Thanks to www.savekpfa.org website
I emailed the following to Pacifica Board & new interim KPFA managers Andrew Phillips and Carrie Core,
I'm a KPFA listener and supporter who has paid dues for more than 10 yrs (except for a short stint when I was on unemployment in 2008/2009). I'm also originally a KPFK listener as I'm from LA.
I'm very disappointed with the heavy-handed management at KPFA recently, which is completely disregarding both the community and the staff.
While there is obviously a dispute about who gets on the air, perhaps the best way to resolve some of these issues would be by considering the feedback of the listeners & staff, as well as the executives?
Because of annoying recent changes at KPFA, including bumping Democracy Now to 7 from 6am and canceling my fav KPFA show 'the Morning Show' quite arbitrarily, and putting in Al Jazeera English (which I find surprisingly lacking in content vs Democracy Now), I am now feeling 'forced' to listen via Internet to KPFK & WBAI to hear content that I like & is useful. The upside is I learned I can stream either to my iPhone (TuneIn Radio app) and they also have other shows which are more hard-hitting than KPFA as well. I was surprised....!
While we are under attack in the USA by the Right Wing & Tea Baggers, why am I being forced to listen to Al Jazeera?!?! I'm interested in the Middle East, certainly, but I'm far more interested in the USA!!!
I really want a show like Democracy Now, which covers real news in-depth every day, and the Morning Show which expands on local & national news and had great interviews and perspectives. Switch your all-volunteer programming back to off-hours and late nights! Why am I listening to the worst of KPFA at 7am-8am?!?!
Frankly, I'm quite annoyed -- this year when I donated I requested that my money only go to KPFA and not Pacifica. The person taking my donation did not know if he could do that, but I encouraged him that we could.
If you look at the history of mismanagement at Pacifica, it includes so many bad decisions, bad policies, & bad attempts at executing bad policies, that I'm surprised Pacifica is still the mother ship. I believe KPFA needs to become more independent of Pacifica bc the organization is so dangerous, so toxic, and runs so counter to the needs & wants of local listeners.
In closing, please do not mess with Democracy Now -- put it back to 'live' at 6 & rebroadcast at 9. Those are iconic timeslots. Then give us a local & national news show with editorial / opinions from Left Wingers (like the Morning Show!!!)
And don't get me wrong, I like 'Hard Knock Radio', but it is a niche show which probably focusses less on content interesting to ALL LISTENERS and more to under-represented groups, right? So keep it in the evening slot!
Why doesn't the management listen to the paid listeners? The KPFA board is pursuing a stupid and petty agenda, which will result in either hurting KPFA more than it already has, damaging Pacifica (more than it's shoddy rep, but like taking private corporate underwriting as we are learning now), and moving listeners to other few & far between options like KQED & NPR.
I implore you, listen to us, your paying supporters!!!
PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR STAFF!!
Thank you,
rekzkarz.com
3 comments:
I just received this response via email, reposting here:
Hi REkzkaRZ,
Thanks for writing to the KPFA LSB to express your thoughts, The KPFA LSB does not make the program scheduling decisions at the station, those decisions are made by the program director, under the supervision of the general manager, and hopefully soon, with the assistance of a program council. But we appreciate hearing from you.
KPFA's members have many thoughts on the best programming arrangements at the station. I remember reviewing the results of 1600 listener surveys back a few years ago and the recommendations were all over the map. I encourage you to submit your name as a possible community representative to KPFA's program council if you would like to participate directly in program evaluation and review.
Yes, I agree that KPFK and WBAI have some fine content and I'm glad you are enjoying their content over the web. As you know, Democracy Now will continue to be available at 7am daily plus 24 hours a day via the online archives and downloadable podcast.Al-Jazeera English coverage has been a good addition to the schedule and their Middle East coverage has been lauded by most progressive and radical figures as essential listening, including Democracy Now which has collaborated with them extensively.
KPFA does not accept corporate underwriting nor does the Pacifica Foundation. It is unclear at this time whether a donation made to sister station WBAI in New York City was a private donation by a former Merrill Lynch employee that was matched by the employer or whether the funds were some sort of a grant accompanied by restrictions. The local board in New York is looking into the matter and if the funds came with any onerous restrictions, then they will be returned to the donor with a "no thanks".
We all have our programming preferences of course, but Hard Knock Radio is not a niche program. It is a program that provides hard hitting public affairs and cultural news to the majority of Californians who are young and multiracial. As the population of our state continues to change, this is who the station must speak to in the future and not marginalize as a minority audience. They are not.
Best,
Tracy Rosenberg
KPFA LSB - Listener Representative
Tracy & LSB Board,
Thank you for your response.
I want to point out that you did NOT listen to my feedback, but rather defensively reiterated why your positions are the right ones to hold.
They are not shared by me, nor obviously by many listeners & staff.
Point by point:
> KPFA LSB does not make the program scheduling decisions at the station, those decisions are made by the program director, under the supervision of the general manager, and hopefully soon, with the assistance of a program council. But we appreciate hearing from you.
Why was the Morning Show sacked? I heard pretty clearly it was an executive decision from Pacifica, and Tracy when you & I met (when I was considering running for KPFA Board) you were happy that these changes were coming.
So the board may not make these decisions, but you do seem "in the know" well in advance of those who were affected.
> KPFA's members have many thoughts on the best programming arrangements at the station.
No doubt.
> I encourage you to submit your name as a possible community representative to KPFA's program council if you would like to participate directly in program evaluation and review.
This is a very strange response. Ok, sure -- submit my name, thanks.
> Yes, I agree that KPFK and WBAI have some fine content and I'm glad you are enjoying their content over the web.
Wow, you agreed!
> As you know, Democracy Now will continue to be available at 7am daily plus 24 hours a day via the online archives and downloadable podcast.
I just made the point that it should be playing *LIVE* at 6am. Saying that it will rebroadcast at 7am is not listening, is it?
Thanks for pointing out I can listen on other sources *besides KPFA*. Due to the arbitrary (foolish, in my opinion) time change of Democracy Now to 7am, I have already discovered these resources, as well as buying the TuneInRadio app to bypass KPFA's inferior programming.
But shouldn't you be trying to draw people into listening to KPFA, rather than pushing them to resources not at KPFA?!?
> Al-Jazeera English coverage has been a good addition to the schedule and their Middle East coverage has been lauded by most progressive and radical figures as essential listening, including Democracy Now which has collaborated with them extensively.
I disagree. I do feel Al Jazeera makes a contribution and is insightful, but the timeslot forces people to listen to Middle East news coverage -- but we are more interested in Local, National, & International News first thing in the AM!
Myself and a friend in LA (former KPFK staff) both find Al Jazeera sadly lacking in objective coverage. Both the fact that it's a rebroadcast already old & out of date AND that it covers Middle East news (which is interesting and relevant) and not USA News (at least, not directly) make it less valuable at that timeslot.
The fact that KPFA isn't getting this point (that listeners are more interested in Local, National, & International News first thing in the AM) seems moronic!
Morning = local, national, international news (& since its KPFA, a little Left Wing Editorial stance)
--> Hence Democracy Now & Morning Show are a great lineup,
while Al Jazeera & then Democ Now & then various random shows covering unpredictable topics from a left-Wing bias = a horrible morning lineup!!
> KPFA does not accept corporate underwriting nor does the Pacifica Foundation.
You think, but...
> The local board in New York is looking into the matter and if the funds came with any onerous restrictions, then they will be returned to the donor with a "no thanks".
But .. "If the funds came from" an underwriting corporation, then your statement would be wrong, policy was violated, & someone screwed up or was bribed.
Do you read what you are writing?!?
-- continued
> We all have our programming preferences of course, but Hard Knock Radio is not a niche program.
Again, you didn't listen.
If Hard Knock Radio was not 'niche', wouldn't there be equivalent shows on CNN, KQED, and all the major News Networks?!?!
> It is a program that provides hard hitting public affairs and cultural news to the majority of Californians who are young and multiracial.
Wow, the majority of Californians are multi-racial?!? I had no idea.
Where did you get this fact from?
Frankly, I love the show. But I doubt many people relate to the content. (Specifically, mono-racial (or can we just say white?) folks over the age of 35.) But apparently those are the minority now?
> As the population of our state continues to change, this is who the station must speak to in the future and not marginalize as a minority audience. They are not.
So in your last line, you lay down the law from your view:
Hard Knock Radio is more relevant than Democracy Now, the Morning Show, bc it 'speaks to the future'.
So I will ask you -- is Hard Knock Radio a syndicated news show playing around the world to the same degree as Democracy Now? Is it generating the same international attention? Is it really the same world-respected show of hard-hitting journalism?
I think you are confused. Playing Al Jazeera English in the prime-time AM slot does not reflect the listener's interests / desires, does not represent either the community nor the nation, and it marginalizes your main audience!!!
But you don't care..!
What I would appreciate as your response, which would seem like you had heard my comment and listened, is something like the following, "Thank you for your feedback. Your points are valid. Clearly you feel strongly about these issues. I will do my best to ensure these issues are addressed at our next Board meeting. I apologize that you feel we are failing in our responsibilities of safeguarding this valuable Bay Area community resource. We hope we can make Pacifica's actions correspond more with the desires of the community, and less about personal agendas and vindictiveness."
And then if you want to address each item point by point, allowing my commentary/criticism some validity, that would be more of a response that seems to listen.
I addressed your views & listened.
If you are going to write me back,
can you also comment on why the board & Director are violating labor union contracts and targeting specific shows & broadcasters?
Why are we paying Pacifica money for lawyers to fight KPFA?
Can you explain why $30k in fundraising doesn't prove listener support for The Morning Show?
Can you explain the fiasco about you getting those email addresses, too? I'm interested to know more...?
Thanks again for your response,
REkzkaRZ
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