Plotting for the RNC

[Student Guy]

So we know through our training at 'Chicken Little' School that we are smarter than the media. We need to plan on how we are going to cover the RNC.

I am a poor-average writer, but am a good go-fer. I have minor tech skills and will be off school during that time (I think...).

[macarthur31]

Very interesting. I'd be interested in writing, and may have flexible scheduling so I can be there during the day.

[nihilix]

lots of good alternative media opportunities with a lot of different possible political bents here

[Student Guy]

Also I have heard that St. Paul is going to have a 1 block radius cordoned off. Depending on how they do security the shuttles to take people back to their hotels and drop them off might be a good area to pick up on news.

I know people in the hotel business and will see what I can find out about the shuttle zones.

[nihilix]

Well, here's what I know and why...

I'm on the list for community station KFAI (90.3, 106.7 FM - The Field of local radio) and I've been to two media walkthroughs put on by the convention's organizing committee.

They say that there will be a line where cars cannot go, and another line where people without the right passes cannot go - the soft perimeter and the hard perimeter.

They are not releasing what those perimeters are - saying that it's the Secret Service's thing and they haven't made up their minds.

Mears Park will likely be in the hard perimeter. The three surface lots - Travelers, and the two across the streets - will be used for media vans and will be inside the hard perimeter.

So saying a one-block radius might or might not be true.

The Peace Island folks are doing some counter-conference things, and the UpTake and Twin Cities Indymedia are doing more street-level coverage.

The National Lawyer's Guild is looking for representatives to act as legal observers.

I can get more detailed contact information for these folks if you want, just toss me a private message or post something here.

[Jenny]

I think my schedule will be fairly loose in September so count me in.

[Karl S]

I think we need to plan a major thing for the RNC. We need to organize into groups, we need people who can film, people who can produce videos, people who can write, people who can record. We need to do everything.

I'm planning on getting a video camera and mic by the convention and would be happy to be part of a Fieldhands Video Team. We need to try to get some good video and if anything happens capture it all. I could try to organize a video team.

stefanhartwig could you be in charge of photos?

We've got to get organized. We should try to work with the local blogs (Minnesota Independent, MNCampaignReport, MNBlue, MNPublius, etc), local alt media (KFAI, Sothside Pride) and all kinds of other groups to make sure we are very effective.

[nihilix]

There are two video crews, possibly three that I know of.

the uptake - http://theuptake.org/ is doing a swarm
the National Lawyers Guild is looking for videographers to document actions that occur (mostly police actions)

Twin Cities Indymedia might be mounting something separate. They could be a site for any Field Media to post at.

The Stimulator is going to be here.

I don't know about progressive print coverage, if there's coordination or what. I can put anyone in touch with any of the folks listed above.

Minnesota Public Radio will of course be doing coverage. I don't know about KFAI - the news director is leaving two weeks before the event.

So when do we meet???

[Jenny]

Let's try to plan something in July. I am guessing a week night would work best for most, as a lot of us will have plans on the weekends during the summer. What about the week of the 9th? Which night works for everyone? I can do any night except Thursday.

[Ben Masel]

St. Paul's yanked our Permit.

On March 5th, dailykos denizen norahc (Ben Plunkett) obtained permits in the name of "Swift Students for Truthiness" from the St. Paul Parks Department for use of Hamm's Plaza for non-partisan issue oriented expressive activity on Sept. 3d and 4th, 8AM to 8PM. Planned, a "Shutdown Guantanamo Stop Torture" event the 3d, "Stop Government Spying" on the 4th, both starting at 4:00. I'm co-ordinating the "spying" event.

Hamm's is tiny, not much more than a traffic island, so the limit of 91 in attendance at any time was acceptable.

Yesterday, Ben received a Certified Mail from the Parks Department, dated August 5th, indicating that the permits had been revoked, offering alternative space at Ecolab Plasa or Mears Park, both much less visible. Hamm's is 2 blocks from the Convention site at the Excel Center, and faces the St. Paul Hotel, a major delegate hub. I've just lined up an attorney, we'll be seeking a Temporary Restraining Order directing that the Parks Dept. honor the original permit.

[Ben Masel]

Omaha pitstop, great veg food at McFosters Natural Kind Cafe.

Credentialed at Uptake.

Noon-4:20 Saturday at "Minnesota Tea Party" and Drug Peace March, Capitol