How Does It Work?

The DC Independent Media Center has organized itself into a media cooperative, meaning that people who participate in DC Indymedia get access to all of the cooperative’s resources while also agreeing to help sustain and grow the cooperative. The most simplistic explanation is that of a food cooperative. When people participate in a food cooperative they get access to what the organization offers but also agree to contribute time and/or a donation to keep the cooperative going. We understand that there will be many public users at the DC-IMC space, such as people who are just passing through town or dropping by periodically to check out the space. The DC-IMC cooperative welcomes public users. However, when somebody begins using the space and resources on a consistent basis, they will be asked to join the cooperative.

Participants of the DC-IMC do their work either through a working group or through individual or autonomous projects. An example of a working group is the editorial working group, which works on the DC-IMC website. For individual or autonomous projects, individuals freely associate and collaborate to produce the media that is important to them. However, because all participants use resources of the DC-IMC cooperative, we ask you to sign the Cooperative Agreement below. In exchange, you get access to the resources of the DC-IMC.

General Meetings

The DC-IMC cooperative typically holds general meetings every other Monday from 7-9pm. Meeting dates, times, and locations are posted on the top left corner of the website. New people are always welcome.

Publishing

You can self-publish your own story, photos, video or audio clips directly to the DC-IMC website. We have an open-publishing newswire, so whatever you publish will show up immediately in the right column of the website. We especially encourage stories on local issues in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

DC Indymedia Cooperative Agreement

The DC Independent Media Center is an experiment in volunteer run participatory media. We have no paid staff. This Cooperative Agreement recognizes that in order for the DC-IMC to be sustainable, function, and grow, work beyond media making is essential. This Cooperative Agreement is a living document that can be changed by consensus of the DC-IMC cooperative.

Besides media making, DC-IMC participants are asked to contribute time and labor to the infrastructure and sustainability of the Indymedia project. That is, volunteer time that extends beyond media making. There are a variety of ways to help support the DC-IMC mission and your level of involvement is entirely up to you. We just ask that there be some level of involvement, which can range from checking voicemail to organizing workshops, and everything in between. Please read and sign the agreement below.

I have read and agree in spirit to the DC-IMC Cooperative Agreement and In House Codes of Conduct.

Before participating in the formal decision making process of the DC-IMC cooperative I pledge to:

• Take responsibility for a task (defined below) that helps sustain and grow the DC-IMC and complete one full month’s cycle of doing that task;
• Donate a minimum of $10 a month to cover space expenses (rent, Internet, and utilities) or $50 for six months. No one will be turned away for lack of funds;
• Live in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area;
• Respect the consensus process.

I agree to rotate responsibilities when working on projects with my peers. This may include facilitation, note taking, and staffing of the space.

When staffing, I agree to keep a log during my shift to help build institutional memory.

I will not abuse the resources of the DC-IMC for personal use.

Core Tasks

The following are core tasks. Every participant of the DC IMC is expected to assist with some of these tasks at one time or another.

• Staff the space
• Staffing coordinator
• Organize a fundraiser
• Dues coordinators (at least two people at all times)
• Check voicemail and respond to calls
• Respond to communication sent to dc@indymedia.org
• List administration
• Volunteer coordination (at least two people at all times)
• Facilitate a general meeting

Examples of Ways to Help

Infrastructure

• Staffing space
• Key coordinator
• Maintain a schedule of projects being done at the space
• Coordinate a news story board (calendar of events)
• Meeting coordinator
• Work on website (editorial group)
• Cleaning space
• Get involved with global working groups
• Inter-project organization and liaisoning
• Facilitate general meetings
• Conflict resolution mediators and advocates
• Interns coordinator

Finance

• Accounting
• Organize monthly Visions theater show
• Maintain database of donors
• Seek out new donors
• Organize other fundraisers
• Grant research
• Grant writing

Distribution

• Maintain video archives
• Maintain audio archives
• Respond to requests for materials (videos, audio, etc.)
• Organize community screenings
• Distribution to potential broadcasters
• Do publicity and promotional materials

Outreach

• Volunteer coordination
• Responding to volunteers
• Setting up outreach events
• Organizing classes
• Doing Indymedia presentations for groups all over the city
• Facilitating an orientation meeting once in a while

Tech

• Maintain equipment and resources
• Maintain website and email lists
• Install software

In-House Codes of Conduct

The DC-IMC strives to create an open and supportive environment where journalists, activists, and community members can gather to collaborate, share ideas, resources, and strength. We model the anti-racist, anti-imperialist, anti-sexist, and pro-queer world we try to build, free of the pursuit of profit and personal ego.

We, participants in the DC Independent Media Center, agree to the following:

We recognize that power and privilege exist and affects access to media and technology. Therefore, we ask all people using the DC-IMC space to share knowledge, respectfully communicate, and practice tolerance and understanding towards all people. The DC Indymedia space is intended to be a safe space that is open and accepting to all people. If your actions, verbal or nonverbal, threaten the safety or emotional well-being of people using this space, or the safety of the space, there will be consequences, which could lead to you being asked to leave the space or you being banned from the DC-IMC altogether.

Schedule the times you or your project will need for working in the space. Provide a general description of your project in case others want to participate. Any project being done in the space is an open project; this is not your personal office space.

The people staffing the space are here to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you're staffing the space, give help in a friendly and respectful manner. Remember: Do not assume that somebody asking for help knows nothing.

We recognize and cherish the diversity of experience, ideas and opinions that each person brings to the space and believe that our diversity makes us stronger.

Be aware of the impact that your verbal and nonverbal communication has on the people around you.

Your parents don't live at the DC-IMC. We're all responsible for taking care of the space and cleaning up after ourselves, and for sharing the collective responsibilities of maintaining the space.

If you are a member of any law enforcement agency, you must identify yourself and get permission to be in the space.

Códigos de Conducta de la Casa

El CMI-DC quiere crear un ambiente abierto y de apoyo en donde periodistas, activistas, y miembros de la comunidad pueden juntarse y colaborar, compartir ideas, recursos, y fuerza. El mundo anti-racista, anti-imperialista, anti-sexista, y pro-homosexual que intentamos construir se inspira sin la búsqueda de ganancias y de orgullo.

Nosotros, los participantes en el CMI-DC, nos acordamos en el siguiente:

Reconocemos que el poder y el privilegio existen y afectan el acceso a la prensa y a la tecnología. Por lo tanto, pedimos que toda la gente que usa el espacio del CMI-DC comparta el conocimiento, comunique con respeto, y practique la tolerancia y simpatía hacia los demás.

Fija las horas que tú o tu proyecto necesita para trabajar en el espacio. Favor de dar una descripción general de tu proyecto en caso de que otros quiren participar. Qualquier proyecto que toma lugar en el espacio es un proyecto abierto; éste no es tú espacio personal de trabajo.

La gente que trabaja el en espacio están para ayudarte. No tengas miedo de pedir asistencia. Si estás trabajando en el espacio, ofrece asistencia en una manera amable y respetuosa. Acuérdate: no tomes por dado que una persona que pide asistencia no sabe nada.

Reconocemos y disfrutamos de la diversidad de experiencia, ideas, y opiniones que cada persona trae al espacio y creemos que nuestra diversidad nos hace más fuerte.

Ten en cuenta el impacto que tu comunicación verbal y no verbal tiene en las personas cerca de tí.

Tus padres no viven en el CMI-DC. Todos somos responsables de cuidar el espacio , de limpiarlo después de usarlo, y de compartir colectivamente las responsibilidades de manter el espacio.

Si trabajas en una agencia legal o policial, te tienes que identificar y recibir permiso para estar en el espacio.