An overview of what was observed, noted and of concern:
KPFK’s LA Public members : Many KPFK Volunteers also arrived to
these meetings, as ‘public members’ to
the PNB [Pacifica National Board]meeting in LA, with most wanting to speak
aloud to all present, their Public
Comments allowed for 2 min each –
allowed 2x/ each day for each signed-up
speaker. The rest of the time, this sidelined group had to sit totally separately
and isolated from the action, while in back - behind the horse-shoe seating of the 20
official members who spoke only to Each Other.
KFPK staffers and programmers: Many
also came only to speak and then quickly leave, giving no acknowledgement to
the volunteers also present, as usual. Many loudly and in their upset complained
about the new Gen’l Mgr foisted upon them without notice or input. Their
unhappiness at being forced to be controlled by a person they did not
appreciate or have input in choosing seemed to leave their powerlessness and
distress audible.
PNB exclusiveness : The PNBers clearly were trying to avoid
seeing, speaking or acknowledging the misc. “others” riff-raff who had no fancy standing but crowded in back
of room. Even when a break opened up interactive possibilities, it was sadly
noticeable that that the PNBers did not act friendly nor socialize or smile at
those ‘others’ of lower standing. Latinos ate only with one another, and
special affinity groups excluded any ‘other’ ones there.
This done while each was surely denying that ‘elitism’ exists in such a
free-dom-sharing organization, yet the
voting individuals acted aloofly and separately. Perhaps PNB members maybe
assuming they needed to defend themselves from the messy masses seated in the
back 1/5 of the room space.
Spanish-only-More-air-time: The motion to add an Extra 5 hrs/ week for
all-spanish-speaking-only programming was passed with ease and hardly anyone
dared object to this ethnic-minority demand – especially with their 6+ Spanish
support group used Public Comment time for speaking- taking their 2min in
vehement Spanish, then taking extra time 2 min not granted to English-speakers
for the needed translation.
Using strong
words, making extra programming demands,
and even with claims of discrimination - as well as giving excuses for why all Spanish
programming on air now does Not financially match or meet their on-air-time
use.
Every KPFK LSB meeting has a
Latino or 4 demanding more time for Spanish-only on-air time, regardless of
their continual inability to help $$upport the
the station to survive its debts and monetary obligations. But then,
more time taken from other programs was given anyhow, money problems being ignored at this time.
PNB unnamed : The
‘others’ had no idea of who the PNB unpaid staff present were and while flimsy
name cards were in front of most, no allowance to walk behind the seated
members to note who was whom from where. Mention was made of this ignoring the
Public’s need to know, who were present and who voted for what, then a list of
PNB members was finally distributed, but only after an angry request was
delivered to surprised PNB group.
Exe Director : A positive surprise was to meet – even from
afar – the newly selected [by outgoing iED] Executive Director – John Proffit –
who had one of his major duties slipped out from under him a few days before
arriving at his office to select or even interview a new KPFK General Manager.
Such trickery was not mentioned at this meeting but his presence provided some
reassurance that someone with a more professional demeanor and expertise in
Radio Station Management [30 years ] was
now one of Us.
Control over meeting of argumentative
members : The chairs of this PNB group
and the secretary were dedicated to keeping some order, and tried to do so
repeatedly, tho it was obviously
difficult - and their call-outs were often
ignored while PNBers yelled, argued, and spoke over another ....or forgot what
the motion on the table was at that time.
The official members were not timed nor limited in how long they went
on...and on.... unless another official one fiercely disagreed....
And each often would repeatedly ‘forget’ to use the required
microphone - so everyone in room could hear their personal versions – and
because the whole audio was being recorded for on-line archive-listening, for
later too. Much of the long, day long, meetings seemed disorganized,
disorderly, and inconsiderate of other members and the public too. Each representative
seemed to demand their opinion to be given more attention or validity, as
happens in Pacifica & station
events.
TIME – not shared fairly, equally
: The Timer person attempted to
passively show a hand-made sign with “TIME” showing at the 2 min limit only for
Public Comments, not for PNB discussions or arguments or rants , but this was
ineffective for most who refused to see or did not bother looking and kept on
and on and on....until someone else objected to their unfairly usurping more
time than allowed to others.
The meek attempts were insufficient and tho
requested 3x to have a sound-effect of time-up to alert speakers they had
reached their limits and even gone over, this small device-system was not used
–and maybe not even wanted.
The PNB job:
Apparently, tho not mentioned at this meeting, each PNB members is
unpaid with $$$, but wields power and has access to the managements of their
own stations and to the umbrella organization – which is a big POWER reward
& benefit. Each PNB are voted from their own station’s LSB for a set period
and thus given this elevated status with accompanying [but never revealed]
privileges, plus the work of attending such stressful meetings.
Accountability: It was not clear how each PNBer is held
accountable or responsible for their actions from their station’s staff/public
when acting at these meetings or if they act on their own volition and
intentions instead of representing the radio station from where they emerge.
The usual : LACK OF TRANSPARENCY of anyone involved in
a Pacifica radio station is
always a noticeable issue, i.e. as to who was present, what their agendas or
biases were, who they ally with and whom they oppose regularly.
As these
official members did not address nor act open nor friendly with any of the many
Public members present, even when all were in same rooms at same time. This
gave the impression that the distance and separation was not only intentional,
but defensive and self-protective so no questions can be asked nor anyone
embarrassed.
see www.Pacifica.org for futher information and to see who
is on their board, or to contact anyone there.
Their location apparently is in Berkeley tho that is not
easily noted. KPFA is also nearby, while KPFT is in Houston, Tx, WBAI in NY, WPFW
in Wash.DC and there are other ‘affiliates’ who use some of these programs too.
© mj 2015
