Mr. Livingston will be in New York this Thursday and Friday (January 25-26). Let us hope that he discovers and eliminates such major blemishes on WBAI as Berthold Reimers and Tony Bates and that he listens to the garbage that made the station irrelevant to the overwhelming majority of its listener-supporters.
From SPARK NEWS January 23, 2018:
CAN TOM LIVINGSTON SAVE PACIFICA?
SPARK NEWS is highly recommended to anyone who is interested in news, analysis and opinion about noncommercial media and radio broadcasting. It can be reached at http://acrnewsfeed.blogspot.com and is created by Ken Mills. Copyrighted by Ken Mills Agency, LLC
He won't be pc enough for these morons, obviously. Can he outlast Proffitt, who was actually a radio person? I have a feeling we're going to see quite the venom flow.
ReplyDeleteSDL
You mean INCREASED venom flow.
DeletePerhaps Mr. Livingston is precisely what Pacifica needs. Being radio did not create the present crisis—being neither radio nor business structure savvy did.
That Livingston comes from the outside is a giant plus, in my opinion. That he has been given loose reins makes the choice even more promising. Let us hope that he stands firm when these creeps try to block change.
Agreed overall IF he has some understanding of radio, like fixing shit programming.
DeleteLet's hope he knows how to be a stern parent and not let Cere, Adriana, Benito pull their shit.
SDL
I can only imagine what it will be like for Livingston. What will a serious guy like him think when he walks into a station drowning in red ink with producers pushing bad programs and even worse premiums? Will he cringe at the plywood walls? Will he wonder what that machine is in the back? Will he wonder why the budget numbers don't add up?
DeleteIs that Quickbooks on the screen? What is this MNN thing they keep talking about? Somebody tell him the store on the corner has aspirin and there is a bar around the corner. He needs to know.
You don't need to be a radio person or a business man/woman. When he listens to the air, he'll know it's time to make change. What was the HR firm hired to terminate Bernard White? Wonder if they are available and offer discounts for repeat business.
DeleteThis should be interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy kid likes to watch something called "Monster Bug Wars" (on YouTube).
Spiders vs centipedes etc. All equipped with sharp claws and venomous fangs to fight to the death.
So far the PNB centipede has devoured any ED that challenged it's territory.
If this guy is anything like his resume ("headhunter", "turnaround specialist", "executive coach"), when he sees Pacifica gave up millions (not to mention threaten their non-profit status) because they couldn't complete their standard audits and one GM refuses to even use the Pacifica issued accounting software he'll know heads need to roll. (my theory is Reimers is correct - he does not keep two sets of books, he has NO books!).
And of course that's only one aspect of the ongoing mismanagement.
I expect "the usual suspects" on the PNB have already started an "Impeach Livingston" movement.
If Livingston's a businessman he'll say "screw these nuts, I'm not wasting my time" and quickly leave, or if he's dedicated to the mission he'd better start building a wall... around his office to protect him!
Its wise to be cynical but if there is going to be a 'turnaround', he is probably the best man for the job. The programming is just not adequate and needs to change. He then needs to manage the increased revenues that better programming will provide. That means bringing in new people if the plan is to have any credibility. That is where the headhunter hat comes into play. He also needs cooperation from producers. He can not tolerate people at KPFA openly calling for bankruptcy or people at WBAI arguing for a deal with MNN on the air. That is where the the coach hat comes into play. He can't let himself get bogged down in day to day affairs. He has to develop a plan which includes improving programming and looking at new sources of revenue and stick to it.
DeleteHe appears to be an intelligent man, one who has much experience scrutinizing management, so I'm sure it won't take him long to see through the Coughlin/Cerene scheme. If he hasn't already.
DeleteI looked at this thread again and have to wonder how long he'll be smiling...
ReplyDeleteSDL
Yeah, And good luck trying to clean up this racist cesspool .
ReplyDeleteYour'e gonna need it.
That is going to be quite a task—these snakes will sue—it's a Pacifica tradition that has paid off in the past, literally.
DeleteI've been listening to the past meetings introducing the newly elected PNB members - last year's 'free for all' with Adriana as chair, and the previous year's 'Mozart-a-thon' - who the heck knows what kind of listening experience we'll have tomorrow night considering the past two years?
ReplyDeleteThe JUCs may perform Clamor Concerto Afrique in F.
DeleteThe usual points of order may no longer apply since its a new board. I don't know if they picked affiliate directors yet. So long bogus affiliate director #2 and apathetic affiliate director. I'm sure they will come up with more time wasting moves. There is the classic arguing about the agenda move and I don't like these minutes move. They could continue to MUTE about MUTE phone system but that MUTE tired.
DeleteThe important question. Does he have any radio experience? In a way this is like a movie studio that has lots of problems. What does the board of directors do? Hire someone with studio experience? Not all but many actors would never run a studio because of the daily political bs. So they end up hiring a CEO, venture fund manager, etc. This then explains why studios love to endlessly recycle the same thing as long as possible to squeeze all the money they can out of it.
ReplyDeletePacifa National and the LSB's can't get thru a meeting. What's he gonna do? Singlehandedly rewrite Pacifica's Mission Statement? If I wanna find out his salary, is Pacifica National going to say that's "classified"?
Let me understand this. We haven't completed audits. Berthold's budget numbers are based on imagination. Pacifica is taking out loans left and right but it is absolutely imperative for you to know how much Livingston is making? Yeah. We'll get right back to you.
DeleteThe only way to fix a mess as bad as Pacifica is to "start taking names and kicking asses." If the new guy can't or won't do that, he will be as unsuccessful at turning around Pacifica as were the Interim Executive Directors before him. I just realized that the acronym for his position is the same as the acronym for "improvised explosive device", which is apt, since he won' be effective if he does not start blowing things up at Pacifica.
ReplyDeleteWhat individuals, factions, or station(s) sought out Livingston and put him in place?
ReplyDeleteMy mistake , Halper rounding out the blackness . geez
ReplyDeleteJust one after another. Got Horne on , need i say more?
In all seriousness, if you want to specialize in a "community," go for the LGBQTABCEDF one. They have money and spend it. In fact, I bet a gay focused news, talk and music station would do well locally.
ReplyDeleteSDL