IMC Birmingham Mission Statement
We are all Indymedia!
Birmingham Indymedia is a toolbox aiming to empower individuals and grassroots communities within Birmingham and the West Midlands. Indymedia aims to provide both virtual and physical spaces that are autonomous, within which people feel empowered to share and exchange their stories, their experiences and news, their passions and skills.
Communities and groups who are traditionally excluded or marginalised by the mainstream corporate media can publish their news directly. The aim is to extend communication and skill-sharing between people in Birmingham and the West Midlands, and also between the Birmingham Indymedia Centre (IMC) and other IMCs.
Indymedia is an open collective. Decision making is consensual and non-discriminatory, and takes place in public. We also recognise that such methods are both processes and ideals; processes to be worked at and worked upon.
The content of the Birmingham IMC website is created through a system of open publishing: anyone can upload a written, audio and video report or pictures directly to the site through an openly accessible web interface.
Through this system of 'Direct Media', the Indymedia model erodes the dividing line between reporters and reported, between active producers and passive audience: people are enabled to speak for themselves. At bigger actions, Birmingham IMC volunteers will extend this participatory model by establishing 'Public Access Terminals' on the streets, and facilitating direct access to the technical equipment that enables participants to upload to the website.
* the Birmingham IMC collective works on a non-hierarchical basis
* we reject all systems of domination and discrimination
* we aim to keep the focus of the Birmingham IMC website on grassroots actions and discussions that have a direct connection to Birmingham and/or the West Midlands, including the evaluation of national or international situations as they relate to Birmingham and/or the West Midlands
* the Birmingham IMC collective does not have any ties with political parties or NGOs
* we welcome new volunteers to the Birmingham IMC project at any time
This is a grassroots communication medium. Media and communication has become a tool of domination under capitalist and authoritarian models. Indymedia works counter to those models.
Birmingham Indymedia
