WHO ARE WE ? The Los Angeles Coalition for Free Speech Radio by Ed Pearl
In recent years dramatic changes have occurred at KPFK characterized by increased centralization of authority and a marked exclusion of subscribers, non-management staff and Local Advisory Boards (LABs) from input or even knowledge of important decisions. Programs, which do not raise "sufficient" funds, or which fundamentally challenge governmental and corporate policies have been eliminated and hundreds of people throughout the five Pacifica stations have been removed. Last year, the National Pacifica Governing Board stripped the rights of LABs to elect National Board members and actually assumed the right to elect its own membership! Subscribers are no longer sponsors, but "supporters."
Here in Los Angeles, Mark Schubb, KPFK’s General Manager has boasted of removing up to 150 people since he took over in 1995. During this same period up to 30 valued programs have been cancelled, ranging from Blasé Bonpane’s commentaries to Miya Iwataki’s East Wind and John Martinez’ Radio Chicana. A full list is available.
In response to this turn of events the Los Angeles Coalition for Free Speech Radio was formed to help bring back community’s voice to its major outlets - KPFK and the Pacifica Radio Network.
The Los Angeles Coalition for Free Speech Radio is composed of long-time supporters of KPFK, Pacifica Radio here in Los Angeles, as well as present and former staff and volunteers of the station. We have formed our Coalition in response to this decade-long campaign to turn Pacifica into a faint echo of NPR; to diminish radical speech, accountability and openness at KPFK, locally, and the Pacifica Foundation, nationally. We believe that listener sponsored radio in our country is in danger of losing its most important and critical voice.
Our goal is to restore the mission values of Pacifica, as well as to give voice to the increasingly diverse population and needs of our society, locally and nationally. Our proposal is modest and no more that what is needed to put KPFK and the Pacific Foundation back on the path of its mission.
Contact Information:8124 W. 3rd St. suite 105 Los Angeles, CA 90048 323-653-0726________________________________
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