TacticalMediaRoom/2022-04-20

Tactical Media Room notes 20 March

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Updates

Online environment

Cloud

In the past week Bibi has been working with Sander to coordinate an online cloud for TMR, to ensure a safe way of sharing documents amongst ourselves. As if this moment, TMR is using the infrastructure of waag (NextCloud). But in the near future TMR will have its own cloud infrastructure with the addition of open office, so the online environment can provide a space to share and even co-author documents.

Public project webpage

Tomorrow (21/04) a project page for TMR will be launched on the website of Waag. This will be a hub to make the activities of TMR public and it can be used as a repository of resources. If you have something you would like to communicate via the TMR channel, feel free to contact Maria (maria@networkcultures.org).
Next to the project page, the event first public event will also be publicly launched tomorrow. A notification on the Signal Chat will follow. Please share the event page in your circles, through your newsletters, websites and with all those you think might be interested. As to ensure the event finds and reaches its public.

Event

As discussed in the signal group, the first public event will be postponed to Thursday 28th of April. Because of the change in dates, not all speakers will be able to make it. We are currently looking for new speakers. Please all search within your network if you can think of someone who can speak on the subject of the public event.
A description of the event:
On this first public program we’ll dive into the current (dis)information landscape. How to find objectivity and support in a complex geopolitical warfare against humanity currently happening in Europe? We will explore the impact on public consciousness, public relations with the state, and access to trustworthy information in times of war.

Model event

Generally, the public events will take this model:

• A short intro by an expert on a specific topic
• Followed by a workshop conducted in smaller groups to encourage collaboration. This will be something practical/hands on.

The events also offer the opportunity for everyone within the TMR to publicly share their work. From the launching of a website to an open call. If you have something you would like to share through the public events, feel free to contact Maria (maria@networkcultures.org).
The events will only be documented through a written report, they will not be live streamed or documented through photos or videos, as to ensure the privacy of everyone involved.

Nuance

A topic that also came up during the previous meeting. TMR would like to be of support + provide a platform for Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians. This requires a nuanced approach and sufficient transparency. Ellen Rutten has shared a disclaimer which the University of New Europe uses in their communications.
Disclaimer sample (from the UNE FAQ doc):
What explains the choice to unite Ukrainian refugee scholars, students and cultural workers with Belarusian and Russian scholars, students and cultural workers in one program? The University of New Europe aims to unite critical thinkers and cultural workers across Europe. The same aim explains our striving to use the mentor program to reach out firstly, but not exclusively to Ukrainian students, scholars, and cultural workers at risk. We do so in the awareness that the war is, first and foremost, placing vast amounts of Ukrainian students, scholars, and cultural workers at acute risk in one way or another. And we do so in the awareness that Ukrainian students, scholars, and cultural workers who face or flee the war face different problems and needs than Belarusian and Russian students, scholars, and cultural workers who face or risk political persecution because they express dissent with the authorities.

University of New Europe

As if this moment, 380 pairs (thus 760 people) are paired in the UNE mentor program. This programme supports students and scholars from Ukraine as well as threatened students and scholars from Russia and Belarus, and pairs them with experienced scholars in western EU and in the US. The needs and situations of the mentees in the program drastically varies. It’s increasingly clear that there is a need for local support as well (next to support through fellowships abroad) whereas there is not much of this type of support.
There is a need for more mentors. Please let Ellen Rutten know if you know Journalists, Scholars or Artists that would fit the mentor role.

Round up of Requests

• Tomorrow the public event will be launched online, of which a notification on the signal chat will follow. Please share the event page in your circles, through your newsletters, websites and with all those you think might be interested.
• Please all search within your network if you can think of someone who can speak on the subject of (dis)information for the coming public event.
• Please let Ellen Rutten know if you know Journalists, Scholars or Artists that would fit the mentor role for the University of New Europe