Be inspired. Be moved. And move people and your stories… to the US Social Forum!
The ways by which we communicate and learn about our communities and the world are rapidly changing. The People’s Media Center (PMC) at this year’s US Social Forum in Detroit this June seeks to keep up with this evolving media landscape and once again break new ground in changing the relationships between media, cultural workers and the movements they cover. The People’s Media Center will serve not only as a hub for traditional, new and people’s journalists in this new media world to connect and share, but also a space for many story-telling, cultural and artistic activities to take place continuously and throughout the forum. And, with your involvement and support, the People's Media Center will also leave in place valuable resources and equipment for local Detroit organizations that otherwise would not be able to as effectively produce or be a part of this emerging peoples-media movement.
Up-to-the-minute radio, print and video reports produced through the center will be broadcast on partnering networks such as Prometheus Radio; fed to local and national media outlets; and published on social networks, blogs, websites and portals all across the US and the world. With daily press briefings and a diverse speakers' bureau, the center will also seek to connect grassroots organizers and leaders with mainstream journalists to generate widespread coverage of the ideas, events and people of the USSF. The PMC also will produce a USSF newspaper for all forum participants with event updates and forum stories, testimonials and daily news happenings.
Many organizations have expressed interest in this project. Every single idea we've heard is brilliant! The next step is to help us make it happen.
Ways to get involved in the process:
We consider all individuals to be Media Makers and are supporting the creation of a progressive communications network both in the US and globally. And, we all embrace an open and decentralized approach to constructing this network.
Therefore, there are no press passes at the US Social Forum. We ask that everyone register, including staff, volunteers and media (online registration is encouraged, but you can also register at the door. Daily rates are available onsite). We consider all participants part of the community/movement. The registration fee is purposely set low, so the forum is accessible for all people. It’s a symbolic contribution to the host city and the vision of Another World is Possible, Another US is Necessary, and Another Detroit is Happening!
PEOPLE’S MEDIA CENTER is located on the second floor of Cobo Hall in the Ambassador’s Dining Room. Open Hours: 8am till 11pm. Come collaborate, volunteer, and participate!
INFORMATION/HELP DESK: The help desk will be located in the front of the People’s Media Center. There will be a help desk and tech point person available at all times to answer any and all questions.
DAILY BRIEFINGS: Receive daily, breaking news and updates, and meet USSF newsmakers at the Peoples’ Media Center, Wednesday - Saturday, 9 am-?
SPEAKERS/INTERVIEWS: Most speakers, panels, performers and organizations have their information posted in the workshop area. Please feel free to research the organizing site for potential interviews(http://organize.ussf2010.org/workshops). USSF spokespeople can be located in the press kit: http://www.ussf2010.org/media.
USSF cannot arrange interviews, they are self-organized.
SELF-ORGANIZED WORKSHOPS/SCREENINGS: If you need a room for a self-organized workshop, there are open spaces to sign-up for in the main registration area.
Program/Workshop/performance and film screening submissions are closed.
TRAININGS/SKILLSHARES: There will be dedicated times for media makers to offer trainings and skill shares. Those contributing to the PMC will get first priority. More information will be located at the help desk and online.
DEDICATED SPACE: The People’s Media Center is a self-organized and collaborative space. There may be a possibility of dedicated space for participants who contribute to the center, but they cannot be guaranteed. More information will be available at the help desk.
Cobo Hall is a massive space, media makers are encouraged to utilize that space (indoors and out). This is not organized by USSF/PMC.
PRESS CONFERENCES: There will be a designated daily briefing/press conference area, in the PMC. Media makers are encouraged to self-organize their own press conferences, especially based on daily themes. We also encourage media to collaborate on conferences.
LIVE ROOM: There will be a designated, self-directed live room for interviews and recording (Room W2-71). Equipment will not be provided.
Sign-up for a schedule time slot at the PMC help desk, maximum time wil be one hour. There will also be time blocked out for collaboration and walk-ins.
COMMUNITY NEWSROOM AND MEDIA WORKSHOP: Find stories, create collective media strategies, make connections for collaborative projects and receive help with editing and producing your media. Join us Wednesday – Saturday.
MEDIA POOL: will be online and accessed through the Detroit Expanded and Peoples’ Media Center websites (accessed through http://abc.ussf2010.org/dex-events or http://www.ussf2010.org/media).
BANNERS/POSTERS: The USSF will have a large blank banner available for PMC participants to add to. It will be made out of recycled plastic bottles. Since the PMC is a collaborative/community space, we’d like to have everyone contribute their own vision, creativity and media expression to the blank canvas.
The PMC will allow banners/posters/art to be displayed in the space; we will not be placing vinyl banners with simply names and logos. The banners/posters/art can display names and logos, but should also be informational. How does what you do tie into what is happening at the forum/PMC? Media/media makers are also connected to what’s happening at the USSF, we’d like to have banners demonstrate that connection with a more artistic/creative/visionary approach.
USSF WRITER’S NETWORK: To connect and join with the network email ussfwriters@gmail.com or check out: ussf2010.org/writersnetwork.
EQUPIMENT: The PMC will have computer and plug-in workstations. Additional audio, video and software are provided by participating groups and producers for collaborative media work. Donations are welcome throughout the forum.
INTERNET CONNECTION: Cobo Hall has a fiber connection to the Internet at 200 mega bits, which is unbelievably fast.
DSL/ISDN CONNECTIONS: There will be no ISDN lines, but there will be a landline located in W2-71. DSL will be available in the People’s Media Center and Registration area.
VOLUNTEER: Stop by the PMC and sign-up for a volunteer time slot to help run the media center: outreach, skill-share scheduling, live-room scheduling, media pool and other areas that need your help to make this vision a reality.
Sign-up ahead of time: http://www.ussf2010.org/volunteer or check out the wiki schedule of volunteers (just add your name and contact info): http://wiki.ussf2010.org/wiki/PMC_volunteer_sign-up. Direct contact Scott Byrd: sbyrd@riseup.net.
The Social Forum process aims to build communities and networks in Detroit, the United States, and the world. Detroit Expanded (or, "Dex") is one way that your organizing efforts towards the 2nd US Social Forum directly benefit your community. Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in Social Forum processes over the last decade. However, millions of people struggle in their own communities on an ongoing basis to create social change. We don't expect millions of people in Detroit. But with the use of technology, the US Social Forum can be open to all.
Learn more: http://abc.ussf2010.org/dex-events
