The best way to contact us is via email at imc-chicago-video@lists.indymedia.org. You can also call the Chicago Indymedia phone number at 773-384-8544

Please tell me more about Chicago Independent Television.

Chicago Independent Television is the monthly television series of the Chicago Independent Media Center (also known as "Chicago Indymedia"). Just as Chicago Indymedia strives to offer a tangible alternative to mainstream corporate media pabulum, Chicago Independent Television strives to offer a video version of Chicago Indymedia — to report on uncovered and undercovered Chicago-area events, expressions, and social movements, particularly those focusing on positive social change.

Chicago Independent Television is the main project of the Chicago Indymedia Video Collective, a working group in Chicago Indymedia focusing on video, TV, and film. We operate along the same lines as Indymedia — as a collective of media producers, activists, videographers and concerned citizens.

We invite you to join us and help produce Chicago Independent Television. Can you record video? Can you write? Can you edit (words and/or video)? Are you funny? Are you passionate about positive social change? Are you interested in helping to make a TV show that airs on cable TV, satellite TV, and on the internet? We'd be thrilled to hear from you.

How can I watch Chicago Independent Television?

If you live in the Chicago city limits and have cable TV, you can watch us on CAN TV (cable channel 19) on the first and third Monday of the month at 11pm.

If you have the Dish Network satellite TV service, you can watch us on Free Speech TV, channel 9415. Our airtimes on Free Speech TV vary from month to month, so check the Free Speech TV website or Chicago Indymedia's website for schedule updates.

If you're on the internet, you can watch us on our YouTube channel (linked from Chicago Indymedia) or download our Chicago Indymedia video podcast directly on to your computer (see below for more information).

Podcasting Chicago Independent Television

What is podcasting?

“Podcasting” is a way to get Chicago Independent Television automatically downloaded to your computer or portable device, so you can watch the show whenever you want. "Podcasting" frequently refers to audio content, but is increasingly used for video content as well.

What software do I need to make this work?

You can access the Chicago Independent Television online syndication feed here, and there are a number of applications you can use to access our podcast. For example:

iTunes: Our show is available on iTunes directly from Apple.

Miro Internet TV: You can also download the open source program Miro and input our syndication feed into Miro to watch our show online.

How can I contribute to the show?

1. Come to a meeting.

The Chicago Indymedia video collective typically meets at 7PM on the first and third Monday of the month, and we often change meeting venues — please contact us if you're planning to attend a meeting so you can learn the latest meeting details. Our contact information is at the top of this webpage.

2. Submit video segments

Send us finished video pieces and we will consider whether to include it in an episode. A typical feature segment is about five minutes long, and preferably themed to Chicago and social justice, grassroots movements, activism or local alternative news or even politically oriented music videos. We are also always looking for new public service announcements that are either 30 or 60 seconds in length.

3. Submit raw video footage

We will take a look at video concerning protest activity, Chicago and social justice, grassroots movements, activism or local alternative news and consider if and how to include it in an episode.

4. Donate equipment and supplies

Blank Mini-DV Tapes
Blank DVDs
Lights
Microphones
Walkie-Talkies
Camcorders and Camcorder Batteries
Firewire-Compatible Hard Drives DVD burners

Full archives

Recent episodes:
Episode 48 (June 2009): part one | part two | part three | part four
Mayday, Cindy Sheehan, DTV, Israel media pundit

Episode 47 (May 2009): part one | part two | part three | part four
No Games Chicago, Freedom to Marry Actions

Episode 46 (April 2009): part one | part two | part three | part four
Chicago protests Iraq War's 6th Anniversary, Civil rights activist George N. Leighton, Renaissance 2010

Episode 45 (March 2009): part one | part two | part three | part four
Protest against the Defense of Marriage Act, Kosovo Veteran Profile, New Years' Eve Gaza Vigil, Colombia Sugarcane Workers Strike

Episode 44 (February 2009): part one | part two | part three | part four
Protests about Gaza, James Dobson, Proposition 8, and Holiday Activism about the Iraq war

Episode 43 (December 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
Barack Obama victory, protest for Pakistan, Casino Free Philadelphia, media coverage of Israel/Palestine

Episode 42 (November 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
Chicago protests the big financial bailout, 2008 Matthew Shepard March, trailer for the antiwar movie “Can’t Wait”

Episode 41 (October 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
Summer of Chicago Activism, 2008: Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Air & Water Show, No War on Iran, Re-enact ‘68

Episode 40 (August 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
M20 (2003) Legal Update; St. Louis Conference on Climate Change; Critical Mass in Chiapas; Tell The Police The Truth

Episode 39 (July 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
Morton West High School; National Conference for Media Reform; Congress Hotel Strike; the Merida Initiative (Plan Mexico)

Episode 38 (June 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
Mayday 2008 marches for immigrant and labor rights; Nakba's 60th Anniversary; more M20 actions from 2008

Episode 37 (May 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
The Holy Name Six; M20: What Happened After The March?; Malachi Ritscher Banner Action; Plan Mexico

Episode 36 (April 2008): part one | part two | part three
Complete coverage of the M19 / M20 Chicago 2008 Peace Protests

Episode 35 (March 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
Memories of M20, 2007; Film is Not A Crime; Video and Civil Rights; Albany Park Neighbors for Peace; Kucinich Singalong


Episode 34 (February 2008): part one | part two | part three | part four
2007 Chicago Media Action Holiday Singalong; Malachi Ritscher; "March to St. Joseph"

Episode 33 (December 2007): part one | part two | part three | part four
October 27 Chicago peace protests and controversy; "The Silence of Malachi Ritscher"; Illinois cable TV laws

Episode 32 (November 2007): part one | part two | part three | part four
Chicago Indymedia Coverage of 2007 Chicago FCC Media Ownership Hearing; LULAC and the DREAM Act; Coke: The Drink of the Death Squads