My days on the infamous BlueBoard may be numbered, for I have invoked the wrath of its Master!
Should he carry out his threat, your posts in that forum will be stifled if you as much as mention my name. It's called censorship and is already in effect for LSB members Mitchel Cohen, Carolyn Birden, and others. Only the Master himself knows why.
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| R. Paul Martin |
You will not find that kind of nonsense here, nor would it have been acceptable back in the day when WBAI adhered to Lew Hill's principles, and the "free speech" label was taken seriously. I guess the threat is symptomatic of the abuse WBAI suffers at the hands and small minds of opportunists and amateurs.
BTW—My post, the one that gave the old Master that hissy fit, was rather innocuous (a response to his accusing me of wishing WBAI dead), but it did contain an observation that—while true—was critical of the Master's stance. The man has a difficult time taking criticism.
What prithee then, sir, was this offensive post? Perspiring minds want to know! ;)
ReplyDeleteIn my admittedly limited experience admins, sysops, etc, have been known on occasion to succumb to the lure of their vast power – often known as the Geek Overlord Manifestation.
It may be worth recalling, as well, that WBAI and Pacifica have for some decades now been (with rare exception) the province of folks with no ability to function in the world or in any sense ‘play well with others’ who are intent on telling a largely nonexistent audience what’s wrong with the world and why if only the world were sensible it would be run as they deem fit and why isn’t anyone listening to me?!
[that latter brief run-on being imitative and therefore an example of the pathetic fallacy in both senses of the phrase]
As has been pointed out earlier, anyone active in any form of media develops the ability to accept or at least deal with direction and criticism – whether that direction and criticism is sound or baseless, kind or infinitely unkind.
The fact that WBAI and Pacifica folks lack that ability and the necessary accompanying coping and defense mechanisms is telling as to their amateur (in the pejorative sense) approach and attitude.
As we both know, that was not the case in a now-distant age when the attitudes which dominated internally amongst both paid and unpaid staff and producers was one of professionalism or at the very least serious aspiration and dedication to professional standards – an interest in and dedication not to formalistic professionalism, per se, but to doing work of high quality, that *mattered*.
There will always be a place for that, but WBAI and Pacifica ain’t it, nor likely to be, in my opinion, in any foreseeable future.
That unfortunate truth was fairly clear at least thirty or more years ago.
Onward…
~ Indigo Pirate
Since you ask....
Delete"So Chris is discouraging people from trying to do something positive for WBAI." —R.Paul Martin
Not at all, R. Paul. I am reminding Solomon of Reimers' history of not accepting, even getting in the way of, positive suggestions, and of Frank's history of amateurish dabbling.
The contact Solomon has is obviously a professional who know what to do, I believe Solomon should think twice before setting up contact between anyone he respects and the clowns who have been making such a mess of things for three years.
My concern for WBAI's welfare is, of course, very much involved, but it has already been killed and I think you and Frank are among the people who have—consciously, or not—allowed that to happen.
In fact, you, yourself have banned from this board a former LSB Chair who harbors great concern for the station's future, has some good ideas and the willingness to work for their implementation. You have done so frivolously and this post would not be published were I to mention his name.
Now, you will probably delete it, but I hope it gets read before you do. At least you, the intended recipient, will see it.
Thanks.
DeleteThat provides some sense of it.
I’d certainly agree that the last thing one wants, either personally or professionally, is to risk burning a contact by introducing to them someone who may be problematic. For one thing, they don’t deserve it. For another, it’s something that may well prove harmful personally and/or professionally.
One avoids it for a reason – a number of reasons, all valid, actually.
Assuming that’s the content in full (I’m sure it is) then in my judgement Martin is simply being thin-skinned and/or attempting excessive and rather clumsy editorial control.
It’s a place of dilettantes and amateurs.
It’s also a place of people who are largely incapable of compromising (in the positive sense) and working cooperatively (or at least non-destructively).
None of this is new. Far from it.
It will be amusing to hear what the word from Ms Summers is at 6p Thursday. It may be a bombshell, or it may be an attempt at reassurance combined with earnest entreaty to carry on the noble fight.
My guess, only a guess of course, is the latter.
~ Indigo Pirate
That is the content in full, and he is indeed thin-skinned. When he decides to banish someone, that name (in various forms) triggers a block). Martin's excuse is that people who are barred cannot defend themselves, so 'tis thoughtfulness that makes him block their name. One problem is that there is no list, so there are times when one hasn't the foggiest why one's post didn't make it into the snake pit.
DeleteYou are probably right in your Summer prediction. She will want the fundraising to continue, even if the ultimate plan is to place WBAI into someone else's hands. I wonder if she will mention Andrew. I guess Reimers will be there (arriving late) and he will be optimistic beyond reality.
ho is Paul Martin? Are there any other factions as BAI besides the Just Unity and Steve Brown/Gary Null?
ReplyDeleteOne might say that he is a faction of one. He has been with WBAI for decades, does a rarely interesting 1-hour program called "Back of the Book," which alternates with the most often interesting Sidney Smith program in theFriday 5 AM slot. He also has his own site, glib.com (I think), and he is the LSB treasurer. A year or so ago, he took over the infamous Blue Board and grew a somewhat Napoleonic online persona—sans the intellect. Others can probably do a better job of describing him. I never cared for anything he did over the air, but there were times when I thought he was being unfairly criticized. In such cases, I often posted in his defense, but his practice of censorship is something I never found acceptable, even in the case of Pamela Somers (Knight's stupid shill)—her absence was a blessing, but, on principle, wrong, i.m.h.o. Mitchel Cohen's banishment is pure sandbox stuff.
DeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteWith your permission, I'd like to say a few things about Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, Utrice Leid, and the possible identity of a new commenter at your blog.
Amy Goodman was not fired. She walked out.
After repeated incidents with PD Utrice Leid, and racist Clayton Riley, who was foisted upon Ms. Goodman as co-host of “Democracy Now”—Mr. Riley called her a “Jewish bitch” among other names; after repeated instances of harassment and virtual assault on her and her staff, “Democracy Now” moved to another location.
Leid replaced “Democracy Now” with another morning show and promoted two unknown mediocrities to co-host the program: the insipid Santiago Nieves and a crypto-fascist, ambitious but untalented brownnoser named Paul DiRienso. DiRienso had told Utrice that he would do anything to keep his job and stay on the air.
Nieves and DiRienzo were ridiculed and insulted by the DN audience to the point where they had to stop taking on the air phone calls.
DiRienso became a laughing stock of WBAI after saying on air that Goodman had never been in East Timor--she had; and she had nearly been killed by Indonesian troops; and by asking rhetorically why there was so much fuss about her moving from the station when “she’s been replaced by two excellent journalists”, referring to himself and Nieves.
Ms. Goodman went on to build a successful organization without the help or support of WBAI or Pacifica.
Nieves disappeared. DiRienzo managed to get a job with Gary Null for a while. Eventually Null discovered what a piece of garbage DiRienzo was and fired him.
There are a lot of people at WBAI and Pacifica, and especially among the new WBAI audience--a semi-illiterate bunch of ignoramuses who embrace astrology, “alternative medicine” like homeopathy, magic, religion, and other obscurantist nonsense, who hate Amy Goodman. They attempt to tarnish her with invented stories of her cheating WBAI and other calumnies. PDR hates her because she’s everything he isn’t: smart, popular, astute, competent, and successful. Many others hate her because she is Jewish, a woman, or both. Nevertheless, she’ll be around for a long time after WBAI is gone and after PDR has run out of aliases and disguises.
TPM
A couple of quick comments:
DeleteTPM writes:
After repeated incidents with PD Utrice Leid, and racist Clayton Riley, who was foisted upon Ms. Goodman as co-host of “Democracy Now”—Mr. Riley called her a “Jewish bitch” among other names; after repeated instances of harassment and virtual assault on her and her staff, “Democracy Now” moved to another location.
Absolutely correct. Clayton Riley was a homophobic antisemitic thug who had no business being associated with WBAI. That was a time, let me remind some who may not be aware, that quite a few violent assaults took place on the station's premises, and a few people's homophobic acts (tearing down Sidney Smith's rainbow flag, for example) were not dealt with by the management at the time and allowed to continue.
....
DiRienso became a laughing stock of WBAI after saying on air that Goodman had never been in East Timor--she had; and she had nearly been killed by Indonesian troops; and by asking rhetorically why there was so much fuss about her moving from the station when “she’s been replaced by two excellent journalists”, referring to himself and Nieves.
Again, correct. Those were among some of the stupider (jealousy-ridden) statements that Paul DeRienzo made, which made me distrust his "news reporting" as much as that of Don DeBar's 6 years later.
Ms. Goodman went on to build a successful organization without the help or support of WBAI or Pacifica.
This is NOT the case. Democracy Now's contract binds Pacifica to paying DN! around $500,000 per year. That money was crucial in Democracy Now's startup and sustaining funds, but it is no longer needed by DN. Over the years Pacifica has paid DN! around $5 million and Amy should simply forgive the $2 million debt that Pacifica owes her. Other stations can pick up DN! for no fee. Why not WBAI?
There are a lot of people at WBAI and Pacifica, and especially among the new WBAI audience--a semi-illiterate bunch of ignoramuses who embrace astrology, “alternative medicine” like homeopathy, magic, religion, and other obscurantist nonsense, who hate Amy Goodman.
I agree with you about most of that, but I'd remove homeopathy from that list.
They attempt to tarnish her with invented stories of her cheating WBAI and other calumnies.
Yes they do, and there is a real undercurrent of misogyny, jealousy, and anti-semitism wrapped up in those stories. She's not "cheating" WBAI -- it was Pacifica who signed what I consider to be an outlandish contract with her. And I love DN! (although critical of it in some aspects, of course). It's not Amy's fault for negotiating a sizable contract from Pacifica, any more than the other paid personnel at Pacifica try to do. We should also keep in mind Bernard White's lawsuit -- which was recently thrown out of Court by the Judge -- and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that the lawsuit cost Pacifica in defending against it, to understand part of the basis for where WBAI's and Pacifica's shortfalls are coming from.
Mitchel Cohen
Thank you for your corrections, Mitchel. I yield to your knowledge as you not only know and have access to my sources, but you have many more of your own.
DeleteAs far as PDR goes, let he who is without sins toss the first spitball. If my criticism of PDR is harsh, it's because I resent the calumnies carelessly tossed about regarding good people like Mario Murillo and Amy. But I'm not the Virgin Fucking Mary and have a lot on my own conscience. No claim to any moral high ground here. I have no right to judge Paul or to call him names.
TPR
I am a fairly long time listener who remembers hearing Riley on the air and who has come to assessments more or less in agreement with what Mitchell said above. I also, based at least on his "on air" persona", came to greatly dislike Josephson. who came off to me as a really vile pompous ass and also Feder, although I think that he was a gifted monologist. Post, on the other hand, and just based on what I heard, I actually liked. It is news to me to find out that he was a piece of sh..t too!
DeleteSteve Post was a nasty, self-serving, back-stabbing guy without redeeming values. Hiring him and teaching him how to operate the board turned out to be a very big mistake. Larry Josephson was as you describe him. I never heard Feder on the air, but I read a lengthy piece he wrote on WBAI, and found it to be excellent.
DeleteWho is TPM? Mario Murillo is a crook and a sexual harrasser - the new bosses of Pacifica are finding this out!
DeleteTPM opted for anonymity.
DeleteYou got me, TPM, I am PDR!
ReplyDeleteAmy Goodman walked out after local BAI management tried to saddle her show with their cronies, then she came in and stuck the station with her debt. I don't hate Goodman, its just that given the size of the BAI's core audience and how they fund themselves, to Carry Democracy Now is a luxury that BAI can barely afford. Of course, BAI needs to carry programming like the Democracy Now! to expand the demographics of its audience. And this is where BAI is in a bind, the intended and targeted audience of the BAI local management and power structure is one group, that would not, or most likely can not foot the bill for the station, and the folks, who fund the station are one buying Gary Null premiums, a totally different socio-economic group of people altogether. On top of that, BAI's targeted audience feels more comfortable tuning in to NPR, where there is more acceptance and less intolerance. In addition to that, the station is doomed as more and more of the BAI's aging regular supporters pass on. On top of that, BAI already is a failing commercial station. If you heard Summer Reese yesterday, she implicitly expressed a view, that Gary Null is a necessary evil, because his premiums keep WBAI afloat, and she supported his view that Null listeners are something extrinsic to BAI audience. Reese also said that Blosdale is responsible for the 40% of premiums raised at the LA Pacifica station. That's scary! Among interesting things that Reese said on that broadcast, was that selling Null products is a necessary evil to keep the station going, this is exactly the attitude of mainstream commercial radio to its advertisers. Andrew Phillips was pushed aside by Reese, because he did not raise enough money, a very corporate act. and Reese will not replace any of the local BAI management and she is less than forthcoming. Very upper management in her demeanor.
TPM, my understanding that Null has fired both, Andrew Phillips and Paul Di Rienzo, What was the ostensible reason other than Null maintaining control over his network? BTW, if BAI and Pacifica fold, Democracy Now! will suffer a major setback, will be reduced to an internet broadcaster. This I predict.
TPR, Read this and weep! Democracy Now! gets funded and stays in the air the same was as NPR, while BAI chooses to pitch overpriced premiums! What choice extinction?
ReplyDeleteSerious questions have arisen about how Democracy Now!, begun and developed with the resources of Pacifica Radio and grants from the Carnegie Corporation, the Ford Foundation, the J.M. Kaplan Fund and others, suddenly became independent and the effective property of Amy Goodman without recompense to Pacifica. This transfer apparently included valuable assets such as trademarks, ownership of years of archived programs, affiliate station access, and more.
In a contract that remains secret, Amy Goodman is also receiving $1 million per year for a five-year period that began in 2002, according to Pacifica Treasurer Jabari Zakiya, to continue doing what has become Pacifica's flagship morning news program. This is more than double Goodman's officially stated stipend of $440,000 per year from Pacifica Radio.
Democracy Now! receives indirect funding from George Soros, and direct funding from the Ford Foundation, the Glaser Foundation, Soros' Open Society Institute, the Public Welfare Foundation, the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy, the Tides Foundation, and other left-leaning foundations.
As a former English teacher, I've always counseled writers to avoid the passive voice whenever possible. Sources for the interesting information your present? Especially regarding funding. If DN receives money from Soros, Carnegie, and Ford, why should listeners be asked to support it? Why would we want to?
ReplyDeleteAndre Malraux once observed that if one wanted to get anything done, one had to get his hands dirty. How dirty?
And is what one gets done worth the price?
No answers here. I'm old and more confused than ever. I'm tired of hiding behind a nom de plume to insult people I don't like because they insult people I do like. I'm tired of sanctimonious fools like Gary Null. I'm tired of myself. I'm just tired.
The rest is silence. Good luck to all.
Get through the night the best you can without hurting others.
TPM
Okay, kiddo,
DeleteCrack open Yeats, turn to Why Should Not Old Men Be Mad?
~ Indigo
Although Amy Goodman is indeed the driving force behind Democracy Now, you should not conflate them. Her personal (and well-deserved) salary for the extremely rigorous work she does daily is around $150,000 per year -- not exactly chickenfeed but well below industry standards, given that she and her staff have created quite an effective network. She did not and does not receive $1 million per year, nor a "stipend of $440,000 per year. Democracy Now may receive those figures in funding as a not-for-profit corporation, but that's different than your saying that Amy Goodman is receiving them. Those funds are used for salaries for the large staff, rent, fees, etc., not for some gigantic salary for Amy.
ReplyDeleteThe way you phrase this makes me distrust what you write. You write that "Amy Goodman is also "receiving $1million per year for a five-year period that began in 2002, according to Pacifica Treasurer Jabari Zakiya ..." No such person is treasurer today, and Jabari did NOT say that about Amy Goodman, contrary to what you state. This should not be referred to as "is" but as "was", a decade ago, and it was not Amy Goodman, as I said above, who personally pocketed those funds, but they went to getting Democracy Now widely circulated. Yes, those foundation grants contributed to doing so, and DN may still be receiving them. So what?
Are you trying to make the case that those funding agencies control or limit the politics allowed or the way they are framed on the show?
Mitchel
R. Paul Martin is a long time fascist - this is not surprising. NO ONE is allowed to disagree with his view of the station or history of the station. He has lied about or hidden true facts about people he hated @ WBAI. His tenure as Union Steward was fraudulent as he played favorites and refused to file grievances for producers. He supported bigots like Lynn Samuels and refused to investigate sexual harrassment charges against Samori Marksman and Mario Murillo.. Not surprised @ the banning of your views by this SMALL man!
ReplyDeleteA. Walker
Would you care to be more specific as to your statements with respect to Samuels, Marksman, and Murillo?
Delete~ Indigo Pirate
Yes Mitchel I would most certainly assert that DN funding limits its content. Listening to Amy back on the BAI morning show with Bernard kept me on the edge of my seat. Her reports seemed to explode with critical truths. Seymour Hersh is angry with journalists for not questioning nor investigating our government story of the killing of Osama in Pakistan. He remarked that the "he said, she said' journalism does not do the job and a reporter should go straight for the truth. Amy has been reduced to "he said, she said" for sometime now, and I barely listen to her anymore. Not that I did not just love her to pieces when she reported all night outside the Troy Davis prison. But to get my daily dose of truth I go to Globalresearch.ca.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what happen to Santiago Nieves after he left WBAI?
ReplyDelete