Indymedia Cambridge

Principles of Unity

1. The Cambridge Independent Media Centre is based upon principles of equality, decentralization and local autonomy. The IMC is not derived from a centralized bureaucratic process, but from the self-organization of autonomous collectives that recognize the importance in developing a union.
2. The Cambridge IMC considers open exchange of and open access to information a prerequisite to the building of a more free and just society.
3. The Cambridge IMC respects the right of activists who choose not to be photographed or filmed.
4. The Cambridge IMC is based upon the trust of their contributors and readers, shall utilise open web based publishing, allowing individuals, groups and organizations to express their views, anonymously if desired.
5. The Cambridge IMC shall be not-for-profit and shall in no way engage in commercial for-profit enterprises. The Cambridge IMC is committed to the decommercialization of information.
6. The Cambridge IMC recognizes the importance of process to social change and is committed to the development of non-hierarchical and anti-authoritarian relationships, from interpersonal relationships to group dynamics. Therefore, they shall organize themselves collectively and be committed to the principle of consensus decision making and the development of a direct, participatory democratic process that is open, egalitarian and transparent to its membership.
7. The Cambridge IMC recognizes that a prerequisite for participation in the decision making process of each local group is the contribution of an individual's labour to the group.
8. The Cambridge IMC is committed to caring for its members and our respective communities both collectively and as individuals and will promote the sharing of resources including knowledge, skills and equipment.
9. The Cambridge IMC shall be committed to the use of free source code, whenever possible, in order to develop the digital infrastructure, and to increase the independence of the network by not relying on proprietary software.
10. Membership:
    • The Cambridge IMC shall be committed to the principle of human equality, and shall not discriminate, including discrimination based upon race, gender, age, class or sexual orientation. Recognizing the vast cultural traditions within the network, we are committed to building (diversity) within our localities.
    • The Cambridge IMC will have a committed membership substantial enough to sustain a functional IMC.
    • The Cambridge IMC will have open and public meetings. No one group will have exclusionary `ownership' of the IMC.
    • The Cambridge IMC will have a spokesperson willing and capable of participating in the global decision-making process and meetings as a rotation liaison/representative with a clear understanding of the responsibilities that come with this role.
11. The Cambridge IMC will establish and publish an editorial policy, which is developed and functions through democratic process, and with full transparency. The Cambridge IMC will use Open Publishing as described in the Cambridge IMC Editorial Policy.
12. The Cambridge IMC will participate in the key IMC Network Communication Methods that pertain to the health and vitality of the Network and that contribute to the work of the IMC. We will ensure that at least one person from Cambridge IMC participates at any given time on the IMC-Communications list.
13. The Cambridge IMC will have no official affiliation with any political party, state or candidate for office, but individual IMC volunteers are free to participate in such institutions, providing that this participation does not prejudice the independence of the Cambridge IMC.
14. The Cambridge IMC will display a local version of the IMC ((i)) logo on its website and literature.

Here are some other possible amendments to the principles of unity:

• Committed to undermine (the hegemony) and the exclusionary, conservative policies and traditions of Cambridge University via the establishment and perpetuation of a community information service which (stimulates links between) (bridges the gap between) the university and other local institutions.
• Also, we don't have a lot in the principles about media freedom, attempting to "tell the truth" (contentious as that might be), independent journalistic ethics, etc., which we might be wanting to think about.

Cambridge IMC