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"Against The Grain," Against The LSB: Iain A. Boal's Attacks on Pacifica democratisation
On Monday (07/05/10), KPFA programmer and former interim-Program Director Sasha Lilley hosted author Iain A. Boal on KPFA's "Against The Grain" (ATG). The topics included the bicycle, the advent of radio, and, in a bizarre rejection of democratic process, completely shredding the Pacifica Foundation Bylaws.
On Monday (07/05/10), KPFA programmer and former interim-Program Director Sasha Lilley hosted author Iain A. Boal on KPFA's "Against The Grain" (ATG). The topics included the bicycle, the advent of radio, and, in a bizarre rejection of democratic process, completely shredding the Pacifica Foundation Bylaws.
Community members and KPFA Listener-Members have reported this broadcast as a Fair Campaign Violation to the authorities outlined on the 2010 Pacifica Elections website. A one-sided on-air assault against Pacifica's Bylaws deserves dissenting perspectives, especially given the Local Station Board (LSB) Elections underway. It should be noted, "Behind the News" host, Doug Henwood has also attacked the LSB Elections and taken his snipes on-air whilst interviewing Matthew Lasar (06/26/10). We mustn't forget Doug Henwood was autocratically awarded a weekend time-slot on KPFA by Sasha Lilley. Many observers are familiar with the turmoil surrounding the Program Council, which Sasha Lilley opposed as acting "interim-Program Director before being demoted.
One might wonder: how can it be appropriate to have a host of ATG invite a guest on-air to berate, not only the LSB Members, but the very governance structure enshrined within the Pacifica Foundation Bylaws, in the midst of an Elections cycle? If ATG's producers were thoroughly considering the issue, they might have had dissenting perspectives represented during the broadcast. As it stands, it seems to be purely a hit piece.
Given that the future of Pacifica's Bylaws is an issue that would be of interest to most Listener-Members and the public in general, it's certainly warranted to have both sides of the issue represented and/or debated. Yet, Lilley and Boal were content with simply sounding off their contempt for Pacifica's democratic governance structure. Will another program sounding off opposing partisan perspectives be allowed on air?
How are assaults on Pacifica's Bylaws tolerated? At best, it's wholly inappropriate. At worst, it's outright insidious, an abuse of KPFA programming, and the LSB Elections. Where is the recourse for these attacks? Will any LSB Members raise these issues during the July 2010 meeting in Berkeley? For the sake of a level playing field, let's hope so.
The thinly veiled attacks against the LSBs during Monday's broadcast, ostensibly discussing the advent of radio, constitute a violation against the current LSB Elections. Whether the legal language is clear enough for LSB Candidates and Listener-Members to take remedial action against the producers responsible becomes irrelevant because the consequences of those attacks are done.
Yet, a clear violation such as this one must be documented and reprimanded by station management as well as the LSB. At the very least, the KPFA community deserves a public, open debate on the issue, rather than being subjected to an autocratic agenda being broadcast during a prime-time lunch-hour program, which ultimately, constitutes a manipulation of KPFA radio, Pacifica's Mission, and an undermining of its Bylaws.
-Felipe Messina, KPFA Listener-Member
Community members and KPFA Listener-Members have reported this broadcast as a Fair Campaign Violation to the authorities outlined on the 2010 Pacifica Elections website. A one-sided on-air assault against Pacifica's Bylaws deserves dissenting perspectives, especially given the Local Station Board (LSB) Elections underway. It should be noted, "Behind the News" host, Doug Henwood has also attacked the LSB Elections and taken his snipes on-air whilst interviewing Matthew Lasar (06/26/10). We mustn't forget Doug Henwood was autocratically awarded a weekend time-slot on KPFA by Sasha Lilley. Many observers are familiar with the turmoil surrounding the Program Council, which Sasha Lilley opposed as acting "interim-Program Director before being demoted.
One might wonder: how can it be appropriate to have a host of ATG invite a guest on-air to berate, not only the LSB Members, but the very governance structure enshrined within the Pacifica Foundation Bylaws, in the midst of an Elections cycle? If ATG's producers were thoroughly considering the issue, they might have had dissenting perspectives represented during the broadcast. As it stands, it seems to be purely a hit piece.
Given that the future of Pacifica's Bylaws is an issue that would be of interest to most Listener-Members and the public in general, it's certainly warranted to have both sides of the issue represented and/or debated. Yet, Lilley and Boal were content with simply sounding off their contempt for Pacifica's democratic governance structure. Will another program sounding off opposing partisan perspectives be allowed on air?
How are assaults on Pacifica's Bylaws tolerated? At best, it's wholly inappropriate. At worst, it's outright insidious, an abuse of KPFA programming, and the LSB Elections. Where is the recourse for these attacks? Will any LSB Members raise these issues during the July 2010 meeting in Berkeley? For the sake of a level playing field, let's hope so.
The thinly veiled attacks against the LSBs during Monday's broadcast, ostensibly discussing the advent of radio, constitute a violation against the current LSB Elections. Whether the legal language is clear enough for LSB Candidates and Listener-Members to take remedial action against the producers responsible becomes irrelevant because the consequences of those attacks are done.
Yet, a clear violation such as this one must be documented and reprimanded by station management as well as the LSB. At the very least, the KPFA community deserves a public, open debate on the issue, rather than being subjected to an autocratic agenda being broadcast during a prime-time lunch-hour program, which ultimately, constitutes a manipulation of KPFA radio, Pacifica's Mission, and an undermining of its Bylaws.
-Felipe Messina, KPFA Listener-Member
For more information:
http://www.voicesforjusticeradio.org/
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CORRECTION:
Correct Broadcast Date is: 07/06/10, Tuesday. Please see KPFA Archives and download a copy at: http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/62374
The KPFA archives used to be readily accessible going years into the past. But recently, the archives pages cite copyright issues and warn that "all" (or some?) archives 'will only be kept at the KPFA website for up to 14 days.' There was some mention of music copyright issues, but the policy posted was unclear. I tried to download a copy of "Hard Knock Radio's" broadcast from yesterday, 07/19/10, because there was discussion on the LSB Elections, but was not given the download option by the KPFA website. As of today, apparently, one is only able to temporarily play the clip on one's media player. There may be a delay in the technical staff posting the downloadable file. If anyone has further information, please let us know.
So, for people who are interested in critical and controversial broadcasts with profound consequences for KPFA/Pacifica, such as the July 6, 2010 "Against The Grain" archive, it is urgent for people to archive their own copies for inquiry, reference, and a deeper understanding of governance issues and debates.
Correct Broadcast Date is: 07/06/10, Tuesday. Please see KPFA Archives and download a copy at: http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/62374
The KPFA archives used to be readily accessible going years into the past. But recently, the archives pages cite copyright issues and warn that "all" (or some?) archives 'will only be kept at the KPFA website for up to 14 days.' There was some mention of music copyright issues, but the policy posted was unclear. I tried to download a copy of "Hard Knock Radio's" broadcast from yesterday, 07/19/10, because there was discussion on the LSB Elections, but was not given the download option by the KPFA website. As of today, apparently, one is only able to temporarily play the clip on one's media player. There may be a delay in the technical staff posting the downloadable file. If anyone has further information, please let us know.
So, for people who are interested in critical and controversial broadcasts with profound consequences for KPFA/Pacifica, such as the July 6, 2010 "Against The Grain" archive, it is urgent for people to archive their own copies for inquiry, reference, and a deeper understanding of governance issues and debates.
For more information:
http://www.voicesforjusticeradio.org/
The issue of WHY KPFA management and the supporters of management among the staff are preventing the listeners from getting archives is a critical question. Many other stations including KALW, KGO and thousands of other stations have archives but apparently the management team and their supporters at KPFA are unconcerned about WHY KPFA can't keep a record of their programmers from listeners and subscribers. This was also an issue that was not raised by KPFA representatives on the Pacifica Board at the recent meeting. This includes the so called "reformers" who want to make KPFA a better station. They are supporting the present management at KPFA and part of it at Pacifica. Apparently they could care less that KPFA subscribers and listeners do not have an archives of the shows on the KPFA website.
Accountability has been and is severely lacking at KPFA and Pacifica on so many levels, down to the undemocratic practices of some slate leaders. More on this topic as we see how the election unfolds. The archives used to be a source of information to help hold accountable those that went on the air with anti-democratic attacks on the Bylaws, often done by the CL supporters on staff. Equal time was NEVER given to opposing views by these ME first folks , which is, in my mind, the spirit of the KPFA Mission.
During the last election campaign ICR candidate Annie Hallett's main pitch was to forget history and move on. The only people that want to forget history are those that history indicts by there prior actions showing their true politics being different from their words. One will always wonder why ICR chose Annie Hallet to be on their ticket when her voting record, when last on the LSB, was 95% with CL/KPFAForward folks and her campaign reinforced the CL anti-history politics.
Perhaps Tracy Rosenberg, the self-appointed leader of ICR, who is running for re-election would practice transparency and explain why Annie Hallett was allowed to run on the ICR slate?
The archives were also a great service to folks who couldn't always be listening when a show was broadcast.
During the last election campaign ICR candidate Annie Hallett's main pitch was to forget history and move on. The only people that want to forget history are those that history indicts by there prior actions showing their true politics being different from their words. One will always wonder why ICR chose Annie Hallet to be on their ticket when her voting record, when last on the LSB, was 95% with CL/KPFAForward folks and her campaign reinforced the CL anti-history politics.
Perhaps Tracy Rosenberg, the self-appointed leader of ICR, who is running for re-election would practice transparency and explain why Annie Hallett was allowed to run on the ICR slate?
The archives were also a great service to folks who couldn't always be listening when a show was broadcast.
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