Washington, DC Independent Media Center : http://dc.indymedia.org
How To Use This Site
This Indymedia site has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible, while still attempting to manage a wealth of information, and some customization options.
The left-hand column lists the main sub-section pages of the site, as well as a frequently-updated list of the other Indymedia sites across the globe.
Users are encouraged to visit the login page, where they can create a user account that facilitates publishing articles, and allows some rudimentary filtering preferences based on ratings (see below for more on ratings).
The center column is where newswire articles approved by editorial group, can be featured, especially original news from the DC/VA/MD area.
The media gallery, highlighted at the top of the right-hand column, is our repository for photos, videos, and audio files uploaded to the site. When users have media to upload without accompanying text, from protest photos to flyer illustrations and PDF files, it goes to the media gallery. The gallery is broken down into categories, and can be searched by title, keyword, caption, or artist.
The newswire, displayed in the right-hand column, is the backbone of Indymedia. Articles found on the newswire are uploaded by users all over the world, and instantly displayed on the site. For our part, we have divided articles into "Local Interest" and "Elsewhere", so as to highlight local events and discussion.
Editors will remove articles in direct violation of editorial policy. This includes advertising, duplicate posts - see Editorial Policy.
The second method is our user rating system. While browsing the site, you are encouraged to rate articles using the popup menu at the end of each piece. While user ratings cannot remove an article from the site completely, they serve the invaluable role of deciding how much prominence is given to the display of an article.
By default, only articles rated 0 and above are displayed in the right-hand column, and on the "newswire" home page. This is called the "display threshold." If you have created a user account, you can even alter that threshold to suit your own needs, e.g., display only articles receiving +3 or higher. Articles which fall below the threshold are moved to the hidden articles section, which is linked from the bottom of the newswire column. They are still available on the site, and can be linked to directly, but their prominence is degraded as a result of user input. You are encouraged to visit the hidden articles section to see what ends up there, and why.
Finally, remember that the Indymedia site is here for you. We encourage you to upload your own stories, commentaries, and announcements that may be of use to the community. And you are further encourage to participate actively in the IMC group. Our meetings are open to the public, and announced.
Q: Must posts be approved before they appear on the newswire?
A: No, just like the old system, all posts immediately go up.
Q: I just posted my article and it's not at the very top of the newswire. What's up?
A: There are now *three* newswires that compose the left column: local material, elsewhere material, and other sources material. Your piece will be at the top of whatever newswire you designated when you posted the message.
Q: So won't jerks and trolls mislable their news as local news even if it isn't?
A: No. Editors will toss it to whatever newswire it belongs in as soon as they spot the mislabeling. If it seems like a system of abuse--a pattern of purposely posting in the wrong group by what seems to be the same person--it risks just get ting flat out hidden as spam or trolling.
Q: Do I need to create a user account to read the site or post articles?
A: No
Q: Then why should I bother creating a user account in the first place?
A: There are a lot of handy features you can only use as a registered user, like setting newswire thresholds, choosing from different default "themes" of how the site looks, and editing material you submitted earlier.
Q: But I want to use those features, and I don't want to give my real name or email address.
A: No problem, you can always register under a fictitious account and/or email address. Source credibility is always an issue, and readers may be more likely to "trust" material from a registered source with a verified email address, but that's entirely your choice.
Q: How does the whole verified email address thing work?
A: If you register for an account and give an e mail address you want verified, you will get an email message sent to that address with a return web address that will validate that the email address you gave is your own. (Similar to other email verifying systems.)
Hope that helps :-)
The left-hand column lists the main sub-section pages of the site, as well as a frequently-updated list of the other Indymedia sites across the globe.
Users are encouraged to visit the login page, where they can create a user account that facilitates publishing articles, and allows some rudimentary filtering preferences based on ratings (see below for more on ratings).
The center column is where newswire articles approved by editorial group, can be featured, especially original news from the DC/VA/MD area.
The media gallery, highlighted at the top of the right-hand column, is our repository for photos, videos, and audio files uploaded to the site. When users have media to upload without accompanying text, from protest photos to flyer illustrations and PDF files, it goes to the media gallery. The gallery is broken down into categories, and can be searched by title, keyword, caption, or artist.
The newswire, displayed in the right-hand column, is the backbone of Indymedia. Articles found on the newswire are uploaded by users all over the world, and instantly displayed on the site. For our part, we have divided articles into "Local Interest" and "Elsewhere", so as to highlight local events and discussion.
Editors will remove articles in direct violation of editorial policy. This includes advertising, duplicate posts - see Editorial Policy.
The second method is our user rating system. While browsing the site, you are encouraged to rate articles using the popup menu at the end of each piece. While user ratings cannot remove an article from the site completely, they serve the invaluable role of deciding how much prominence is given to the display of an article.
By default, only articles rated 0 and above are displayed in the right-hand column, and on the "newswire" home page. This is called the "display threshold." If you have created a user account, you can even alter that threshold to suit your own needs, e.g., display only articles receiving +3 or higher. Articles which fall below the threshold are moved to the hidden articles section, which is linked from the bottom of the newswire column. They are still available on the site, and can be linked to directly, but their prominence is degraded as a result of user input. You are encouraged to visit the hidden articles section to see what ends up there, and why.
Finally, remember that the Indymedia site is here for you. We encourage you to upload your own stories, commentaries, and announcements that may be of use to the community. And you are further encourage to participate actively in the IMC group. Our meetings are open to the public, and announced.
Q&As
Q: Must posts be approved before they appear on the newswire?
A: No, just like the old system, all posts immediately go up.
Q: I just posted my article and it's not at the very top of the newswire. What's up?
A: There are now *three* newswires that compose the left column: local material, elsewhere material, and other sources material. Your piece will be at the top of whatever newswire you designated when you posted the message.
Q: So won't jerks and trolls mislable their news as local news even if it isn't?
A: No. Editors will toss it to whatever newswire it belongs in as soon as they spot the mislabeling. If it seems like a system of abuse--a pattern of purposely posting in the wrong group by what seems to be the same person--it risks just get ting flat out hidden as spam or trolling.
Q: Do I need to create a user account to read the site or post articles?
A: No
Q: Then why should I bother creating a user account in the first place?
A: There are a lot of handy features you can only use as a registered user, like setting newswire thresholds, choosing from different default "themes" of how the site looks, and editing material you submitted earlier.
Q: But I want to use those features, and I don't want to give my real name or email address.
A: No problem, you can always register under a fictitious account and/or email address. Source credibility is always an issue, and readers may be more likely to "trust" material from a registered source with a verified email address, but that's entirely your choice.
Q: How does the whole verified email address thing work?
A: If you register for an account and give an e mail address you want verified, you will get an email message sent to that address with a return web address that will validate that the email address you gave is your own. (Similar to other email verifying systems.)
Hope that helps :-)
This site made manifest by dadaIMC software