A big media hoe-down
Nov 25 2006
As I understand it, this kind of thing has been done with some success before, but not for a long time.
I'm knocking around an idea for the new year which would basically involve putting together a big media conference featuring every anarchist/activist media group, bring in writers old and new, groups who have been thinking about setting something up, pull in (and train up?) wannabe journos, analysts etc for swapping contacts and knowledge and maybe even getting together a new marketing organisation (INK being seemingly dead?). Generally the remit would be to give anarch media a bit of a kick in the arse.
The people I've spoken to about it reckon it'd be a really good idea, but clearly it would be a bit of work both to put it together and to promote it properly. It'd have to be a fairly wide-spectrum thing, my initial list of people to send invites to would be something like:
- Freedom (I suspect the forthcoming redesign might get it's effective launch here 
)
- Black Flag (with an inaugural meetup to recompose the mag, possibly put a plea in promo literature etc)
- Libcom
- DA
- Aufheben
- Catalyst
- Organise!
- Resistance
- Bread and Roses
- Class War
- Touch of Class
- Schnews
- Indymedia (general callout, all branches, but no workshops on 9/11 sadly 
)
- Bristle
- Totally Indypendent
- Gagged!
- Notes from the Borderland
Who have I missed off?
My intial thoughts on what would happen at it include:
- Main anteroom to feature examples of anarch mags/newspapers etc, and at least some of it to be set aside specifically for people to gladhand. Blank cards to be available for people to swap details, name tags with space for the region a person lives in and areas of expertise (eg. job or specialist subject)?
- Journalism and investigative workshops held by long-timers and professionals
- Panel talks to be held on specific topics, eg. NHS, Pensions, by people who have been investigating the field, to draw in like-minded reporters/analysts/investigators, with an aim of again putting people with a wide knowledge base in these topics together and seeing what can be worked out for pamphlets, or supplements, or individual articles.
- Black Flag launch meeting (possibly to include a couple of dummy designs?)
Again, what would be peoples' ideas? Most of this stuff id off the top of my head.
Nov 26 2006
#2
Well, if it hasn't been done for a long time, maybe it's time it was done again. There seems to be a need for some reorganisation at the moment.
I'd certainly be up for coming to something like this.
We'd need a decent location, accessible to as many folk as possible. (I suggest London as rail/bus connections are good. I live in Plymouth and I'd be prepared to make the trip).
Also a lot of invites (or one standard one sent out via existing media) to various groups and individuals. I'd also suggest adding AK Press to your list above.
Once we've decided where in the country it'll be, we'll need someone local to book a venue and handle booking fees and so on. I'd suggest a small to medium venue like a community centre or something.
A decent agenda of workshops, meetings etc that will attract as many folk as possible.
Will this be a weekend do or just a one day event? If it's going to be a weekend do then accomodation needs to be organised for anyone from out of town.
A working group might be an idea. Get some likeminded folk together and thrash out the details. Maybe a usergroup or a wiki page or something to keep everyone posted.
Some well-known speakers and individuals might serve to attract people as well.
Overall, I'd say it's a great idea and could certainly be done with even a small group of people. Last year I helped plan and run a CND conference in Plymouth as part of a steering group of only eight or nine people and that involved hiring the Plymouth Guildhall, so there's no reason to think an event like this couldn't be put on in London with its much bigger activist base.
I'm not sure how much I'd be able to offer in terms of practical help from such a distance, but I definitely think this can and should be done.
Nov 26 2006
#3
wouldn't it make sense to have it somewhere like birmingham or manchester, so that people in scotland and the north would have less distance to travel?
Nov 27 2006
#4
Mm at least a couple of people I’ve spoken to have suggested somwehere along a main rail line in the midlands - (probly not Birmingham as it’s too far west tho?), which might be an idea if making it fair in terms of travel. If it was like that a two-day conference might be tricky however (there’s not much of a presence to put people up etc), and if you’re tlaking about the south all lines lead to London first pretty much which is another factor.
Nov 27 2006
#5
i've forwarded this to the aufheben list btw
Nov 27 2006
#6
Ta, I'll start spreading it around as an idea in other plances (pointing people to this thread possible) tonight/tomorrow or something.
Nov 27 2006
#7
how about nottingham or leicester?
Nov 27 2006
#8
Nottingham could be a possible because of sumac, dunno what the trains are lke to get there from down south? Not sure about Leicester, tbh I know next to nohting about the place...
Nov 27 2006
#9
ye missed off norwich anarchists - they make a blinder of a paper 
Nov 27 2006
#10
All Norwich publications are now independent entities (of political groups.) Now or Never! and The Great Commotion are both from Norwich.
I think it would be good to have part of it for local freesheet type stuff?
Unless my girlfriend is ill (in joke), and providing it's far enough in advance I'd definitely be interested.
I think it would be good to learn as many practical skills as possible - though in the field of journalism to an extent that would partly be computer based, which is a pain. Perhaps there could be some kind of online tutorial process for things like DTP on a separate date.
I think its worth trying to think of the practical outcome of this conference. I think it would be cool if we could look at trying to sort out distribution networks (particularly of Freedom) better for example.
Nov 27 2006
#11
Quote:
All Norwich publications are now independent entities
consider my wrist slapped
Nov 27 2006
#12
Seems a good idea in principle, providing there us sufficient notice
Dec 18 2006
#13
So, when and where is this event going to happen?
Let me know and what I can do to help and I'm there.
Dec 18 2006
#14
Sorry yeah have been putting this on the backburner last couple of weeks. As to what you could do to help, I guess if you know anyone with any skills in subbing, page design, news reporting etc then getting hold of them and forcing them at gunpoint to agree to do a seminar would be good .
Dec 18 2006
#15
I'm interested in this, but I'm sceptical as to its actual potential concrete benefits...
Dec 18 2006
#16
Well, the one thing I want to sort out is skills so that the various people who know stuff can pass it along, which if done well enough could drive the skill level of our reported media much higher. For that reason it might have to be a paid-for event cos dragging proper people out to teach activists how they do their job would involve paying at least train fare and more likely a bit on the side too.
You'd need basic training sessions in page design, writing, researching (online and off), interviewing, marketing, computer use for the illiterate. Added to that I'd reckon to put together a dummy issue of Black Flag as a group exercise for training stuff along these lines. I'd envision that being for a first day of two (or maybe two days of three - NUJ courses last six months minimum and don't teach all of the above).
On the final day, you'd have the conference session, which would be free and could have:
- Intoductory exhibition of publications available today with contact details, costing, reps to explain politics, take subs and who have a list of positions they are looking to fill for each one. Unattached people who would like to write wear blue spots or name tags or something and thus can be picked up on and potentially slotted into a position.
- Specialist correspondent meetings inviting people who a) are b) want to be specialised in a certain field to create knowledge-sharing collectives to help correspondents from different mags/papers to build up their contacts lists, keep up to date on what's going on and make new connections for new angles.
- A general meeting including delegates from all publications. This'd be easily the most contentious cos none of us can ever agree on anything but would hopefully focus purely on future skills training, where existing skills are being underutilised (or overworked) and how o market ourselves.
Basically I'd have no interest in this having any actual position or political programme, it'd simply be a means of upgrading our media capacity.
Feb 13 2007
#17
Not quite a bump this, Schnews are calling for an entirely-seperately-decided-upon media gathering on May 11-13 provisionally, I'm just contacting them about it to see what they have in mind overall - I'd rather someone else organise the bulk of this sort of stuff than me, so if it seems sensible I'll just tack my ideas on and bitch/gripe until they give in .
Feb 14 2007
#18
us Gagged! mob are up for a coming down and chucking out advice and learning too. A newsletter like ours shouldn't be beyond the abilities of any anarchist groupings about the place.
What is happening with Black Flag by the way? Would be good to have a DECENT anarchist magazine that covers the spectrum of anarchist activity from the UK.
Feb 14 2007
#19
Last I spoke to anarcho (ie. Black Flag editor) he was looking at putting together a preliminary editorial meeting in March, but he's pretty busy with the Anarchist FAQ so would probably appreciate any help ppl can give him organising it. It's be really good to have a mag of sorts primed for May if this Schnews conference comes together, have something to show people.
Feb 15 2007
#20
I'd love to help out with Black Flag, however realistically I dunno if I'd have enough time to put in the level of work required.
Feb 15 2007
#21
Well depending on frequency, something like Black Flag can benefit from relatively small amounts of work, eg. an article once or even twice per issue about something important going on in Wales wouldn't take up more than a few hours every month, but it does mean editors would have that much work less to do (plus of course it cuts down on hunting around for writers, which is a killer) every issue so it's a big help. Outside editorial, joining in on the marketing side is equally useful, simply phoning round magazine shops, hassling people and generally persuading friends/neighbours/acquaintances to take out subs or stacks can take up as much of little time as you want.
Feb 15 2007
#22
Sure I think that Black Flag has to publish regular articles from all the local anarchists groups. We'll definately be submitting stuff (most likely the larger articles from gagged before they get editted for length) or serveral articles for successive issues on the same topic bolted together.
we'll doubtless take a pile to flog down this way too.
All this depends it being any good of course
Feb 15 2007
#23
I meant editing and harrassing people for articles etc really when I sead 'help out'
Mar 12 2007
#24
From the schnews lot:
You're all welcome down to Brighton for...
M For Media Malarkey - the SchNEWS Alternative Media Gathering 2007
May 11-13th 2007
Cowley Club, 12 London Rd, Brighton, BN1 4JA
SchNEWS, the direct action newssheet invites you to it’s first
multi-media-activist gathering. As well as a coming together of those
already involved in web, video, print, photography, and radio in
alternative/independent media, this event will also be for new people
wanting to get involved. There will be workshops for learning practical
skills, as well as discussions and forums for those already involved in
the media activist malarkey. There will be screenings and stalls
throughout the weekend to showcase what's currently being produced
independently, as well as a party on Saturday evening, with either a
live comedian or band with dj's to follow.
Starting on Friday evening and going through to Sunday evening, there
will be a range of discussions, and hands-on practical workshops in the
various media. Some of the topics up for discussion will include 'using
web and print to publicise campaigns or mobilise communities', 'how to
research so your newsletter isn't just full of cut'n'paste off
Indymedia', 'getting your films screened and online' as well as a range
of practical workshops and how-to sessions - a full schedule will go
online soon. There will be stall space for print media and
opportunities
to screen video all weekend.
The event will be free/donation, and vegan food will be available
during
the weekend in the Cowley Club.
If you would like to be come along, or be involved in any of the
discussions, and if you need accommodation, please contact SchNEWS now!
Email schnews@brighton.co.uk tel 01273 685 913, web www.schnews.org.uk
Well that dropped like a stone...