July 14, 1999
Non-Profit Corporation Stifles Free Speech--Return the Airwaves to the Community!
One notable exception to the frenzy of corporate media mergers in recent years is non-commercial Pacifica Radio, which owns five listener-sponsored stations around the US and syndicates to over one hundred more. But recent actions by the Executive Director and the Board of the non-profit Pacifica Foundation threaten this precious resource.
In direct violation of Pacifica's free-speech mission, management of the national Pacifica Foundation locked out the staff of flagship station KPFA in Berkeley and commandeered the airwaves on July 13th. Local programming has been replaced with canned feeds and the entire staff placed on administrative leave. The actions were taken in response to disputes over the political direction of the network as well a wave of summary firings, including the station manager and two veteran programmers.
Take Action now! Send a FREE FAX to Pacifica National Board Chair, Dr. Mary Frances Berry on the Corporate Watch website:
http://www.corpwatch.org/corner/alert/kpfa.html
or send your own letters, faxes, email or call her at today:
Dr. Mary Frances Berry Pacifica National Board Chair Pacifica Foundation 624 Ninth St. NW # 700 Washington, DC 20425 Tel: 202-337-0382 Fax: 202-376-7558 Email: mfberry at sas.upenn.edu
Dear Dr. Berry,
I am writing to express my outrage at the staff lockout, censorship and recent firings at KPFA-FM in Berkeley, California. This command-control style is in direct conflict with Pacifica Radio's pioneering mission of free speech, pacifism and diverse community representation.
In a time of overwhelming concentration of the media in just a few corporate hands, Pacifica Radio is a precious resource. As the "voice of the voiceless," any changes in the direction of Pacifica's programming should be transparent and open to public scrutiny.
Employing heavy handed, ruthlessly corporate tactics, including the staff lockout, silencing of local programming and recent firings, will not lead to a negotiated resolution of this conflict.
Therefore, I urge you to:
1) End the staff lockout and immediately reinstate local programming as well as local airing of the national program Democracy Now!
2) Enter into immediate, mediated negotiations of the dispute with a steering committee made up of union staff, unpaid staff, a member of the management team and community representatives for the swiftest possible resolution of the conflict.
3) Reverse all disciplinary action taken against any paid or unpaid KPFA or Pacifica staff since Station Manager Nicole Sawaya's termination, including the firings of long time programmers Larry Bensky and Robbie Osman. Agree not to take any disciplinary action against any paid or unpaid KPFA or Pacifica staff in the future in connection to on-air discussion of this dispute.
4) Re-hire Nicole Sawaya with a renewable contract, subject to normal Pacifica performance procedures.
I look forward to your prompt actions to resolve the conflict.
Sincerely, (Your Name)
************************************** Julie Light Corporate Watch Editor Transnational Resource & Action Center PO Box 29344 San Francisco, CA 94129 USA Tel: 415-561-6559 FAX: 415-561-6493 Email: cwatch at igc.org URL: http://www.corpwatch.org