Publication
Title
Indymedia in Belgium: the delicate balance between media activism and political activism
Author
Abstract
Belgium was one of the first European countries to establish a local ‘national’ branch of the global Indymedia network. The diversity of those involved in this ‘national movement’ ultimately turned out to be both the strength of the original website and the cause of its decline. Indeed, due to political and organizational disagreement, many activists decided to create their own ‘local’ Independent Media Centre (IMC). This article distinguishes two perspectives on the role of Indymedia: the political activists saw Indymedia as a means to an end, as an instrument to discuss strategies and tactics, and to coordinate social movements and grassroots movements. The media activists, on the contrary, saw Indymedia as an end in itself, as a platform for civil society organizations to make their voices heard and facilitate democratic debate – in this vein, the experience of Indymedia.be was transformed into the alternative news site DeWereldMorgen.be.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Media, culture and society. - London, 1979, currens
Publication
London : Sage publications ltd , 2020
ISSN
0163-4437 [print]
1460-3675 [online]
DOI
10.1177/0163443720926047
Volume/pages
p. 1-8
Article Reference
UNSP 0163443720926047
ISI
000534929000001
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
How alternative are alternative media? A multilevel and multimethod investigation into the contribution of online news startups to media pluralism in Flanders.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.06.2020
Last edited 02.10.2024
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