
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/84837

--------------------

Best opinion:
Jihad in the UK
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/83356

Whatever Happened To Anti-capitalism
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80521

Republic of Ireland V’s San Marino. Man of the Match? The Janitor!
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80891

Ireland and Climate Chaos
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80959

Legalised Robbery - Multinationals and Ireland's Natural Resources
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81708

Independent socialists and electoralism as a strategy
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82761

----------------------------------

Best Event Report:

Dublin Launch Of Our Story
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80482

Personal account of Day of Support in Mayo
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81080

BY A LAND SLIDE>>>>> Hotel Ballymun - Uplifting Art or Poverty Tourism?
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81761

Sinn Féin policing Ard Fhéis a witnesses account
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80834

Leaving this Stage of History: Towards a Globalised New Orleans, or the End of Capitalism.
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81883

UCD a Cold House for Caleb Charles McCarry and U.S plans for Cuba.
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82258

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82457

Face off in Pollathomais: a report on the last two days events.
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82983

-------------------------------

Best Scoop:

PSNI Puts Ulster Poles as Piggies in the Middle
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81111

Fighting for Faith and Fatherland in Fermanagh
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81242

Rogue Anti-Choice Agency, Dorset St. - A History of Lies and Deception
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/81414

The Third History – What Happened To Captain Jack White’s papers?
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82004

Wildcat strike in Musgrave Warehouse In Dublin
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/82223

Hidden History or hidden agenda – the real story
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/84547

------------------------------

And if there was a best moment?

Community Rallies to Put Indymedia Back Online!
https://www.indymedia.ie/article/80521

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Comments (21 of 21)