What killed Indymedia? Lessons from the IMC experience of Australia

This article presents the reflections of the former activists who started and led the initial years of the ‘anti-capitalist’ struggle of Indymedia, as an alternative media platform in Australia. Through the interview analysis, the challenges experienced by the collective have been clustered into four themes: decentralization of the network; open publishing; social and political context; and the rise of commercial social media. The inquisitive process presented provides an understanding on the downturn of Indymedia and what this has left to contemporary online networks. In the end, additional reflections are offered that not only provide significant insights into both the rise and fall of the Indymedia network in Australia, but are also crucial for considering the opportunities and threats for online activist movements in the new social media landscape.