Dec 2008

Ajenda

• Proposed Amendment to guidelines - While you cannot front-page an article you have written/posted, it is ok to add links to ones you have posted/written to the frontpage article, within reason - i.e. within the spirit of not self-promotion but adding information.

* guidelines for race/religion/isms It was suggested that this is an issue we can't resolve as in for example Zionism/Judaism is a massive questions whole books are written on and the issue is more about the spirit of the guidelines than having a catch-all definition. The issue is more about accountable moderation. S. to take a look over the guidelines to suggest possible changes to the next meeting. A tech solution is what is needed here as the site system was never designed as a forum, as system such as the threshold one on slashdot.org

• Proposal for adding to moderation of comments;
  • *Suggested that we just hide stuff that is off topic. Imcvols can post links to other articles where the on-topic debate is going on.
  • Owning Threads; Agreed that this should happen - but with the note that the imcvol who owns a thread is not the final arbitrator of decisions on it, they are still open for debate - will be moved into guidlines.
  • imcvols can't debate a thread you are moderating Agreed that this should happen - will be moved into guidelines.
  • keep imcvol posts short'n'sweet* Agreed that this should happen - will be moved into guidelines.
• Oscailt upgrade & proposed tech meeting Can people test the v3 of the site? Bugs can be reported here; http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/BristolSiteUpgrade2007 - It was asked the the major issues of the contact form and the hidden comments on the /comments page could be fixed by tech people soon? Proposed date for the meeting of tech people; Thurs 30th? Note for testing the site imcvol's can also test out changes on the mirror, bristol.undymedia.org, first and then it will be overwritten with the main copy.
• Email discussions Talked about and re-iterated point of bringing issues to a meeting or face-to-face discussion and not on email. * Hard copy distribution* Well done Hard Copy people - looks great! It was suggested to concentrate distribution in an area where a lead article has of interest.
• Future Stuff Suggested we put a meeting aside to talk about a future vision of the project and how we might get there. Suggested that we look to a few more social meetings for imcvols (there is always the film nights!). There will be a frontpage design meeting on the 28th evening if interested mail the list.

For Discussion:

• 2007 - BimcMeetingNotes2007

• Oscailt upgrade & proposed tech meeting

• Oscailt upgrade
• Email discussions - pertaining to the storm caused by moderation (see above)
• Hard copy distribution

Oct 2008

• guidelines for race/religion/isms - where do we draw the line around race and religion? can we draw up some draft guidelines to help.
• Proposal for adding to moderation of comments;
  • Top Level Debates; One of the issues is that every time an article on a certain subject is posted, e.g.climate change, it simply turns into a top-level debate about climate change per-se and no about that article. While it might not be totally 'off-topic', it is a repetition of an existing debate and may be putting off people posting articles as they know where it is going end. It is proposed that all top-level posts be moved to a thread where that debate is happening and if that thread has become too big, an imcvol creates a new article to house them. We then have a list on the wiki of top-level issues (climate change, zionism, feminism etc.) and threads for vols to use to house off-topic-top-level comments.
  • Owning Threads; Before, as there was only a couple of us moderating (well mainly one person!) it was easier to keep track of the comments and who was posting as imcvol. Now there is a few of us doing this role, it can get a bit confusing. I propose to help this that when a vol starts to moderate a thread, they email the list and from then on, 'own' the thread, i.e. they are the only vol moderating that thread. That does not mean that they can't ask to advice or help - and if are busy/away can request that another vol take over - but we try to keep it to one vol per thread.
  • imcvols can't debate a thread you are moderating which brings me to this point, it is suggested that vols can't moderate a thread they are posting to, so if you take on a thread you can no longer debate in it under any name or must not 'own' a thread you are already posting on.
  • keep imcvol posts short'n'sweet try to keep the information that we post as an imcvol to a minimum; we can explain a decision but we don't get drawn into a debate over a decision online, we encourage people to come to a meeting to chat about it, as that is the best place for it.

1. Comments - Discussion about comments, the amount on the issue of global warming. Decided to keep current guidlines and to apply them to compartmentalise the posts, so keep comments about if global warming is happening on threads about is global warming is happening, and keep other stories that are linked for discussion of those stories and not allow the same debate to dominate all threads.
2. Banned User - The banned user (clive hammond) as per the guidlines, agreed is unbanned. S. to see if we can inform him of decision. If breaks guidlines again, will be banned again.
3. Video - Discussion about getting better video tech on the site. Agreed best to allow people to post video to the site. Some said would be an advantage to allow YouTube^? (and similar) to be cross posted - but we need to look at privacy issues. Not a problem to get more server space/bandwidth. Tech meeting on the 26th to go into this further. N. to research the privacy issues of allowing YouTube^? to be embedded. S. to ask UK for feeback on solutions to embedding video.
4. Anarchist Bookfair - S. & T. to do talk/discussion on media democracy at event. S. to give a bit of a talk about media at climate camp too.
5. Open Source Journalism - discussion about ways of making articles on the site better and ways of doing this. Floated idea of an 'open source journbalism' group to further this.

• brief discussion about the issue raised in the comments here: http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/688608
• The de-banning procedure.
• Clive Hammond's ban.
• A tech meeting (or two): firstly with arclightfire to look at expanded editor roles - static pages etc. secondly with the tech folk to look at helping out on this front.
• Bristol Anarchist Book Fair. preparing a presentation...

Aug 2008

• Add items here...

June 2008

1. Disciplinary procedures/implementation agree that the calendar month is from the first hiding of a comment. Hidden posts for disruption, respect and/or racism, sexism etc. (Not off-topic). J will have a think about a de-banning procedure that we can apply.
2. Hidden Articles transparency
   • Organise a tech meeting to talk about stuff to those interested in the tech.
   • Recruitment campaign to link to meeting about tech issues.
   • Is there are non-tech option? Email developers.
   • Organise osalait session and editorial session.
3. Expansion report - Offline and Indycycle summaries Hard Copy: Been a success so far, but can be made better! Need de-brief meeting (suggested 7/7/08). OK to do article. K to send PDF of article & will create static page. Need to have a think about paying for this ongoing as has cost £270, which we can afford, but not on a quarterly basis. Need to do a fund raising page. Indycycle is a success – good coverage on launch. Needs more ongoing plugging. Plan to do a flyer about it. Suggested to look at front page design to make more prominent; e.g. swap regions for indycycle? Need to do ongoing support for the project.
4. Indymedia UK meeting report Is moving on from controversy. Main issues are anti-Semitism, also on what to do with 911 stuff. Suggested to think about our positions on these while we don't have much pressure about it. If comes up, will refer to next meeting to discuss. Links to meeting notes: https://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/private/imc-bristol/2008-June/0602-o6.html
5. Hacktion lab report (assuming someone's able to go along) Was good, very techy. Workshop on RSS feeds and aggregating them. Could look at RSS feeds about/from bristol into a page on the site? (we have talked about similar ideas before) Impressed as stuff done for climate camp and easy to put in tech/IT systems for events.
6. Consolidating recent expansion/future directions Suggested to have the summer to think about future directions, community stuff, non-news-led content and so forth. (Link to old future directions: ) and more....
7. AoB
   • Suggested to get stalls at Bristol Community Festival (13/14 sept; K to look at) and/or Anarchist Bookfair (S to ask).
   • be good to have an IMC social some time soon.
   • proposed to accept a modified version of http://www.docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkIndymediaDisputeProcess

• • Proposed Dispute Process (for internal BIMC disputes)
    1. Start: An article/issue is published/arises and is deadlocked over what status it should be. It then goes to disputed status if blocked (not via stand-aside) as to what should/should not happen to the article/issue. At this point the article moves into 'disputed' status (statement on the page to say it is disputed): No more emails to list at this point onwards. Lists/Individuals involved to be told of this point and if anyone still emails about it, they can be blocked. Dates for all events in process and that it is in process should be added to disputed page. Once process starts, for voice to count need to agree to abide by the process.
    2. Next stage is Mediation (prefer to use, in order; meetings, phone/skype, irc chat, email). 1 week to organise and and 1 week to mediate. Mediator is somebody from within the collective agreed by both sides.
    3. Mediator as arbitrator If there is an mediator, both sides can option that they can be the arbitrator and make a decision. 1 week max to do so.
    4. From here consensus minus one of those on the list involved who can participate can decide the outcome. At this point onwards those who can participate in a decision – need to be a member of a collective or vouched for by a collective or a known contributor.
    5. Forced arbitration – go to global resolve list, as for an arbitrator who then decides. And we all stick to it.

1. welcome new members

1. Money/printer for hard copy
2. resolving tech issues
3. feedback from uk imc meeting
   1. adopting the UK conflict dispute system
   2. 'cost of war' counter

June 2008

April 2008 (BIMC Meeting 21/04/08)

Indycycle/FreeCycle Idea – Thought it looked great. Debate as to how/what is needed to launch it with. Suggested to add photo upload, though this might not be ready. Suggested a white background like the IMC site, suggest drop down boxes for new entries for Offered or Wanted and for Item or Service. Need to write terms & conditions, help guide and plans for launch. (links You can see the details on the wiki page here https://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/BimcFuture#Freecycle_style_page A module for the BIMC homepage has been developed that would look something like the calendar listing. It would link to a page that might look like this: http://www.carfree.org.uk/indycycle )

knowledge exchange – Talked about not keen on BIMC going for funding itself. Great idea to offer people traning. Suggested Lee talk to Sy as both are thinking similar things with event and host independent event and invite media groups to it? (re: SW Independent Media meetup day idea )

Offline – Looking good, lots of great ideas. Next meeting is 30th 7pm Folk House.

UK IMC Meeting – In London on 17/18th http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkNetworkMeeting2008London Who is up for going? Agreed that BIMC would pay costs of those attending, as last time.

Tech Issues – Lee said had mate who would help with tech side. Lee and Crash to chat about this.

Wiki/Editorial Training – Editorial 6pm, Wiki 6.30pm at the Watershed before the offline meeting on 30th April!

referencing promoted newswire – Talked about issue of 'trust' that a newspaper can say 'sources say' and it is (sometimes) trusted. What about IMCs? Could there be a method of validating sources? If so are there legal implications? Ideas that emerged, to look at UK IMCs http://www.indymedia.org.uk/ 'chosen' article (have a box round them in newswire) and look at adding a Sources page where user are encouraged to reference article properly. Also idea for a Freedom of Information service, so people can give us an application and the money and we submit it on their behalf and post the docs received to the site. We can add text and link to publish and help pages to encourage users to reference sources more.

We ran out of time for:

1. Mike's Hacktivism conference
2. Moderation issues - how tightly are we going to enforce the new temp banning guidelines for 5 posts which breach the respect guideline, if we stick to it rigidly several users would now be on a temporary ban...

Notes:

1. Lee's idea's re:knowledge exchange/referencing promoted newswire
2. Offline project progress update
3. Freecycle idea
4. Mike's Hacktivism conference
5. SW Independent Media meetup day idea
6. Ongoing Tech Issues (1 hour delay etc)
7. How do all the above ideas and projects sit with our current financial status
8. Moderation issues - how tightly are we going to enforce the new temp banning guidelines for 5 posts which breach the respect guideline, if we stick to it rigidly several users would now be on a temporary ban...
9. Forthcoming IMCUK meeting - http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkNetworkMeeting2008London
10. Wiki training

• wiki/editorial training sessions

• tech group
• indycycle

• 'journalistic' training at BIMC
• references/trust

references/trust I have only chatted to one or two people about this, largely because I know that it a controversial proposal: There is often a problem of trust with such projects as BIMC (and internet media more generally). There is also the ever-present question of Can an open platform be regarded as journalism (i.e. when it is lacking journalistic processes)? Well, I was wondering whether it'd be an idea to

• • Add a paragraph to the 'Publish a News Story' page (below editorial policy) encouraging people to make references and use links so that their stories are more credible. I wonder whether at the same time we could make it easier to add in-text links
  • (this is the controversial bit) somehow create a category of news story in which evidence has been verified by the collective. This way we can get more involved in content (a bit like the UK features list), by helping people verify claims made with proper sourcing. I don't mean we should give them priority or anything else, just a mark on the article saying that the story has been verified? I know that it might seem against the spirit of Indy, but I am sure we can find a way to do it without contravening the letter or spirit of Indy.

Update from UK IMC meeting

Legal Page

New Site bugs & issues

New volunteer Offer to sort finances out

bimc offline

Joining meeting number

Proposed Banning Procedure:

1. Update from UK IMC meeting

1. Legal Page

1. New Site bugs & issues

1. New volunteer Offer to sort finances out

1. bimc offline

1. Joining meeting number

1. Proposed Banning Procedure:

1. 1. A temporary ban is initiated. The individual is contacted where possible informing them of this. The ban is lifted at the next meeting if the individual displays a willingness to abide by guidelines.
   2. If the individual cannot be contacted directly, then a temporary ban is automatically lifted at the next meeting, if disruption abates in the intervening period.
   3. A permanent ban is implemented if further disruption occurs after lifting a temporary ban, or if the individual does not display a willingness to abide by guidelines after being informed of the temporary ban.

1. New site launch - mail the temporary site to supporters. Launch date agreed at 6 Feb at Cube film night
2. Bytemark intervention - ask them to cc imc-bristol list as well as hushmail. Tech group to develop contingency plans for potential 'worst-case scenario'
3. Banning guidelines - arrive the action taken and approve proposed guidelines for banning formally.
4. Film nights 2008 programme. Starts on 14th Jan with Moazzam Begg talk
5. New member is eligible to join the collective - new member ratified and welcomed
6. Money - a report on the finances of the collective over 2008 - we are £245 down on previous year's balance, mainly due to increased film night costs
7. IMC gathering Feb 2008: Restructuring the UK Regions/Is there a Future for Indymedia? - UKIMC to be contacted to get Bristol back into the UK listing, and out of 'Other' category. Two members expressed interest in Nottingham meeting 9-10 Feb
8. SW Media Gathering? - ideas for this to be reflected upon on imc-bristol list.

April 2008

• enter here!

1. Update from UK IMC meeting

• • In comparision to other problems facing other IMCs; we're doing ok!
  • Very cool tech stuff for video/audio sharing and streaming. (insert link)
  • Another meeting in 2 months in London.
  • Bristol with not be an 'other IMC' and will be on the list properly.
  • UK IMC is also looking to syndicate our news on thier site.
  • Talk of doing blogs and agregating them. Discussed at the meeting. Issue that if we agregate blogs are we giving tacit approval to? Idea to use BIMC as a portal to use for content. What about a script-bot to add the information? Need to look at what is possible and what we have the resources to do!

1. Legal Page

Passed with amendment: Suggested that we email a copy of the original text to the list before editing the article.

LEGAL PROPOSAL

Suggesting that we hide any article of concern, discuss it, if we judge so then we edit out any sentences that may have incitement and then post the following text;

"Note: This article has had a portion removed as some may consider the edited parts as a form of incitement – please see our legal page."

Which links to a new legal page that says;

"Note: A few articles may have had a portion removed as some may consider the edited parts as a form of incitement. This is always indicated as such on the article. BIMC is committed to media democracy; this means that you may read the words of people who claim to do things you don't agree with. BIMC is committed to maintaining the Bristol Indymedia site as an outlet for open news in the South West.

It is also of note that Bristol Indymedia only knows the information that a user chooses to provide with a post. We do not keep any IP data on users. This fact was confirmed at a meeting 24th September 2007 where representatives of British Transport police accepted that following the investigation and, contrary to information given to the police at the time by an informant, the position of Bristol Indymedia was correct in that we did not have the IP data the police were seeking."

We also then edit the guidelines to add that we reserve the right to edit what may be considered incitement out of an article, into the guidelines.

1. New Site bugs & issues

Can we get a new username and password for editing settings?

1. New volunteer Offer to sort finances out

Offer to do the finances, passed. Report finances back to group and on wiki. Role is to keep the records and track the money and to an extent champion the fiances and fundraising of the site.

1. bimc offline

we already do & distribute flyers for film nights. Can this be expanded to a newsletter? May look at the DTP of a proper template? A double-sided A4 newsletter that propotes events and re-prints a couple of good stories quarterly. Is this the right direction to do in when other news is going on-line? If we can't keep this going and it stops it may create a bad impression; so if we do it, it needs to be done properly & thought through. Firm-up a proposal of what is needed, how long it will take, resources needed etc & WHY we are doing it!

1. Joining meeting number

Suggested to keep it the way it is. OK to get people involved before, but don't get admin rights or on email list until 3 meetings; but use discression of sensitive things.

1. Proposed Banning Procedure:

Passed with amendment: Add racism etc. into reasons to ban.

BANNING USERNAMES

Moderating abusive comments takes a considerable amount of time and energy from the project. If a username breaches the discrimination and/or respect guideline 5 times in 1 month they are temporarily banned. This generally covers comments which are abusive, and not comments which are hidden for being off-topic. However, repeatedly posting off-topic material after warnings have been issued to stay on-topic, may also result in a ban on the discretion of the collective. An Indymedia volunteer will try to email/post a comment warning the user prior to a ban. Banned users may contact the collective to appeal this or use our grievance procedure if they feel unfairly treated.

1. 1. A temporary ban is initiated. The individual is contacted where possible informing them of this. The ban is lifted at the next meeting if the individual displays a willingness to abide by guidelines.
   2. If the individual cannot be contacted directly, then a temporary ban is automatically lifted at the next meeting, if disruption abates in the intervening period.
   3. A permanent ban is implemented if further disruption occurs after lifting a temporary ban, or if the individual does not display a willingness to abide by guidelines after being informed of the temporary ban.

• Update from UK IMC meeting
• Legal Page
• New Site bugs & issues
• New volunteer Offer to sort finances out
• bimc offline

February 2008 (BIMC Meeting 18/02/08)

Proposed Banning Procedure:

BANNING USERNAMES

Moderating abusive comments takes a considerable amount of time and energy from the project. If a username breaches the respect guideline 5 times in 1 month they are temporarily banned. This generally covers comments which are abusive, and not comments which are hidden for being off-topic. However, repeatedly posting off-topic material after warnings have been issued to stay on-topic, may also result in a ban on the discretion of the collective. An Indymedia volunteer will try to email/post a comment warning the user prior to a ban. Banned users may contact the collective to appeal this or use our grievance procedure if they feel unfairly treated.

BANNING PROCEDURE

1.) A temporary ban is initiated. The individual is contacted where possible informing them of this. The ban is lifted at the next meeting if the individual displays a willingness to abide by guidelines.

1a.) If the individual cannot be contacted directly, then a temporary ban is automatically lifted at the next meeting, if disruption abates in the intervening period.

2.) A permanent ban is implemented if further disruption occurs after lifting a temporary ban, or if the individual does not display a willingness to abide by guidelines after being informed of the temporary ban.

December 2007 (BIMC Meeting 17/12/07)

1. New site launch - mail the temporary site to supporters. Launch date agreed at 6 Feb at Cube film night
2. Bytemark intervention - ask them to cc imc-bristol list as well as hushmail. Tech group to develop contingency plans for potential 'worst-case scenario'

1. New member is eligible to join the collective - new member ratified and welcomed
2. Money - a report on the finances of the collective over 2008 - we are £245 down on previous year's balance, mainly due to increased film night costs
3. IMC gathering Feb 2008: Restructuring the UK Regions/Is there a Future for Indymedia? - UKIMC to be contacted to get Bristol back into the UK listing, and out of 'Other' category. Two members expressed interest in Nottingham meeting 9-10 Feb
4. SW Media Gathering? - ideas for this to be reflected upon on imc-bristol list.

1. SW Media Gathering?

December 2007

1. New site launch
2. Bytemark intervention
3. Banning guidelines - arrive the action taken and approve proposed guidelines for banning formally.
4. Film nights 2008 programme. Starts on 14th Jan with Moazzam Begg talk
5. New member is eligible to join the collective.
6. Money - a report on the finances of the collective over 2008
7. IMC gathering Feb 2008: Restructuring the UK Regions/Is there a Future for Indymedia? Proposals

October 07 (BIMC Meeting 15/10/07)

Promotion of film nights on YouTube

• Person expressing a contrary viewpoint not present at meeting -- no apologies sent
• The stated aim is to bring users from YouTube to BIMC, not the other way round;
• other anticapitalist groups etc already use it
• use of YouTube will continue
• look at a notification when users leave the site informing that BIMC not responsible for content - perhaps on front page features etc
• new site has ability to post video anyway [ note: this does not yet appear to have been implemented (same for PDFs, etc ]
• consider a Creative Commons video provider, eg Blip TV

Site Upgrade

• nearing completion. Film page requires work, as does uploads.
• Tom to post list of things to test onto imc-bristol-tech
• add a region: southwest general
• press release needs final checking [ where is it? Can a link be posted here? ]
• Sport discussed as a potential new topic. Some debate as to whether this detract from the original purpose of the site.

Diversity, Equality and Sustainability

• refer to JV's earlier discussions regarding the 'consumerist' viewpoint of many users. Need a strategy for being more inclusive in getting people involved. Pub 'atmosphere' problem. Need a more 'personal' approach and a clear guide for people to get involved.
• Next place a notice on the table stating who we are.
• When potential new IMCvols contact us, invite to the film nights rather than meetings.
• Move the contact form to the top of the contact form
• look at getting new t-shirts

Legal update

• The current legal situation was discussed and it was agreed that a new letter would be sent to the police regarding the events of June 2005.

Outreach email list

• this list will be used for outreach. Notifications of hidden articles will be redirected to a new list, imc-bristol-announce