Friday, August 30, 2013

The premium problem: tip of the iceberg

The plea for help that a listener posted on WBAI's FaceBook page brought attention back to the highly controversial fundraising approach, specifically the premium offers that increasingly sound like infomercials and—only recently—have begun airing repeatedly in pre-recorded form. There are those who feel that WBAI is, in fact, selling merchandise to its listeners. 

Compounding the sin is the callous way in which it is done, with claims that completely disregard the truth and prices that are multiples of those asked for the same products elsewhere on the web. Furthermore, some claims are exaggerated beyond reason, presented by the manufacturers themselves, and often never delivered to the buyer whose money has been collected. 

For a long time, insiders at WBAI, eager to keep their shows on the air and—in some cases—collect a paycheck, have ignored complaints, often passing them off as excusable oversight. Berthold Reimers was hired for the General Manager's position three years ago and given the mandate to straighten out the station's jumbled finances. He had no radio experience, but his resumé's focus was on accounting skills and experience in the health insurance business.

According to Frank LeFevre, Jim Dingeman, and others who profess to have Reimer's confidence, the new GM spent his first year at the station deeply immersed in sorting out the premium clutter. It was said that he almost straightened it out, but that was clearly not the case. The truth was that some of the advertised and paid-for products were not even in the station's possession, often because the station had not paid the vendor.

While Reimers was allegedly buried in the premium room, his staff—the people he was hired to manage—was engaged in free-form radio. No, not the kind Bob Fass so remarkably established, the kind that unbridled opportunists engage in when left to their own devices. Programs suffered mission creep or simply died on the air, hosts found new ways in which to promote their own products, events or interests, Pacifica principles were ignored or abused, and a faction with a fixation did its best to give the designation, "community,"a narrow ethnic definition.

The station's intellectual level and morals had already been lowered considerably before they pulled Reimers in, but it stayed on tits downhill path and, some felt, at an accelerated pace. None of this escaped the attention of WBAI's audience, which underwent a predictable dumbing down as it dwindled to an all-time low number.

Calls for Reimers' dismissal came mostly from the outside, and were routinely ignored. He, himself had almost been invisible for three years, his phone calls and mail unanswered as other dilettantes took the wheel—most notably, Kathryn Davis, a woman who felt vibes and seemed to take directions from homeless angels and extinct tribesmen. In the midst of all this, Pacifica conjured up Tony Bates, an obnoxious individual who was hired to try something he had never before done: working as Program Director. A very bad schedule became worse, the marathon pitches became more outrageous and unacceptable, both legally and morally, and there was at least one incident of sexual harassment. Mr. Bates would probably still be stirring up problems at the station were it not for some 100 insiders who signed a petition to have him dismissed. Reimers and his cronies did not like that at all, but the choice was no longer theirs.

There's much more. WBAI underwent a geographical split, it turned out that vital bills had been allowed to pile up, fundraising went into full gear, but there were few people out there to listen, and fewer still when encore marathons ran on and on and a snake oil saleslady was imported from KPFK.

Oddly enough, the only relief came in the form of layoffs. Some of the station's most odious hosts had been collecting sizable paycheck, so they had to go and the silence that resulted therefrom was golden.

Sad to say, good people were also let go, including the entire news department, which had been a small beacon of light. Next, as the water reached chin level, the interim Executive Director, Summer Reese, hired a former WBAI PD (and KPFA GM), Andrew Phillips, to take over. No, they did not replace Berthold Reimers, which circumstances loudly called for, but Mr. Phillips has at least been allowed to affect some changes in the schedule, and he continues to work tirelessly on that. There is also a new location, in Brooklyn, but it is still make-shift and, they say, being turned into a broadcasting facility. We shall see—WBAI's chief engineer did not, as we say where I came from, invent hot water. The audio is probably the worst it has ever been,

Personally, I have given up hope of again hearing an intelligent station at 99.5 on the dial. Mr. Phillips is working against the odds, one of which is Berthold Reimers. The bills are piling up, there is still no sign of leadership, and one does not win back an audience overnight.

Getting back to the plea posted by Ms. Bathe (reproduced below), it has triggered a call for an investigation by the authorities, That may or may not happen, but you might be interested in reading the following post from a self-named "insider" that appeared on the infamous BlueBoard earlier today.

We can only hope that WBAI has not become so insignificant in the eyes of regulatory officials that they will look the other way.  Chris Albertson 

  

14 comments:

  1. I have no privileged or inside information as to what’s transpiring at WBAI and Pacifica.

    What I do know is that questions of the sort posed by ‘Insider’ appear to have been posed consistently, by a number of people, over a considerable period of time, and that they would seem to me to raise questions with respect to possible fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, violations of non-profit status, and the like.

    I’m a layman, and I make no pretense of expertise in these areas.

    It would seem to me, though, that it would be appropriate for the authorities to investigate these assertions so as to determine if they have in fact a sound basis in fact, and if so to act as they determine is appropriate.

    If there proves in fact to be little or no basis in fact, that’s fine.

    If there is in fact a basis in fact, it would seem to me to be a serious matter, with possible serious consequences.

    If there is in fact a basis in fact, I would respectfully encourage anyone in a position to have knowledge of inappropriate activities – whether active or passive – to approach the relevant authorities, and to cooperate with them.

    If there is in fact little or no basis in fact, then all is good, and the assertions as to fraud and/or other improper activities will vanish in the sunlight and the wind.

    ~ Indigo Pirate

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  2. PS:

    New York State Attorney General's Office: http://www.ag.ny.gov

    New York State Attorney General's Online Tip Form: http://www.ag.ny.gov/internet-bureau-online-tip-form

    There are, of course, other authorities within the purview of which these assertions and allegations, if they have a sound basis in fact, may be subject to consideration and possible investigation.

    There are also, if these assertions and allegations have a sound basis in fact, appropriate media contacts that might be made.

    I would as a layman assume that so long as any such contacts are made responsibly and with a sound basis in fact that anonymity and/or confidentiality might be arranged, if appropriate.

    ~ Indigo Pirate

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  3. The issue of premiums is inextricably connected to other problems with WBAI and Pacifica: the most important is the lack of transparency. Information that should be available to listeners and supporters of WBAI is not available.

    1. Hiring and salaries:

    WBAI’s web site used to list paid employees–although not how much they were paid. This information was removed when people noticed that more than 90% of the paid employees were black and complained about this lack of multiculturalism.

    Just how are people hired at WBAI? What are the requirements for positions? How much does each position pay?

    What qualifies Reimers for the position of general manager? How does a stupid, uneducated woman like Kaffy Davis get hired as public affairs director? Why were relative newcomers like Hugh Hamilton and Esther Armah given salaries while other producers who have been with WBAI for more than a decade not even given expense allowances?


    2. Financial information:

    Why are financial statements not available to listener sponsors?
    Why can’t we have access to salary schedules, income statements, and balance sheets?
    I’d like to know what happens to the money I send to WBAI. Why is there inadequate funding for equipment and supplies? What are the station’s fixed expenses? Variable expenses?


    3. Chain of command:

    It would be helpful to have a list of people in the chain of command as well as their e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
    It would be useful to see some form of an organizational chart that shows how the station and the network is governed.

    What are the powers and jurisdiction of the people in the chain of command? What is the role of the PNB and its executive director? How are members of the PNB selected?

    What are the responsibilities and powers of the general manager, the program director, and the LAB?

    How did the people in these positions obtain them?

    Whom do you contact to find out about a premium you did not get? To inform the station of the death of a producer? To complain about a program? To point out that there is no signal?

    Why is Jim Dingeman, who was exposed as a liar about being a Vietnam veteran, allowed to continue as a representative of the station? Who is he to call critics of the station “whiners” and tell us to shut up?

    The comments and questions made by Chris Albertson and Indigo Pirate–among many others, are important. Perhaps the people who should shut up are those who purport to represent the station, but who cannot answer our questions or address our concerns.


    TPM


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  4. I am no expert on white-collar crime. However, I concur with Indigo Pirate when he says, in essence, if a lot of people in the neighborhood say they're smelling smoke, someone should investigate whether there's a fire.

    TPM's list of questions is spot-on. And, as usual, Chris's description of how the current crisis came to be is illuminating.

    As someone who is horrified by the power corporations wield, it pains me to say what I'm about to say, but here goes: Administrators and marketers in the not-for-profit world can get away with things that bring hefty fines and other punishments to their counterparts in the corporate world--and would land small business owners in prison. I have come to such a conclusion after spending considerable time working in both the non-profit and corporate worlds. As a result, I am not surprised to read about the goings-on chronicled on this blog.

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  5. Jusine,

    Thank you. I value your comments as well.

    I would like to repeat a question that is not merely rhetorical:

    “Why is Jim Dingeman, who was exposed as a liar about being a Vietnam veteran, allowed to continue as a representative of the station? Who is he to call critics of the station “whiners” and tell us to shut up?”

    What credibility or claim of leadership can someone have if he has lied about something as fundamental as who he is?

    Mr. Dingeman, who spatters the blueboard with his vacuous observations and who insults any challenge to his mandates or opinions should be asked this question again and again. Every time he posts on the Blue Board, the first comment about his comment should be,

    “Mr. Dingeman, did you misrepresent yourself as a Vietnam War veteran?
    What is your explanation for this aberrant behavior?
    What claim of leadership or credibility can a pathological liar possibly have?
    How dare you of all people tell others to shut up?”

    I don't like trolls who harass other posters. However confronting Dingeman with this question is not "trolling".

    TPM

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  6. Great question, DPM. I don't know anything about him, but something tells me he might be covering up more than his military service, or lack thereof.

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  7. Indigo, I have deleted the comment and the understandable question it raised in your mind. It turns out that I was tricked by that certifiable nutcase who recently caused a commotion at the Atlantic Avenue location, called the police, etc. He probably knows that his venomous rants are not welcomed here, so he sneaked in, and I fell for it.

    My apologies to R. Paul Martin and TPM—I should have questioned the post rather than blindly letting it go through based upon my trust in and respect for TPM, neither of which have been impaired by this unfortunate mistake.

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  8. No worries – always best to err on the side of caution where reputations are concerned.

    ~ Indigo Pirate

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  9. Thank you Chris.
    Sorry for any problems your trust in me might have caused.
    It's despicable to post anything using someone else's name.

    I'm not as principled as Indigo and will use ad hominem when I think the personal and the public facets of someone--say a producer who's stupid and ignorant, or drunk, are concerned.

    But I know nothing of R Paul's sex life. It's none of my business. And he's never endorsed his sex life as a cure for cancer of the pancreas.

    TPM (The real one)

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  10. Hate to beat a dead horse but why was the 62nd street location sold?

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, I don't know the details, but wasn't that the church? If so, the sale was a result of a real estate manipulation by Ed Koch. As I understand it, the WBAI people were gullible and did not fight it. Apparently, they would have won, as did other non-profits subjected to the same game.

      If I get the details, I'll pass them on here.

      Delete
  11. I use to be be a faithful listener of WBAI. In the past. (this is going back ten years ago) now. I use to donate and get great premiums after donating. In the past five years WBAI is going down hill fast. In 2008 I sent in money to support the radio station and receive a premium which I waited a year for. I would call the station weekly to see what had happen to my premium. I had to leave numerous messages and was only contacted once by the end of the year to check if they had the right address to send my premium.
    They had my address wrong, that is why I had to wait a year. The problem is they have volunteers write down details wrong such as your address etc. Most recently my mother ordered Gary Null's Super Sexy Pack which consist of 5 DVDs and a Cookbook for healthier living in October of 2013. WBAI got their money the next day on November 1, 2013 from my mothers account for this premium. The cost for the premium was $135.00.
    It is now July 2014 and she has not received her 5 DVDs or the Cookbook. I have email all the individuals in charge of premiums over at WBAI with no response. As well as called their numerous telephone numbers that they have to get a answer to why the premium has not shown up to date. Well finally today I was able to get through to them . But the answer I received is that WBAI will get back to me next week. I was very angry and requested to speak with the head person in charge of handling the premiums. I was dismissed and hung up on. I decided to contact Gary Null's company. They where very kind and took down all of the information. They plan to get back to me tomorrow regarding sending out my mother's premium of 5 DVDs and a Cookbook from their company. WBAI is very unprofessional I think WBAI will eventually disappear because they have no real commitment to their listeners "Unfortunately".

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    Replies
    1. This is out and out fraud. There is no hope for WBAI as long as they continue lying to the public, and themselves. I wonder how many supporters have had the same experience as you and your mother—I wonder how long management (I use that description loosely) thinks it can go on this way. It wasn't too long ago that the expended spring marathon ended (not so successfully, I might add) and they are now getting ready for another one in 2 weeks!

      Delete
  12. I use to be be a faithful listener of WBAI. In the past. (this is going back ten years ago) now. I use to donate and get great premiums after donating. In the past five years WBAI is going down hill fast. In 2008 I sent in money to support the radio station and receive a premium which I waited a year for. I would call the station weekly to see what had happen to my premium. I had to leave numerous messages and was only contacted once by the end of the year to check if they had the right address to send my premium.
    They had my address wrong, that is why I had to wait a year. The problem is they have volunteers write down details wrong such as your address etc. Most recently my mother ordered Gary Null's Super Sexy Pack which consist of 5 DVDs and a Cookbook for healthier living in October of 2013. WBAI got their money the next day on November 1, 2013 from my mothers account for this premium. The cost for the premium was $135.00.
    It is now July 2014 and she has not received her 5 DVDs or the Cookbook. I have email all the individuals in charge of premiums over at WBAI with no response. As well as called their numerous telephone numbers that they have to get a answer to why the premium has not shown up to date. Well finally today I was able to get through to them . But the answer I received is that WBAI will get back to me next week. I was very angry and requested to speak with the head person in charge of handling the premiums. I was dismissed and hung up on. I decided to contact Gary Null's company. They where very kind and took down all of the information. They plan to get back to me tomorrow regarding sending out my mother's premium of 5 DVDs and a Cookbook from their company. WBAI is very unprofessional I think WBAI will eventually disappear because they have no real commitment to their listeners "Unfortunately".

    ReplyDelete