FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 27 , 2000
2:19 PM
CONTACT:  Pacifica Radio
Wendy Post, 510/843-0130 ext. 461


Pacifica Foundation Announces Transition Plans; Mary Frances Berry To
Resign; New Executive Director Named; Lynn Chadwick to Remain as Consultant

WASHINGTON - February 27 - At its Board meeting which concluded today, the
Pacifica Foundation elected new leadership which will take charge later this
year.


New officers and five new Board members were elected. When Chairperson Dr.
Mary Frances Berry's term ends in September, David Acosta, current
Vice-Chairperson, will succeed her. Ken Ford, a board member and current
member of the Executive Committee, will succeed Acosta as Vice Chairperson.

Both Acosta and Ford were first nominated to the Governing Board by the
local advisory boards of their home stations, KPFT in Houston, and WPFW, in
Washington, D.C. respectively. In recommending their election, Dr. Berry
noted that they have given generously of their time and energy in service to
Pacifica. Berry will work closely with Acosta and Ford to effect an orderly
transition and will focus on efforts to heal the conflict over management
and policy that the network has recently endured.


Five new Board members were also elected at today's meeting. They include
Bertram M. Lee and John M. Murdock, of Washington DC, and Leslie Cagan of
New York, whose terms begin immediately, and Valerie Chambers of Houston and
Beth S. Lyons of New York, whose terms begin in June 2000.


The Foundation also announced that Lynn Chadwick is resigning as Executive
Director but will remain as a consultant, tracking litigation, regulatory
issues and other matters. Dr. Berry and the Board expressed their gratitude
to Chadwick for her service during difficult times. Bessie Wash, manager of
WPFW FM in Washington, one of Pacifica's most successful stations, was named
Executive Director to succeed Ms. Chadwick. She will also remain as station
manager.


In announcing these changes at the meeting, Berry pointed out that ``the
network is fiscally sound and growing in some sectors. Greater financial
resources for national programming, exploiting the possibilities of new
technologies, and greater attention to community service remain problem
areas. Challenges lie ahead,'' Berry added, ``but I believe the new
leadership team has just the right mix of commitment and talent to extend
the reach of the progressive voice in the new Millennium.''


In other business, the latest Arbitron ratings for the five Pacifica
stations were released. For the first time in history, the Pacifica total
cumulative audience has passed 800,000 per week. WPFW and KPFT have the
highest shares in the network and have experienced the strongest growth,
with WPFW at 1.3 and KPFT at 1.1. The cumulative audience for the five
stations is: WBAI - 176,800; KPFK - 177,000; KPFA - 156,600; WPFW - 182,000
and KPFT - 127,000.


The Pacifica Foundation, founded in 1946, owns five radio stations and has
dozens of affiliates throughout community radio. Pacifica's goals are to
``promote cultural diversity and pluralistic community expression, to
contribute to a lasting understanding between individuals of all nations,
races, creeds and colors, to promote freedom of the press as a forum for
various viewpoints, and to maintain an independent funding base.''