"Indymedia Spreads Across the Globe : Grass Roots Internet Phenomena:
 http://www.indymedia.org/

In a space of less than four years, a global grass roots media network
has sprung up that has connected literally tens of thousands of media
makers, created web sites visited by millions, projected videos in
hundreds of venues, published newspapers in print runs of tens of
thousands and transmitted web and micro radio programs that have found
avid and loyal audiences. The first Independent Media Center was
created to provide a convenient physical work area and a corresponding
website from which media makers could cover the scheduled demonstrations
against the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle in the fall of 1999.

Indymedia uses ingenious open-source software which allows anyone to
post text, photos, audio and video very easily to the web from any home
or public computer. The web sites encourage collaboration between video
activists, community radio producers, photographers, print journalists
and computer mavens. Indymedia has encouraged collaborations not on the
web sites, but in promotion of video screenings, photo and graphics
exhibits from print-outs of indymedia images, programming on community
radio, and in sharing resources, studios and equipment.

Since Seattle, the indymedia movement has spread to over 130 locations.
There are IMCs in 51 countries. The United States alone has 47
different web sites, that extend from the state of Maine to one for San
Diego and the border region. The combined totals of visits to the
indymedia servers, make this network one of the most visited of the
entire internet.

In many communities, indymedia "news" has made important contributions
to local social justice movements. In Cinncinatti, Ohio, indymedia has
brought to light decades of police brutality against African American
communities. In San Diego, California, harassment of Mexican immigrants
on the public trolleys was exposed in video posted to their site which
was later used in court. South African Indymedia has made important
contributions in bringing to light the problems of water privatization
and the thousands of evictions perpetrated by the ANC government on
behalf of the banks. In Argentina, where chaos ensued in December 2001,
the IMC became a key source for information, as literally millions
logged on every week. The reasons of the burgeoning use of this network
are the open and readily accessible technology and publishing space,
which mirrors the collaborative structures of the anti-globalization
movement, whose proceses are transparent and whose operative principle
is consensus."