PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

G-Infinity Media
by Jessica Sunday, Aug. 09, 2009 at 3:21 PM
info at indypgh.org

Pittsburgh Indymedia launches G-Infinity media for the G-20 summit, to bring together grassroots voices to cover issues related to the policies of the G-20 from a people's perspective.

The G-20 summit brings together 19 national leaders from nations controlling 85% of the world‘s wealth to set world economic policies. Is this a democratic forum for decisions that affect all 203 nations and 6.7 billion people in the world?

Pittsburgh, as the host city, is being proclaimed a success at economic recovery, and a green economy. Is this the whole story?

The Pittsburgh Independent Media Center is dedicated to grassroots, community-based news. For the G-20, we are creating G-Infinity media, to tell the story of the people who won't be in the room.

• We will host a live web-streaming, G-infinity radio broadcast 24 hours a day during the week surrounding the G-20 summit.
• Pittsburgh's Indymedia website will host multimedia content and link to independent media from around the world.

By bringing together people working in their communities to tell their own stories in these forums, we aim to create a full-spectrum media picture much broader than that of the G-20.

We are looking for:

• Local and national contributors from diverse community groups to build content for the G-Infinity webstream. Can include radio, print, photos, videos, blogs, and more.
• Listeners who want to hear more than just the drum banging of the commercial media.

We want your stories and ideas! And we train new media makers with all the skills you need! We can work with individuals and groups. Get in touch at: info@indypgh.org.

The website and webstream will feature a mix of up-to-the minute coverage of what's happening on the ground during the G-20 meetings, and issue-focused content that may be submitted in advance. You can help with both!

Before the meetings

• We are gathering media that will set the context for the meetings, from the peoples' perspective.
• We offer training on media literacy for independent journalism; audio recording and editing; and basic web skills for journalism. We will schedule to accommodate groups of interested people.
• We would like to build partnerships with grassroots media producers around the country and around the world to gather a broad spectrum of content.
• Topic ideas for content:
  • How have you and your community been affected by the policies promoted by the G-20, such as free trade, the economic stimulus package, and neoliberal economic policies?
  • How have policies favoring global economic interests affected Pittsburgh, including the economic collapse of the early '80s?
  • Has Pittsburgh truly achieved a "green" economic recovery? Is the recovery affecting all communities equally?
  • What will it take to bring about a recovery that is just and inclusive of all, and truly sustainable? Who do you know that is working to make this happen, and what is their story?
  • What links can be made between the experience of communities here in Pittsburgh, with other parts of America and communities around the world?

During the meetings

• We need lots of reporters on the ground! We may be able to loan small recording devices. We also hope to integrate content from mobile devices such as i-phones.
• The Pittsburgh IMC office will serve as a media convergence space, where local and visiting media makers can use the facilities to create and disseminate independent media.
• We will also need audio and print editors and trainers to help transform raw content.