CENTRAL VALLEY INDYMEDIA CENTER

By Mike Rhodes

September 27, 2003

An Indymedia center for the Central Valley in California came one step closer to reality at a meeting held last night in Modesto. Indymedia activists envision an Indymedia site that would stretch from Bakersfield to Chico and into the foothills and mountains to the East. The meeting, held at the Modesto Peace and Life Center, drew Indymedia activists from Fresno and Modesto. There has been talk for some time about Sacramento starting an Indymedia site but representatives from there did not attend.

The plan that emerged from the meeting was that the new Indymedia site would cover the Central Area of California not currently covered by centers in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles. It was agreed that this region is unique and needs to have its own Indymedia center. An editorial collective will determine what is on the home page and there will be a button to click on for news and commentary about events happening in each community or sub-region. It was felt that this would give activists who are working for peace, social and economic change an opportunity to link up with others throughout the region. The content that is posted on this site will also be useful for numerous other independent media projects (radio, TV, and print) to amplify the voices of those not usually heard on the corporate media.

The next step in this process is to build the Indymedia collective, bring in community groups and organizations to support the work, and to set up a working model of the site ASAP. Organizational details about becoming an official Indymedia center are being worked on by Doug: driller9@msn.com and Brad :partytown@charter.net (209)-545-4227 in Modesto.

The next organizing meeting will be held at the Modesto Peace and Life Center, 13th St. Between G. and H. St. at 7:30 PM on Friday, October 24. If you are interested in supporting this effort, you are encouraged to attend this meeting. If you have questions you can contact Doug or Brad (contact information above) or me at AllianceEditor@Comcast.net .