NP Fwd: Huge NY Meeting to Support WBAI
Doug Millison
millison at online-journalist.com
Fri Dec 29 13:23:41 CST 2000
Pacifica's radio stations (I listen and subscribe to KPFA in
Berkeley) represent some of the most significant non-corporate media
outlets in the U.S. -- sources for news and programs that, unlike PBS
or NPR or the commercial networks and publications, remain more or
less untainted by corporate and government public relations "spin."
It seems that a coordinated effort is underway to remake these radio
stations following the model of PBS and NPR (i.e., to make them into
PR vehicles for the corporations and government agencies that
subsidize PBS and NPR television and radio), led by Pacifica's Board
which appears to have been taken over by Board members who do not
share Pacifica's free-speech and pacifist mission. Pacifica has also
targeted individual programs, including Amy Goodman's daily Democracy
Now. If you care at all about keeping this sort of free-speech,
pacifist, non-corporate media alive, you might want to learn more
about what's going on with Pacifica and support those people who are
struggling against Pacifica's Board.
-Doug
>Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2000 12:06:02 -0800 (PST)
>From: savepacifica at peacenet.org
>Reply-to: savepacifica at peacenet.org
>Subject: Huge NY Meeting to Support WBAI
>
>Huge NY Meeting to Support WBAI while Pacifica Management
>Continues Purges Inside Station
>
>by Eileen Sutton, WBAI reporter
>December 29, 2000
>
>Following the "Christmas Coup" which took place last weekend at
>Pacifica station WBAI in New York, Bernard White, WBAI's
>Program Director, Wake-Up Call host and 20-year veteran was
>fired, along with Sharan Harper, Wake-Up Call's Executive
>Producer and WBAI shop steward. Pacifica's Executive Director
>Bessie Wash came to the station late Friday night and, with a
>locksmith, changed the locks on all office doors, as well as
>the station's main doors. When served with their termination
>papers early Saturday morning, Harper and White were
>threatened with trespass--and by extension arrest--if they
>came to the station. A court order was taken out by Pacifica
>against Bernard White, Sharan Harper and van Isler.
>
>Wash also named former Talk-Back host Utrice Leid interim
>General Manager, who is replacing recently ousted GM Valerie
>van Isler. On Tuesday, December 26, 3 more unpaid staffers
>were banned from the station: Janice K. Bryant (line producer
>on Wake-Up Call); Serene Roberts and Eileen Sutton (volunteer
>news reporter). A fourth staffer, Rachel Barr, was banned on
>Wednesday. On Tuesday, Leid called the first staff meeting since
>the lock-out, which by all accounts was a grueling, contentious
>affair.
>
>Security guards have been in place at the station since Sunday
>night and access to the station is still restricted.
>Guards have been reported roaming through the station at
>different times, using cell phones or walkie-talkies. Many
>staffers say the environment is intimidating and tense.
>
>Many programmers on the air are openly expressing their
>concerns, and in some cases their outrage, at the Pacifica
>take-over. Some have been running educational programs
>to educate listeners about Pacifica's now pro-corporate
>national board. But, many have also expressed private fears
>that they may, at any moment, be taken off the air in
>retaliation for their views. So far, there is no official gag
>rule in place, though staffers say they were
>warned by Leid in Tuesday's staff meeting to show
>"professional responsibility" on the air. Staffers say Leid
>chastised the on-air reporting of what she considers
>merely "internal personnel matters." They say Leid told
>programmers who discuss the crisis on air that they
>are "abusing the listeners' trust."
>
>A memo was also issued by Leid threatening "disciplinary
>action" should any staff member help White, Harper or
>van Isler get into the station. A vote taken at Tuesday's
>staff meeting to bring back White and Harper and reverse
>the firings and bannings numbered 20 in favor, no opposed,
>and 2 abstentions.
>
>On Wednesday night, upwards of 1100 concerned listeners,
>WBAI staff and press packed a union hall in lower Manhattan
>to protest recent developments and get information.
>The standing-room only crowd heard impassioned speeches
>by many WBAI regulars, including Bernard White, Janice
>K. Bryant, Amy Goodman, Grand-Pa Al Lewis, Bob Fass
>and Robert Knight. Committee reports were also read by
>members of Concerned Friends of WBAI, which sponsored
>the event. A large demonstration is being planned, and
>there have been daily protests outside the station.
>
>Although there are conflicting press reports as to
>whether Wash or Leid made the decision to fire White and
>Harper, Wash recently said on the air in an interview
>with Leid that Leid now runs WBAI, and it is in her power to
>rehire both White and Harper if she so chooses. Currently,
>White's possessions are being packed up and presumably will
>be sent to him. Of the 6 staffers so far ousted or
>banned, 4 are African-American, including the
>two top office-holders, White and van Isler.
>
>For more information, and daily updates, and to be put on an
>email list for up-to-the-minute information, call
>718-707-7189 or 800-825-0055.
>
>To write to the Pacifica Board:
>
>Contact Pacifica Executive Director Bessie Wash to
>protest her actions, and to demand continued
>independence for WBAI. Call toll free: (888)
>770-4944, ask for Bessie Wash at ext. 348.
>
> Or call: (202) 234-7487
> Or fax a letter to: (202) 884-0860
> Or write: 2390 Champlain Street N.W. Washington,
> DC 20009
> Or email: bmwpacifica at aol.com
>
>Write to the other board members - their addresses
>and contact info are enclosed below.
>
> Dr. Mary Frances Berry - former Chair, now "consultant"
> c/o U.S. Civil Rights Commission
> 624 Ninth Street NW #700
> Washington DC 20425
> phone: (202) 337-0382
> FAX: (202) 376-7558
> contact info at University of Pennsylvania,where Dr. Berry is on
> the faculty
> e-mail: mfberry at sas.upenn.edu
>
> BOARD MEMBERS
>
> David Acosta, Chair
> phone: (713) 926-4604
> FAX: (713) 921-2780
> e-mail: cpadga at aol.com
> (he may have disconnected his email and FAX)
>
> Ken Ford - Vice Chair
> 11303 Sherrington Ct.
> Largo, MD 20774-2317
> Phone: (202) 822-0228
> FAX: (202) 822-0369
> e-mail: kford at nahb.com
>
>Ford works at the National Association of Home Builders, 1201
>15th street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. National Association
>of Home Builders general numbers: (800) 368-5242 or
>(202) 822-0200 within the Washington, D.C. area
>
> Frank Millspaugh - WBAI
> 32 King Street
> New York, NY 10014
> phone: (212) 741-0839
> FAX: (212) 924-7409
> e-mail: fmillspa at aol.com
>
> Bob Farrell - KPFK
> c/o Los Angeles Sentinel
> 3800 S. Crenshaw, PO Box 11456
> Los Angeles, CA 90008
> phone: (323) 299-3800 X 255
> FAX: (323) 299-3896
> e-mail: rfarrell at kamber.com
>
> Lee, Bertram M
> 800 25th St NW,
> Washington, DC 20037-2207
> (202)965-6223, 965-6224
>
> John M. Murdock
> Epstein Becker Green, P.C.
> 1227 25th Street,
> N.W., Suite 700
> Washington, District Of Columbia 20037
> Telephone: 202-861-0900
> Facsimile: 202-296-2882
> Email: jmurdock at ebglaw.com
> www.ebglaw.com
>
>[Note: this is the corporate law firm -- specializing in
>union-busting and HMO representation -- that represents Pacifica
>in the suits by listeners against the Foundation's misfeasance. ]
>
> Michael Palmer - KPFT
> KPFT Senior Associate, Industrial Properties, Houston, TX
> CB Richard Ellis
> 2500 W. Loop South, Suite 100
> Houston, TX 77027-4502
> phone: (713) 840-6646 or (713) 960-8583
> FAX: 713-960-8583
> email: mpalmer at cbrichardellis.com
>
> Palmer's business specializes in buying and selling radio stations.
>
> Karolyn Van Putten - at large member
> Western Public Radio
> Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D San Francisco, CA 94123
> phone: (415) 771-1160
> e-mail: KvPPhD at aol.com
>
> Wendell L. Johns - WPFK
> Fannie Mae, Washington DC
> phone: (202) 752-8193
> e-mail: wendell_i_johns at fanniemae.com
>
> Valerie Chambers - KPFT
> e-mail: VChamber at pop.uh.edu
>
> Andrea Cisco - WBAI
> e-mail: acdariuVChamber at pop.uh.edus@aol.com
>
> Pete Bramson - KPFA
> e-mail: prbram at aol.com
>
> Rabbi Aaron Kriegel - KPFK
> e-mail: HARAV1 at aol.com
>
> Tomas Moran - KPFA
> e-mail: tomasmoran at aol.com
>
> Rob Robinson - WPFW
> e-mail: robrobin at erols.com
>
> Leslie Cagan - WBAI
> e-mail: LeslieCagan at igc.org
>
> Beth Lyons - WBAI
> e-mail: BethLyons at aol.com
>
> Lynn Chadwick - Former Executive Director, now "consultant"
> Washington, DC
> address, phone and fax not known
> e-mail: lynnchad at aol.com
>
>
>**********************************************************
> website: http//www.savepacifica.net
> email: savepacifica at peacenet.org
> to subscribe/unsubscribe visit:
>http://www.savepacifica.net/subscribe.html
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