The association is by no means new. Here is a link to the latest edition of Ken Mills' Spark News, an authoritative source for up-to-date information on non-commercial community radio. This issue focuses on the somewhat lurid details of Amy Goodman's controversial acquisition of Democracy Now!, a tangled web in which we see masks lowered, rumors confirmed or perpetuated, and Pacifica/WBAI ineptitude taken advantage of.
Footnote - Damocracy Now was the brainchild of Samori Marksman - he created the show. At the time of his death, he was deeply concerned about Amy Goodman, musing that he had created a monster in Amy Goodman. Samori's brother, Lambert, was going to sue Amy to get the rights from her when he died. Amy Goodman is a thief and a crook - glad this story is finally getting out. She should be arrested and jailed immediately.
ReplyDeleteIt seems clear to me from the evidence publicly available and presented that Amy Goodman is sharper, tougher, and generally more competent than those still weeping and whining at WBAI/Pacifica.
DeleteI’m certainly no fan, but I see those qualities as to her credit.
A suit based on Samori Marksman’s claim to to have ‘created’ Democracy Now! ? That it was his idea, his ‘brainchild’?
Wonderful idea. If you know absolutely nothing about IP.
Every bit as realistic as Marksman’s expectation that there would come to be statues erected and parades held, one day, in his honor as a Revolutionary Hero.
Real soon, very soon, any time now…
~ ‘indigopirate’
I have no doubt about Marksman's ability as a manager, as far as organization goes, but his aims were skewed and he probably held himself in higher esteem than warranted. Of course, an egg laying hen roaming free in the front office would be an improvement over Berthold Reimers.
DeleteSamori Marksman, however, negated his organizational abilities by rerouting WBAI to follow a one-sided political path. I tend to agree with those who blame him for sowing the seeds that have made the station a soapbox for third-rate race-based activism and sent the audience out of listener range.
I am told that his funeral was very well attended, which brings to mind a remark attributed to Groucho when Columbia Pictures filled its largest soundstage for a Harry Cohn memorial service. Apparently mindful of the movie mogul's unpopularity, someone expressed surprise at the size of the crowd. "Give the public what they want," Groucho allegedly said, "and they'll show up."
Samori as a was program director, more interested in building his political connections through his on air programming, than building a broad based grid reflecting the diversity of NYC and cultural interests.
ReplyDeleteSamori Marksman was an extreme ideologue of the literally Marxist sub-type, he literally imagined himself as a hero of the Revolution and potential authoritarian Leader, he held all art, music, and educational programming to be vile accommodations of the bourgeoisie.
DeleteHe was *precisely* what the Pacifica Boards, both national and local, saw as the desired future of WBAI and of Pacifica.
They got what they wanted.
~ ‘indigopirate’
The audit deadline has come and gone. The next move belongs to the California Attorney General. What is happening with that?
ReplyDeleteAs of the most recent PNB Meeting, Thursday last, they had heard nothing and knew nothing, at least so far as what was said in open session was concerned. As for what may have been said in KiddyStarChamber, heaven only knows.
Delete~ 'indigopirate'
Maybe they are so busy and short staved at the NO, that no one is sorting or opening mail that aren't checks?
DeleteRent, transmitter rent, pension funds, ESRT liability, audit costs, and pay roll are "known knowns" (Thank you Donald Rumsfeld) The unknowns? unknowable.
ReplyDeleteunknowns: loss of CPB funding/qualification means no longer eligible for CPB covering payments to BMI/ASCAP/SESAC/GRM for over the air music. And CPB for BMI/ASCAP/SESEAC/GRM and Soundexchange for streaming music rights. Costs for upgrades to new combined carrier Public Radio Satellite System?
ReplyDeleteunknown - CPB funding (in part) for the Pacifica Archives.
DeleteAs much as I despise Samori and think he was lucky to have Reagan in office at the time, he was smart enough to not turn WBAI into just a myopic race based station. He was an ideologue, first and foremost, who thought the grande revolution was going to sweep the world. Well, yeah, but it was a right wing revolution that did, not the Marxist one.
ReplyDeleteSDL
The very small group that wants to see WBAI go Marx is just as myopic as the small group that thought black would bring the station green.... reality is that it has brought it into the deep red.
DeleteAnybody surprised to hear that the current scam fest is a bust?
No, but I haven't paid much attention at all to WBAI, and I don't even know what they're hawking this go around. The dough isn't rolling in?
DeleteSDL
Word has it that the average daily pledge intake is $7,647.00. That is below the goal and it does not reflect what's left after the "gift giver" and other expenses have been paid. If they, indeed are being paid.
DeleteIt's still on a plunge trajectory and the infomercials are mostly re-runs of past failures. Bozos!
Downward trajectory update via Tony Bates email minus the schedule attachment:
DeleteGreetings All,
The response for International Working Women's Day was tepid at best. We'll have to pull together quickly if we are going to save the day. We are still in need of a producer / coordinator for the day. About 5 producers have offered segments.
Attached please find the schedule for week 4 of the fund drive.
You may respond here or call me if you have any questions.
KPFA so far this pledge drive (and last one) has been averaging about 35K $ a day weekdays. With KPFA's primary signal reaching 1/2 the population of WBAI (Coverage Info Source: https://secure.nprlabs.org/maps/# - enter call sign then click demographics at top)
ReplyDeleteIf WBAI connected with listeners at an equal rate, they should be doing $60-80K a day