Gathering Storm: The Open Cyber Forum of Indymedia

Abstract

One of the notable aspects of the recent anti-globalisation activism has been the powerful integration of the movement with the alternative media. Media activists have constructed their own public information spaces by integrating various media formats and technologies: camcorders, web radio, streaming video, microradio, digital photography, community cable access, DBS transponders and laptop journalism. The revolution is not only televised, but digitized and streamed. This is not an attempt to "get on TV" but a commitment to create new forms of information sharing using new spaces and technologies, and new ways of collaboration.



In Seattle and Davos, DC and Prague, in Calgary and Nice, media activists and environmentalists, labor rank and file and tree huggers coalesced into a formidable force that has had an impact not only on the international moneylenders, but has caused major disruptions for agribusiness giants such as Monsanto and fashion outlets at the Mall like Gap and Nike.

One of the notable aspects of the activism of the past three years has been the powerful integration of the movement with the alternative media. This is not an attempt to "get on TV", but a commitment to create new forms of information sharing using new spaces and technologies and new ways of collaboration. This media movement has emerged through the creation of Independent Media Centers (IMCs), where media activists have constructed their own public information spaces, both physical and virtual, by integrating various media formats and technologies: camcorders, web radio, streaming video, microradio, digital photography, community cable access channels, DBS transponders and laptop journalism. This time the revolution is not only televised, but digitized and streamed.

Behind the strategic blockades of the radical environmentalists and the lively and passionate video tapes and web sites produced by the camcorder commandos and data dancers, the IMCs represent a sea-change in the form of public action and its documentation. The most radical aspect of the anti-globalization movement is its non-hierarchical nature. The decision making is by consensus. All participants are themselves empowered. And that goes for the media, as well as the movement.

The Independent Media Centers have emerged as models, not only for new ways of media making, but as practical examples of collective production. Many different streams came together: the video activist community, the micro-radio pirates, the computer hacker/codewriters, the 'zine makers and the punk music world. These multi-media activists were ignited by several gatherings called The Next Five Minutes, organized by Geert Lovink, DavidGarcia and others in Amsterdam during the 1990s. These meetings provided a window on the possibilities of collaborative and participatory mega media events. As the global movement for justice and accountability arose to counter corporate globalization, there was finally a recognition by progressive groups of the importance of alternative media and the realization that the information/ entertainment oligarchy is at the forefront of global capital. The anti-globalization movement sees clearly that corporate media is an integral part of the problem. For these activists, creating new ways of communicating must be part of the solution. The success of the Independent Media Centers is seen as a concrete example that alternative structures for life and work can be effective and powerful...

Click here for the full PDF version of the paper.