Hello to all mediamakers and media activists in print, radio, video, and internet publishing around the US and the globe:
A new ad-hoc coalition of many community based organizations, activist groups, alternative parties, etc. is being created in Los Angeles to organize the various demonstrations, protests, press conferences, street theatre, etc. which will take place during the Democratic National Convention, Mon Aug 14 through Thursday Aug 17 at the Staples Center in downtown LA. There will even be a People's Convention in downtown LA just before the DNC,from Sat Aug 12-Sun Aug 13. It is expected that all 4 days of the DNC will be filled with protests around many issues--education, not prisons, environmental concerns, the growing gap between rich and poor, most evident in LA, a need for national health care, transfer of funds from the military budget to domestic needs, etc. etc. etc. An interesting note--while 5,000 delegates will be present for the DNC, 15,000 members of the national and international media will also be present!
The National Lawyers Guild has set up a sub-committee to begin negotiating with the LAPD about the demonstrators' right to march. The NLG will probably have to go to court since the LAPD is going to set up a protest pit where they want all demonstrators to be every day. The LAPD is already planning to block some downtown freeway exits and they will be blocking off major streets around the Staples Center. The LAPD was in Seattle networking with the Seattle PD during the WTO protests in order to prepare for the DNC in August!
In light of the expected protests, demonstrations, etc., the LA Alternative Media Network and other media activist groups and individuals in LA are planning to set up an Independent Media Center (IMC) in walking distance of the Staples Center. Using the IMC in Seattle as a model, we want to have:
** teams of videographers covering the protests outside, the proceedings inside the Convention, and editing the footage for webcasting and satellite casting; ** teams of radio journalists who will also capture sound, edit their interviews and stream audio on our website; ** print journalists and photographers who will write daily stories with photos on our website; ** live interviews/press conferences to be taped for broadcasting; **the LA Free Press to be published on a daily basis; **a mobile micro-power radio unit.- in downtown LA.
We will be using the same website used in Seattle, with an identifier: la-indymedia.org. Since indymedia.org got over a million hits during the WTO protests, and continues to get a lot of traffic everyday, the same generic website will be used for future large-scale actions--ie. the shut down of the World Bank/IMF April 14-16 in Washington, DC, the Republican Convention protests in Philadelphia, July 31-Aug 3 and the Democratic Convention protests in LA Aug 14-Aug 17.
We are currently looking for a large 3,000 sq. foot space in walking distance of the Staples Center, which will be available to use 24 hours/day. We have a good possibility and hopefully we will be putting a down payment on a suitable space very soon. The real estate prices in downtown LA are very high--$1.25 per sq. foot and we are currently writing a grant proposal to start raising funds. Our IMC will have to be set up well in advance of the DNC since it will require Pacific Bell to install high speed lines, plus regular phone lines, and require our techs time to set up the computers, the website, etc.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING US AT THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER (IMC)? If you are, please state whether you are print,radio,video,internet journalists,computer techs, etc. We are also looking for donated computer equipment, modems, fax machines, copiers,scanners, etc. etc.
If you are a media professor/instructor, this would be a good media project for your students to get involved with, and to get credit for their classes.
If you are a media outlet, and you need separate office space from the large room where the IMC will be housed, we can reserve office space for you in the same building. Please let us know.
If you would like to be linked to la-indymedia.org, please give us your web address.
IF YOU ARE COMING TO LA,IT'S IMPORTANT TO APPLY FOR DNC PRESS PASSES NOW.
For daily newspapers, news wire services and on-line daily computer services, apply to on-line link to "Daily Press" from: www.senate.gov/galleries
For periodical press--all magazines, newsletters,newspapers less than daily circulation, and websites updated less than daily, apply to on-line link to "Periodical Press" from:www.senate.gov/galleries
For photographers (all must be on assignment from a particular organization), apply to on-line link to "Photo Press" from: www.senate.gov/galleries
For radio-tv gallery--all independent radio and tv stations and groups, domestic and foreign, apply to on-line link directly to: www.house.gov/radiotv
All other news organizations, including community newspapers, the publications of membership organizations, quarterlies, college media, production houses, and media service organizations, you have to contact the 2000 DNC Committee, Media Arrangements, DNCC Press Gallery, 515 S. Flower St., 42nd floor, LA, Ca. 90071.
Hope to see you in August. Joan Sekler, coordinator, LA Alternative Media Network
***************************** Joan Sekler Coordinator LA Alternative Media Network Phone / Fax: (310) 458-6566 Email: sekler at labridge.com http://home.labridge.com/~laamn/ *****************************