To YT

先首，我本人英文能力不是很好，花了一點時間才看懂你的論點。用什麼語言表達是個人自由，但如果你用中文寫，會讓更多人了解你的議見 (不是說你的英文不好)。

我是最近才常常上獨立媒體，我不能比較它舊的版面。我只想說，獨立媒體本身有立場，就是 "以推動香港民主運動和社會運動為宗旨的獨立媒體"，它傾向自由主義 (不是新自由自義)，支持西方民主精神、法治、自由、平等。同時亦傾向社會主義 (不是列寧式的、毛澤東的)，比較批判社會不公平現象、關心草根階層、人文關懷。我看了編選的文章之後，我有這樣的感覺 (可能是錯)。

Sorry

Sorry 我唔係想介入討論。不過對於新版面我唔係好習慣，更直地講就係完全唔識用。Anyway，我最想講既係對於新版面或者成個 inmedia 既 layout 以至 technical 既 comment 或者問題，可以去邊度反映 / 出聲呢？Thanks。

YT

first thing,
it would help much if you write in chinese, or something that is eaier to understand for the "community" you imagines you are in

第二件事,
inmediahk.net 正在改版，由於人力和各種條件所限，未能一次過全部整理，故請在下判語前給與整個羣體一點適應與摸索的時間。

三，
我作為編輯一員*同時亦為讀者與撰文者*，你講的編輯／讀者的二分或緊張關係，其實繫系到「讀者」自身的想像，他到底是想看文章、想參加討論、想寫文引發關注、還是只想把自己的文字貼放在一個被受注目的空間等等，各人有不同的意向，請你也不要把讀者羣和他們未認知、未投身實踐的各種參與方式的可能性「同一化」，而成為你真知卓見的論籌。

再次，編輯小組一D 都吾小，根本沒可能有人大鎚定音，而我們一直提倡民間報導，討論、反思未有間斷，「讀者」參與情況高低不一，亦時常被各種公關造勢、主流唱和牽連，這關乎讀者------ 如果他不是一個躲在電腦前的雅痞------ 自我能動的認知，然而「民間記者」「網上羣體」的形象似乎惹來不少誤會／浪漫想像，包括在此網中的奇文異趣現象，把自已的意見在一個多人注目的空間大聲喊放不就是「報道」、不就叫做多元發聲。

意見，與推論鋪陳、情理游說以至論述或意義系統的拆解與碰撞，應該分野顯明。

The Quiet Metamorphosis of Inmedia, or, the Route from a Forum o

Frequent visitors of Inmedia must have noticed some interesting changes of late respecting its page layout. "Today's Focus" has grown enormously, at the expense of the columns. New essays, saving those which can make their way into "Hot Spot," are no longer classified by genre or theme, but grouped indistinctively under the head of "All New Essays."

As of this writing, the present thread, entitled "第一屆香港社會論壇特刊（獨立媒體網中大學生報生報聯合出版）" appears in three--or, if my follow-up be counted, four--places on the page; even the picture accompanying the thread are thrice reproduced. I am sure few other pieces, if any at all, can enjoy the same privilege and attention.

It may be said that the thread reports an event central to Inmedia, thus deserving of the treatment. Granted. But then, pieces like "城市規劃何時解殖？再論中環價值(全文版)" by 陳景輝, or "懷念鐘" by 梁文道, do not report at all, but comment on current affairs, which have well been reported elsewhere in Inmedia; yet still they are given much space at the center of the page, showing pictures and a large chunk of the writing.

If there be no guideline, as to how a piece may get selected for "Today's Focus," we are nevertheless told, in the short description for "Hot Spot," the following:

"焦點評論/報導
"編輯部從專欄區和電子報中精選出來的評論和報導, 重點地推介給讀者 "

But what does this mean, "精選出來的評論和報導"? Suppose a writer presents a piece arguing for the reasonableness of demolishing the Bell Tower, or praising the virtue of "Central Values," would the editors, finding the piece well-written, albeit contrary to the outlook of Inmedia, still select it and give it a good deal of publicity?

Beside the title "聯署要求政府立刻停止清拆天星碼頭及鐘樓" in "Today's Focus" is a very large picture of the Bell Tower. That it is an effective way to convey a message, I do not doubt; but that it requires so much space (n.b. in its place the editors could have, as they did in the old days, put seven or eight new titles, alerting readers to new contributions), I see no reason. Moreover, the very same title has, again, been shown under the head of "Action Diary": another instance of duplication on the page.

Editors, reasonably enough, must have the power to select pieces for some central section of a newspaper. Insofar that the mission of a newspaper is to report, it is imperative to give space to topics of the day. To this I raise no objection at all. But editors also know that in selecting pieces for this purpose they are often tempted also to select those which do not so much report as comment on that which has already been reported. In giving more space to some such writing than to others, editors become promoters. An article lamenting the CUHK gets attention, but not an article endorsing the broader use of English; an article glorifying small communities gets attention, but not an article questioning the thought or passion behind the glorification. And all these done in the name of an Independent Media.

It may be objected that readers can make their own selections, and by tipping them with a few stars reward the authors thereof. Though yet, no one would doubt that the kind of articles selected over the years are almost always those in line with the outlook of Inmedia. An article decrying the government has a good chance to be selected, but not one praising it in any way. An article introducing a book in cultural studies will certainly enjoy four or five stars, but not one about a book against that discipline.

So by and by Inmedia becomes homogenized. From a Forum, while guided by interesting reports about less noticed events of the day, yet still offering a plurality of voices to debate the issues; it becomes now principally a Promoter of a certain outlook or view: If you write in accordance with that outlook (as in "城市規劃何時解殖？再論中環價值(全文版)" or "懷念鐘" ), even though it be simply a personal comment, you shall be publicized; but if, unfortunately, you happen to write against that outlook, you shall suffer a different fate.

The quiet metamorphosis of Inmedia gives the editors a much stronger control over what gets publicized and what not. A multiplicity of columns giving way to seven or eight titles, some being already put up elsewhere on the page, the central outlook or vision becomes better consolidated. Or we shall say, the recent changes are nothing but the further implementation of the principle of "精選出來的評論和報導", a principle to which four-fifths of the page is now subject.

I record these changes in the old spirit of Inmedia: to report independently, to comment independently. If the editors think that my little report and comment, by pointing out an interesting question for any independent media, and for editorial power in general (both of which being routine concerns of this virtual community), have contributed not trivially to raising a certain consciousness, and decide that my piece deserves a bit more publicity, to be achieved, again, by duplication or even triplication on the page, I shall be most grateful.

香港獨立媒體 - Comments for "第一屆香港社會論壇特刊（獨立媒體網中大學生報生報聯合出版）"

To YT

Sorry

YT

The Quiet Metamorphosis of Inmedia, or, the Route from a Forum o