Portland Indymedia General Meeting!

I won't be attending, but?

I would like to recommend a few items.

Adding Video to the front page. Generating Excitement! in Media Production.


Investigate the custom media players you can create, and embed on your web page.

Once implemented, solicit Video Reporters to submit their materials in the same

format as Mainstream Media, Only with Your Perspective. Ask the 5 W's at every

Scene. Who, What, Where, When and Why?

Interview Officials, Event Organizers and Attendees, with a 1:30 to 2:30 second

Report.

Once Submitted, Webmasters can have an open upload account (YouTube) then use the

Favorites Feature of His Personal Account (Website Account) to update the Mainpage

with the Best Stories.


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If Video Stories are put together in a format that is in the More Widely accepted

presentation format, you gain two things. Credibility in your Reporting Skills, and

a product that will widen your audience, because they know they are viewing something

informative without a bunch of unnecessary b-roll tape.

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Offer more in depth coverage stories through links below the main player.

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No One will take this medium seriously, until you take it in a serious manner. Not

meaning specifically text stories, because many of them are very well written. But,

More that when doing a Video Story, it's not just raw footage. Ask the questions. Get

the Answers. And, then present your findings.

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Example: When I first came in contact with the indy media phenomenon, I was a freelace

Stringer in Sacramento, Ca. and was shooting the GMO Conference Protest activities of

2002. One of the Indy Media Video Photogs (18-20 Kid with HandyCam)Asked me if I could

get him an Interview with the Sheriff? I said, "Let me see what I can do?"

I walked up to the then standing County Sheriff and explained the situation, and asked

if he would entertain giving the Indy Media an Interview, and He Immediately declined

because he thought there were some objectionable items written or posted about his Dept.

on the Sac-IMC. So, I said, "OK?" - "How 'bout You then John?" John was the Under-Sheriff

standing right there next to Louie, and We had always gotten along fairly well. He said,

"OK!" -------- Now we're to the important part.

I had the Indy Photog step up, and I began the Interview to set example, and observe the

Indy Photog. The Indy Photog became rather stiff and wide eyed as he began video taping

the Sheriff. I asked him if there were any Questions he would like to ask the Sheriff?

and he just sort of mumbled to himself and moved in closer to get a shot of the Sheriff.

The thing is - the Indy Photog was in a daze like he was Photographing the Wildest Beast

in an Animal Park, when this could have been a greater moment in legitimizing his under-

taking as a News or Media Gatherer. Until you are willing to take yourselves seriously,

you won't be putting yourself in a position to tell the whole story.

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And that's my Rant for that subject.

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What I'm really trying to impart to you is, with YouTube Hosting, and a little organization

and video/reporter training. Asking the right questions. And taking on each event as a moment

to be documented; You could develop a Web Based News Organization that rivaled and surpassed

any standing Broadcast News Organization in the World. Your advantages? You Have a World of

Resources, and None of the Overhead. If you become that big, there is not reason that either

thru commercialization, or grants, that you could not offer Your Resources to other Media

Organization, and/or even begin to reward you contributors for their efforts, Or even supply

News Gathering Equipment to offset the investments of your field personnel.


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-Tracy Mapes