Unless one first tuned in to WBAI within the last few years, one need not listen to the station for long before realizing that Pacifica Radio has been derailed, if not totaled. Those who have the microphone these days will give Pacifica high praise as a free speech, independent voice of truth—a once honest description made by staffers and volunteers whose dedication to such a concept (most commonly known as listener-sponsored radio) was in line with Pacifica's devotion to its listeners.
My association with Pacifica goes back to 1961, when I volunteered to work there in whatever capacity I was needed. KPFA went on the air in the late Forties—its aim was to satisfy the intellectual hunger of people in San Francisco's, Bay Area, so it became a community station in a relatively narrow sense. Pacifica founder Lewis Hill had idealistic ideas of a world without war and he believed the key to that was an informed populace. While the following Wikipedia bio synopsis brings into focus Mr. Hill's own formative experience, the text linked to below explains why he felt that American broadcasting needed an overhaul, in general. It should be required reading for any individual or group that has authority or the use of broadcasting facilities at a Pacifica radio station.
The magnet that drove most of us to Pacifica a few decades ago has been degaussed by self-serving lightweights who see Pacifica as nothing more than a soapbox for their own advancement. Whether consciously or not, they are cashing in on the honorable efforts of distant predecessors while making a pretense of following in their footsteps.
The fault lies, in the main, with unprincipled, like-minded management—haphazardly hired and left to its own, often ignoble, devices.
About Lewis Hill (From Wikipedia):
He was born in Kansas City, Kansas on May 1, 1919. His father was an attorney who made his fortune by brokering a deal to sell an oil company to J.P. Morgan. His mother's brother was Frank Phillips, builder of Phillips Petroleum. Lewis was sent to Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri because he was too bright for the public school. According to his widow, he "despised" his time at military school, but he completed his first two years of college there and also was the Missouri State doubles tennis champion. He then transferred to Stanford University.
While studying at Stanford in 1937, his interest in Quakerism led him to a belief in pacifism. As a conscientious objector, Hill served in Civilian Public Service during World War II. In 1945, Hill resigned from his job as a Washington D.C. correspondent and moved to Berkeley, California.
In 1949 he established KPFA. To support the station financially, he founded the Pacifica Foundation. He served as Pacifica's head until his suicide (during a period of failing health from spinal arthritis) in 1957.
⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨In Lew Hill's own words
Since the inflection point, which I would place ca early 1977, Pacifica has been 'dedicated' to a 'mission' which is a complete inversion of the original goals and principles.
ReplyDeleteOne need but compare the original stated goals and purposes, as well as the actual programming of the early years with that of the post-1977 – to present day period. The original central dedication was to superior, intelligent use of the medium, broadly defined, with programming falling into four categories, in the following order: Music, Drama & Literature, Public Affairs, and Children's Programming. Focus was on the relationship between the individual producer(s) and their audience, the rationale for this approach being that radio, if it were to exist at a high level, was a form of art, and one must optimize the possibility of creativity between producer/host and their audience by allowing appropriate latitude and responsibility.
In late-1976–early 1977 there was a coup of a sort. The principals at WBAI were Ralph Engelman, Chair, Anna Kosof, General Manager, and Pablo 'Yoruba' Guzman, Program Director. The driving force was courtesy of Percy Sutton's people, who were looking to cash in on their early years of civil rights devotion.
The details of that struggle are at best of trivial interest.
The result was the path to the irrelevance of present-day WBAI/Pacifica.
In all its glory.
~ 'indigopirate'
Mr Hill was mentioned in a recent video that discussed how Pacifica can save itself. Also referred to were Ms Sawaya & Ms Spooner.
ReplyDeleteThe discussants were Ken Freedman (WFMU station manager), Peter Franck (former President of Pacifica), a current Pacifica director (Ms Travis), & a current station treasurer (Ms Adams, KPFA). Mr Freedman said WFMU embraced digital from the 1990s; & listener support is now $2m pa. Wiki say they have a 15-day fund drive. Once a year. That's it.
On Monday, KPFA's homepage linked to three election films made by the video company just mentioned. The presenter is a very busy person: Pacifica's National Elections Supervisor & three-times Local Elections Supervisor (KPFA, KPFK, & KPFT). Yes, the one-and-only Renee Penaloza.
The four encounters:
https://www.youtube.com/user/CMCMtv/videos
Mr Franck has four articles, including two lifeboat plans:
https://culturelaw.com/special-information/
WFMU:
https://wfmu.org/
I just watched the first condidate KPFA forum. I was viewer number 2. It will be interesting to see how many people actually view these things. A couple of points:
ReplyDelete1. The three candidates seemed half-asleep. They were all from the same faction. They gave the name but I don't remember it -- indie/justice/unity/community something or other, the usual Pacifica gobbledygook. These are not dynamic or (apparently) intelligent people.
2. They seem unclear on what the local station board currently does or what it should do. They repeatedly said that programming was the most important thing but that the LSB has no control over programming. They also said over and over again that the boards shouldn't be managing the stations. I am not sure how the boards can be micromanaging if they have no say over programming.
3. They was some mention of the need for left-wing radio. (ROFLMAO)
4. They all want young people. Gotta do outreach to the young people. Podcasts! Youtube! It was sad. Old people wondering why their grandkids don't visit. It was like the day room at an assisted living facility.
5. Fifty minutes of meandering, unfocused talk. No grasp of the possibilities of community radio. No excitement about the work ahead. No vision. They can barely see beyond their noses.
KPFA is in a death spiral.
I sampled the candidate videos. These people completely creep me out.
DeleteCompletely.
~ 'indigo'
Fake Candidate Statement:
DeleteI'm John Smith and I'm running for an LSB seat with the slate. I promise not to try to micromanage the station. I can't even reach the GM anyway so it won't be an issue. I will vote to retain the current directors who have saved us by taking out loans that can't be paid back the way things are now. This will allow us to finally get the long overdue changes. Management by crisis. That's the key. There is no choice. Its either us or the Just Us Crazies. I will then deny the JUC a platform by not attending any more meetings until the next election of directors whenever that may be. My colleagues who work at the station and insist there is no conflict of interest will keep a close eye on their boss to make sure he is doing his job at least part of the time. I will work to improve programming by constantly berating the programmers since I can't get remove them and force them to find new radical listeners. This station is not radical enough. We must own that paper thin slice of the market that believes Sanders is a sellout. Don't listen to those who want to broaden the audience. That way leads to NPR and uncomfortable questions from a greater number of listeners and no one wants that.
If you believe everything would just be peachy if we can get CPB funding restored then vote for the slate and for its number eight candidate but first in your hearts John Smith. This is John Smith and I have approved this message to be sent in an expensive mailer because someone somewhere doesn't have internet access but can still afford to donate to the station.
You certainly have my votes!
Delete(Should be able to manage ~279 or so, I think)
[Best candidate statement ever, dude! :) ]
~ 'indigo'
Why do they keep claiming to be 50k watts ? According to wikipedia their ERP is 10k, and I seem to remember reading something about how they were going to be about 5k upon the move to 4 TS.
ReplyDeleteFCC forces you to reduce power as you add height. The FCC allows 50KW at 200'. increase height, lower you power. Height gets you out further (Think curvature of the Earth). It's usually referred to as equivalent to 50 Kw. Most antennas have a gain so 1Kw in, (transmitter power out) may give you the equivalent signal by adding more antenna elements of 2500 watts ERP. The effective radiated power (erp) is what counts. If you get a high gain antenna, you don't need as big a transmitter, coax or antenna eelements, and your power bill is less. For TV and FM, generally speaking, height is your friend, allowing your signal a bigger radius.
Delete