Principles of Unity

This Indymedia Collective (IMC):

  • is based upon principles of equality, decentralization and local autonomy. The IMC is not derived from a centralized bureaucratic process, but from the self-organization of autonomous collectives that recognize the importance in developing a union.
  • considers open exchange of and open access to information a prerequisite to the building of a more free and just society.
  • respects the right of activists who choose not to be photographed or filmed.
  • is based upon the trust of their contributors and readers, shall utilise open web based publishing, allowing individuals, groups and organizations to express their views, anonymously if desired.
  • shall be not-for-profit and shall in no way engage in commercial for-profit enterprises. The IMC is committed to the decommercialization of information.
  • recognizes the importance of process to social change and is committed to the development of non-hierarchical and anti-authoritarian relationships, from interpersonal relationships to group dynamics. Therefore, they shall organize themselves collectively and be committed to the principle of consensus decision making and the development of a direct, participatory democratic process that is open, egalitarian and transparent to its membership.
  • is committed to caring for its members and our respective communities both collectively and as individuals and will promote the sharing of resources including knowledge, skills and equipment.
  • shall be committed to the use of free and open source code, whenever possible, in order to develop the digital infrastructure, and to increase the independence of the network by not relying on proprietary software.
  • shall be committed to the principle of human equality, and shall not discriminate, including discrimination based upon race, gender, age, class or sexual orientation and are committed to building diversity within our collective.
  • will have open and public meetings. No one group will have exclusionary `ownership' of the IMC.
  • will establish and publish an editorial policy, which is developed and functions through democratic process, and with full transparency and will use Open Publishing as described in the Editorial Policy.
  • will participate in the key IMC Network Communication Methods that pertain to the health and vitality of the Network and that contribute to the work of the IMC. We will ensure that at least one person from the IMC participates at any given time on the IMC-Communications list.
  • will ensure that at least one person from the local Australian IMCs (that use this site) participates at any given time on the IMC-Australia list.
  • will have no official affiliation with any political party, state or candidate for office, but individual IMC volunteers are free to participate in such institutions, providing that this participation does not prejudice the independence of the IMC.
  • will display a local version of the IMC ((i)) logo on its website and literature.