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The Didcot action reminded me of the importance of activist media

hamish | 27.10.2009 18:46 | Culture | Indymedia | Social Struggles | Oxford

Why do activist media:

To do an action and not be able to communicate it is almost not to do the action at all.

* You need a photo of the spanner going into the works.
* You need a photo of the campaigners going over the fence.
* You need video of the activist saying why they did it.
* You need a picture of the target and the target at work.

All these things are needed to communicate why, what and when the thing happened – if they aren’t there then the public effect of the action will be but a fraction of what it could be.

The economic damage of the spanner going into the machine will be real, but the inspiration of the action is in many ways as important as coverage like this is probably the reason/motivation for the current action – and it is only a series of actions that will change society, not isolated and invisible single actions. Using media to amplify your message is key to the content of your action.

You could invite mainstream media along:

* But they likely won’t come.
* They will tell the target and/or the police.
* They will not be part of any illegal activity so won't get the shots they need to tell the story.
* When you are done a editor higher up (hand in hand with their lawyers) will change the message to be something you will not only be disappointed with but probably furious with – it’s the nature of mainstream media to misrepresent any social change activity that isn't sanctioned by the mainstream - this is unlikely to change.

Media is key to the message, all media is good media, but some is more useful for radical purpose than others. Lets make DIY work and make our own media.

 http://visionon.tv
 http://hamishcampbell.com

hamish
- Homepage: http://visionon.tv

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Yes and no

27.10.2009 22:56

All true and the Didcot action has done pretty poorly in terms of media coverage considering the action and they don't seem to have produce much content themselves in terms of photos or videos from them. But they did the action and ultimately that's the important bit. They cut down the numbers of people required to a minimum and got the job done when larger groups have failed. It would have been great if they'd taken somebody who role was to take photos/videos etc and it seems like they didn't but I think that can be forgiven considering. It's all too easy for alt media people to become a service industry for activism and not actually do any themselves. I worry about this and am pleased that this action happen regardless of the apparent lack of images it has produced.

a vid bod


um, what was the "Didcot action"?!

28.10.2009 01:11

How about following your own advice about publicising things and explain for those of us that missed it exactly what this "Didcot action" was?! Or just a link to an Indymedia story about it would do.

Remember every story should have Who, Where, What, When, How, Why.

anon


tv

28.10.2009 09:41

Gotta say the lack of coverage on the TV news was quite surprising to me - no criticism intended there.

CRT


This was posted on the Oxford IMC site.

28.10.2009 12:22

The Didcot action will be front page on Oxford indymedia for a while - I always forget that it will be syndicated to the UK page where the context isn't there - as a person whose whole project is about syndication this is a bit of a fault (;

Am curious about the lack of mainstream media coverage - and I think a big part of this is because of lack of images:

some shots

* cycling through the gates
* close-up of angle-grinding the door (no identifying parts in shot)
* running up steps/ladder
* barricading doors
* the moment of coming out on top of chimny
* the view
* setting up camp
* making tea
* being interviewed on media live by phone etc.

Then the story might have been front page around the world?

This is a cut/paste of something I wrote a while back.

Any one wants how to learn more about this stuff from a practical viewpoint, sign up to this course in London (coming nationwide soon).

 http://visionon.tv/training/application

hamish
- Homepage: http://visionon.tv


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