*** THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT WAS LOST IN A SERVER CRASH, the currently valid policy is THE JAPANESE VERSION, viewable by changing the view (left top corner) to 'Japanese'

***THIS IS A DRAFT NEW VERSION TO BE DISCUSSED BY active volunteers and SYNCHED WITH JAPANESE***

Purpose of Policies
(modified from Indymedia newswire project)

1. To provide an open-publishing newswire in accordance with established Indymedia mission and philosophy.

2. To maintain the newswire and website as a community space, and a safe environment for users, especially members of unjustly disempowered or marginalized groups.

[3. To acknowledge that words have the power to cause injury, but that instances of injurious speech or writing can be opportunities for discussion and dialougue.]

4. To preserve the quality of the website as a useful media resource for users and readers located in/interested in this region of the world.

Editorial/Moderation Collective

The editorial/moderation collective consists of people who have joined the listserv/mailing list, shown their willingness to contribute and taken some basic training from other active volunteers. They receive passwords for accessing the editorial functions of the site. The collective is currently small and working across multiple language barriers. In spite of best efforts, the policies may not be enforced consistently for lack of resources. If you have concerns about the quality, . please volunteer


Discussions about editorial and other organizing matters can be followed on the listserv 

. Anyone can sign up and join the listserv, though decisions on editorial/moderation issues are limited to currently active volunteers.

Disclaimer: Volunteers cannot be held legally responsible for postings.

Policies for Newswire (open publishing forum) and Comments

Encouraging Posts

Editorial volunteers try to encourage and facilitate postings by individuals or groups who are disempowered and unjustly marginalized in line with established Indymedia philosophy. (Groups and individuals who seek to marginalize or injure others, e.g. racist or masculinist groups do not qualify.) Postings in Japanese, or Jp and English are especially encouraged, and articles of relevance to social and cultural movements and minority peoples the region.

Changing Posts

As a principle, editorial volunteers do not change the content of posts. They may occasionally change formatting, add visuals and/or translations.

Hiding Posts

Newswire posts found to violate the editorial policy may be hidden from the top page by editorial volunteers but remain visible here.

Members of the editorial group are to check each others hides and deletes and discuss if necessary. [=current practice]
[ Ideal practice with sufficiently large collective: When an editorial volunteer hides a posting s/he should tell the email list so the other editorial volunteers have a chance to agree/disagree and discuss. (From Perth IMC) ]

Posts to hide:

1. Blatant political or religious advertising (may also be deleted if deemed googlebomb)
2. Disinformation/misinformation. This includes attempts to spread rumors or impersonate another individual or organization (may be deleted if deemed illegal- e.g. libelous.)
3. Non-Japanese language posts without clear relevance to the region (Japanese, Hokkaido and Ryukyuu Islands, East Asia) or social movements.
4. Posts which promote racism, fascism, xenophobia, homophobia, sexism, anti-semitism - or any other form of discrimination.
5. Cross-postings without localization to multiple open publishing venues, esp. IMCs. If you want to organize internationally, think of your audience and make a sincere effort at localization, including translation. Certain movement announcements or calls for solidarity may be OK.
6. Trolling: Posts that seem devoid of content or analysis and/or designed to disrupt, intimidate or upset others without constructive goal.
7. Flaming: Personal attacks or attacks on groups without attempt at dialogue.
8. Postings in the wrong section: e.g. articles that should be linked as 'otherpress' posted as original articles, comments or discussions posted as new articles.

Deleting
Deleted articles can only be viewed by members of the editorial/moderating collective.

1. Googlebombs - postings with primary purpose to increase the amount of traffic to certain sites
2. Other efforts to use IMC newswires for (self-)promotional purposes or personal communication (including vendettas)
3. Defamatory or libelous posts; posts that incite violence, are threats of violence or otherwise designed to intimidate disempowered members of the community. All threats to hurt anyone with an actual possibility of being carried out and other illegal postings
4. Posts author, family or close community member have requested be hidden. Posts which publish identifying information without the individuals' knowledge or consent.
5. Unreadable/unintelligable posts: images or text-only posts without relevance, gobledigook, nonsense/flooding, rants without point, personal vendettas.
6. Aggressive Cross-posts: duplicate/repetitive/spam posts and crossposts, especially if posted on multiple unrelated IMCs and other open publishing venues (blogs, wikis)
7. Advertising of products or for-profit services
8. Postings that meet 2 or more of 'the reasons for hiding' above. e.g. cross-posted trolling.

Promoting Postings to the Center Column (Features)

[current practice] A volunteer or other list member suggests a feature on the list. If there is no opposition within 2 days, the feature can be posted. In some cases, editorial collective member posts feature without prior consultation, but immediatly notifies the other collective members.

Contesting an editorial decision

We strive to make decisions in a democratic, transparent and accountable manner. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our policy or our practice, or would like to work with IMC Jp, please contact us