Airwaves & Liberty

The Pacifica Foundation announced on Monday, Aug 27 that, after five years as General Manager of its Los Angeles station KPFK-FM, Eva Georgia has decided to resign effective October 31, 2007. In a motion adopted recently, Pacifica’s National Board of Directors expressed its appreciation of Georgia’s “innovative leadership” and cited her successes in the areas of fundraising, programming, and staff diversity.

In releasing the resignation news, Pacifica Executive Director Greg Guma described Georgia as a forceful and creative leader. “Her vision, technical skills, and ability to anticipate change have helped KPFK make significant strides,” he said. “Being General Manager of a progressive community radio station isn’t easy. In fact, it’s a tough and draining job. With that in mind, I’ve reluctantly accepted her resignation. But Eva has made a great contribution, and she will be difficult to replace.”

When Georgia was hired in 2002, KPFK had a significant debt, signal problems, only one daily newscast, and little staff or volunteer diversity. Since then, the debt has been eliminated, studios have been added and rebuilt, more daily newscasts – including one in Spanish — have been added, and the mix of staff and volunteers has evolved to better reflect the demographics of Southern California.

According to the National Board, Georgia’s tenure has resulted in programming that is “more relevant to the needs of the Los Angeles area’s diverse communities,” along with successful fundraising efforts, and increased membership.

Before joining the Pacifica staff, Georgia managed an AIDS/HIV prevention program in Long Beach. But what made her an exciting choice was more than a decade of journalism and radio work in South Africa.

In Capetown, she had developed and managed a newspaper on behalf of the Atlantis Development Forum, as well as personally launched Radio Atlantis, an FM station that recently celebrated 10 years on the air. She left that station in 1997 to start Cape Talk 567, a progressive commercial radio station.

In the early 1990s, she also helped launch a release from prison campaign with the South African Clothing and Textile Union (SACTWU), negotiating with the judicial system for the release of workers incarcerated due to a rent Boycott and protests against apartheid.

In November 2005, she received a Courage Award from the San Francisco-based Colin Higgins Foundation, named for the acclaimed US screenwriter. The awards are given annually to people who become leaders in the face of discrimination.

Earlier this year, Georgia was handpicked as part of a special International Presidential Campaign recently launched by President Mbeki for her outstanding skills in radio broadcasting to help support the development and mentoring of upcoming talent in South Africa.

In the coming weeks, KPFK’s Local Station Board will seek and review applicants for Interim General Manager in hopes of recommending a temporary replacement by the time Georgia departs. The search for a permanent General Manager is expected to take several months.

From Leigh Robartes, via the Grassroots Radio Coalition listserv:

This will allow non-commercial Low Power FM community Stations to exist in urban areas, small cities and small towns where they currently don’t have a place on the dial. The Local Community radio Act of 2007 allows Low Power FM stations to stations to squeeze onto the FM dial with the same restrictions that have applied for years to Full-Power broadcasters and translators (relay stations), and gets rid of the overbearing interference rules promoted by the National Association of Broadcasters that only apply to Low Power FM. Those rules were added as a last-minute rider to Clinton’s last budget bill in December 2000.

TIMELINE: URGENT

More info from Prometheus Radio Project:

You have a chance -this week- to help your Congressmembers support legislation that could bring new, local, accountable, independent community radio to your community and to communities across the nation! Read below to learn how.

In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission established the Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service — noncommercial, local, low-powered radio that schools, community groups, churches, and any nonprofit could use to broadcast local information to their local community. There are about 800 LPFM stations on air all across the country – but groups in big cities who applied for these great new stations all lost out. Why?

Because the big broadcasters — represented by the National Association of Broadcasters — convinced Congress to limit low power FM to the most rural areas, claiming that little LPFM stations would interfere with big radio stations in big cities — making the radio dial unlistenable.

In the law that Congress passed (the Radio Broadcast Preservation Act of 2000), they also asked the FCC to study whether or not LPFM stations would really cause interference. The FCC hired a big, independent engineering firm — the MITRE corporation — to study this potential interference — and $2.2 million later, they proved that LPFM was a great idea in big cities as well as small communities.

Congressmembers Lee Terry and Mike Doyle, along with Senators John McCain and Maria Cantwell, just introduced their legislation that would bring LPFM to most of America’s big cities and to thousands of other small communities. Can you call or write, and educate your legislators and let them know that new community radio in your town is one great step to building and strengthening communities across the nation?

You can send a letter right now at http://cu.convio.net/community_radio or at http://www.freepress.net. Or you can find your Congressmember’s information at http://www.congress.org, or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

And when the staff for the office picks up the phone, you can say something like:

“Hi, my name is ______________, and I’m a constituent of Congressmember _______ and Senators _____ and ______. We need access to more local media to support workers, families, and communities across our area and across the state. Senators John McCain and Maria Cantwell, and Congressman Doyle and Congressman Terry, just introduced legislation to expand Low Power FM radio to our area and to many of America’s biggest cities. I ask Congressmember _________ and Senators ______ and _______ to cosponsor this bill, the Local Community radio Act of 2007 — House Bill 2802, and Senate Bill 1675. Thank you!”

Thanks for making this call. You can review some of the legislative history of LPFM here: http://prometheusradio.org/take_action/lpfm_in_congress.

So I’ve added two permanent pages to the “Airwaves & Liberty” blog.

The first is simply Pacifica’s Programming Policy, approved by the National Board in 2006. In some ways, it serves as a blueprint for my job. The crux of the policy comes in the fourth paragraph: “The underlying principles of this policy promote collaborative resource-sharing and decision-making at every level of the Pacifica family in order to create mission-driven programming that features a broad spectrum of voices, capable of engaging diverse local and national audiences.” If you’re interested, check out the whole policy at this page.

The second permanent page might prove more useful to most viewers of this site - it’s a series of training documents in grassroots radio journalism skills. Over the past few years, I’ve collected, edited, or drafted a bunch of skills training handouts for fledgling community radio journalists. Some of these might even be quite useful for intermediate or veteran radio journalists. I originally put them all together to give to participants at the Media Justice Center at the US Social Forum, and someone suggested that I also post them online. So here ’tis. Topics covered include writing, interviewing, field recording, story construction, digital editing, and finding a forum for your audio. Check out the page o’ training materials.

Enjoy!

Received today from Duane Bradley, General Manager of KPFT:

Greetings to all,

Thanks again to everyone for your expressions of solidarity and concern during this trying time at KPFT.

We have enlisted the assistance of Crimestoppers to attempt to find the perpetrators of this terroristic felony. A widely attended press conference yesterday garnered major media coverage for KPFT.

Crisis Intervention specialists conducted counseling sessions at the station yesterday and will continue to be available for anyone needing their services.

Numerous security services have been contacted and we are gathering information on how best to create a safer work environment for the staff and volunteers.

Further updates on increased station security details will be shared as appropriate.

Thank you for your continued support, good thoughts and prayers.

Peace,
Duane Bradley
GM, KPFT-Houston

[Nathan's note: This isn't radio or Pacifica-related, but I just enjoy it. I've met the author a couple times in my previous life doing environmental activism in West Virginia. She's a remarkable lady. Hope you enjoy the piece.]

Published on Sunday, October 10, 2004 by the Charleston Gazette (West Virginia)

Gospel of George Bush
by Denise Giardina

AND HE TAUGHT them, saying:

1. Blessed are the rich, for they have more than they need and still they take with such joy.

2. Blessed are those who mourn, for their numbers shall multiply.

3. Blessed are the meek, especially the liberals, for they will not stand up to me.

4. Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, for they may wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills the fastest.

5. Blessed are those who are not merciful, for they shall laugh upon those without health insurance.

6. Blessed are the pure in ideology, for they shall promote religious fascism.

7. Blessed are the warmongers, for they shall control the world’s resources.

8. Blessed are those who persecute, for they shall trample upon the First Amendment.

9. Blessed are you when you are an abject failure, yet people still think you’re doing a fine job.

10. Blessed are you when you base your policies upon a fundamentalist interpretation of scripture. You violate the consciences of millions of Americans. But they’re going to Hell anyway.

11. Blessed are the undecided and those who don’t vote, for you allow me to get away with murder.

12. Blessed are the Americans, for God loves us better than anyone else.

13. Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” But I tell you, do unto others before they do unto you. And be sure to use cluster bombs.

14. If you are offering your gift at the altar, and then remember that your brother has something against you, have your friends run as many untruthful TV ads as they can. And do not fear to lie, for if you do it often enough, you shall be believed.

15. And if anyone oppose you, yea even if they wear an insulting T-shirt, shake the dust of your shoes in their face, have them arrested, fire them from their job and confine them in a pen called a free speech zone where they may enjoy their freedom in security. Also make certain your friends in the TV media ignore their point of view.

16. Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” But I say that is ridiculous, for it means I’m as bad as those awful homosexuals. Jesus didn’t say anything about them. Perhaps that’s a gap in the record, like my National Guard service.

17. Jesus said if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well. But I say to you, tell the lazy bum to get three minimum wage jobs. That’s why we have three shifts.

18. Lay up your treasures on earth, for if you have a lot, you will be eligible for a big tax cut. And I shall let you keep your money for your own benefit, not give it to a bunch of stupid old people on Social Security. I may even figure out a way you can take your treasure to heaven with you, if Dick Cheney tells me what it is.

19. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Do you ever wonder if Jesus was smoking some of that stuff I got hold of back in the ’70s?) But I say, “Bring ’em on!” Bring on all the Arabs and the U.N. and the cowardly French and Germans and Russians and the Canadians and the wimpy liberals and even the New York Yankees! Who cares if they hate us as long as they fear us! Veni, vidi, vici! (Bet you didn’t think I know Latin.)

20. You, therefore, must be perfect, as I am perfect. As I said in a recent press conference, I can’t think of a single mistake I’ve made. And I thank my Father, who makes sure that no matter what I do, I get away with it.

Denise Giardina (denise.giardina[at]verizon.net) is a Charleston novelist.

PACIFICA FOUNDATION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STATEMENT ON KPFT ATTACK

In the early morning hours of August 13, 2007, an unknown individual or individuals fired a gun at Pacifica Radio station KPFT, shattering a window and narrowly missing a staff member. What could have been a tragic loss of life was narrowly averted.

On behalf of the National Office of the Pacifica Foundation, a network of more than 125 radio stations reaching millions of people, I must express Pacifica’s outrage at this unconscionable act of desperate violence. KPFT’s hard-working and dedicated staff, which had just completed a successful summer fund drive when the attack occurred, is precious to our community. When a bullet entered the building in Houston, we were all under fire.

Pacifica Radio has often been the target of extremists, intolerant of diversity and open debate. Many people may not remember it, but after KPFT went on the air in 1970, it was bombed twice in its first year by the Ku Klux Klan. Federal agents and the local police didn’t pursue the case very aggressively at first. But Pacifica would not be silenced. We mounted a media campaign and eventually a Klansman was arrested for the attacks.

Just as in 1970, the Pacifica community stands shoulder to shoulder with the dedicated staff, volunteers and Board members of KPFT. We will not be silenced. We say no to the hatred and intolerance that leads to such violent outbursts.

The vast majority of people in Houston and the surrounding region are as appalled as the rest of the country. When the Pacifica National Board and staff convene in Texas, we are always greeted with warmth and hospitality. But this kind of attack – violent, irrational, and cowardly – cannot be allowed to pass without protest and the strongest possible condemnation.

We honor KPFT’s continuing work to live out the Pacifica mission – to examine the causes of conflict – especially racial antagonisms, and to offer Texas a fearless voice for peace, justice, and lasting understanding between all people.

KPFT is committed to dedicating the time and resources necessary to ensure the safety of its staff and to defend its broadcasting for years to come. Pacifica Radio will provide any necessary support to protect this precious Gulf Coast resource. KPFT stands strong, and the entire Pacifica Radio community stands right beside it.

Viva KPFT!

Greg Guma
August 14, 2007

From Duane Bradley, General Manager at KPFT, Pacifica radio in Houston:

“At about 1 AM Monday, a gunshot was fired from a passing car into the KPFT control room. It penetrated thru both panes of the outer window, entered the room and smashed into the control room door on the far side of the room. Police were summoned and have begun an investigation. Fortunately, Mary Thomas and John Orr of ‘Zydeco Pas Sale’ were not hurt.

“Security considerations will be the topic of an open staff meeting at noon tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14. In this climate of seemingly escalating violence, it is important for all KPFT staff and volunteers to remain vigilant and aware of the fact that KPFT has been a lightning rod numerous times during the past 37-plus years.”

KPFT Program Director Ernesto Aguilar has posted many updates, other photos, and write-ups about the incident from various media outlets at his blog kpft.wordpress.com.

KZYX&Z Community Public Radio currently has 2 positions available in beautiful Philo, California.

KZYX&Z is a full service station offering national programming from NPR, Pacifica, APM, and PRI, as well as diverse local programming produced by over 120 volunteers. As KZYX&Z celebrates its 18th birthday this year, we are looking for creative, committed individuals to help us move to a new level of service for our community, members, and volunteers.

Our current openings:

Membership & Events Coordinator - Responsible for coordinating membership, events, and financial activities for the station. We’re looking for someone to creatively implement our year round membership development strategy and messaging utilizing on-air, online, event, and print opportunities. The perfect candidate will be creative, organized, and comfortable with databases.

Operations Director- Responsible for the day-to-day operations for KZYX&Z. S/He will coordinate and administer a range of operational activities in direct support of the delivery of radio programming by the station, as well as it other administrative and promotional functions. The OD is responsible for the development and execution of daily and emergency operating plans, and compliance with various local, state, and federal regulations. The perfect candidate will have strong communication and technology skills.

Full job descriptions are online at http://kzyx.org/jobs.html. To apply, send cover letter, resume, and references to:

KZYX&Z
PO Box 1
Philo, CA 95466

Or email gm@kzyx.org.

From Pete Korakis, Pacifica’s web manager:

Hi everyone,

The recent Pacifica Mumia Special has been posted, including the whole one hour audio program, and is available at Pacifica.org:
http://www.pacifica.org/program-guide/op,segment-page/station_id,1/segment_id,467/

I recommend that everyone visit the site, listen to the program, and post your comments for the rest of the public to see how Pacifica feels about this!

And the public *is* already coming because in addition to posting this special, this special quickly made it to a Google News #1 rank (searching simply Mumia), and has remained on top for about 17 hours, see:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&rls=GGGL%2CGGGL%3A2006-36%2CGGGL%3Aen&um=1&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&q=Mumia&btnG=Search+News

or go to http://news.google.com/ and search: Mumia

Pacifica.org works - and it works best with good content! Thanks to Margaret and everyone else involved - great special!

Pete Korakis

Hello Prestigious AIR Members,

Many moons ago I came to these hallowed grounds seeking your pitches for story ideas for pilots of our new “rural” program. We got some great responses, but now that we are getting closer to laying down some tape, we’re looking for a few specific things. Yes, we do pay. The rate is comparable to other pubradio shows and varies depending on difficulty and amount of original reporting involved (we can consider some re-versions, depending on where the piece originally aired). IMPORTANT: Please read to the bottom to see the stylistic elements we’re looking for in each piece. Pitch to this address: ericcmack@yahoo.com.

Iraq, Afghanistan and the Home Front - How has four + years of constant troop deployments affected your small or mid-sized community in ways that people might not expect or have heard about yet? Are most of your volunteer firefighters deployed with the reserves, leaving your town vulnerable to wildfire? Has your town lost a number of its health care providers, teacher, etc… Maybe our community has even experienced positive affects from the ‘war on terror’? Who knows, surprise us!

Globalization - Has your town lost a major part of its economy to the lure of cheaper labor in Mexico, China, India or elsewhere? Paint us a vivid before and after picture through the eyes of a few compelling characters. What unexpected effects has “losing the factory” had? One important part to this story - we’ll need to know exactly WHERE the jobs that were lost went so we can follow up and see how they changed THAT PLACE abroad. (this part doesn’t necesarrily, and probably won’t, be reported by the same producer).

Rural Education - Wide open here. Tell us your No Child Left Behind horror story. Or tell us about some innovative programs at your district,e etc..

Energy - Is your community leading the way in producing its own renewable energy? Maybe you’ve got a state of the art biomass pilot project on the outskirts of town. Or a cooperative of farmers erecting windmills and pooling wind power. Something else we’ve never even heard of? Conversely, is your town near a conventional power plant? or a coal mine? maybe even a nuclear waste dump (do we have stringers at Yucca Mtn?) Tell us about that experience, what it means for daily life there.

Open Phones - What’s the most interesting thing / story / person / place in your town? That one thing that everybody knows about, maybe even takes for granted, but always surprises out-of-towners?

Here’s what we’re striving for with each piece. Some of this is radio 101, but we’d ideally like to see all these elements:

o A strong sense of place
o A conversational tone
o An illustration of a connection across the urban/rural divide
o All dynamic characters, no caricatures or stereotypes
o Aspects of narrative journalism; producers and hosts should be able to find and place themselves in the story. (There maybe exceptions to this, depending on subject matter)
o Humor or emotion; each segment should induce some sort of physiological reaction in the listen (laughter, tears, anger, etc..)
o Organic pacing, providing enough time to tell the story and let “real people be real”
o A storyline that is compelling enough to entertain non-public radio junkies