LIST OF DEMANDS BY

KPFA STEERING COMMITTEE TO PACIFICA:

Passed by Steering Committee Sept. 9-Oct. 19, 1999

 

1. Governance: Pacifica must make a legally-binding written commitment to democratize its governing structures by establishing a mechanism for the democratic selection of board members including all constituencies of member stations. Our concept of democratization includes complete operational and financial transparency and accountability to the stations' constituencies at all times. The Pacifica board members, including the chair, must agree to retire as part of the implementation process. The by-laws changes to bring this about should be adopted no later than August 31, 2000.

Lynn Chadwick's relationship with Pacifica to be terminated based on her performance as Executive Director.

Pacifica agrees to guarantee, starting immediately, the inclusion of local paid and unpaid staff and management paid staff and Local Advisory Board members in the selection and evaluation processes for KPFA station manager.

1. Pacifica must agree to rescind the 5-yr. so-called "Strategic Plan."

2. Gag Rule: The current gag rule is to be lifted immediately at all Pacifica stations and on all national Pacifica programs and Pacifica is to confirm this in writing. All programmers at all Pacifica stations who have been terminated during the current crisis for breaking the "gag rule" be offered reinstatement.

3. Charges: The total charges by Pacifica to each station shall consist of a detailed itemized bill not to exceed ten per cent (10%) in the fiscal year 2000 and national programming shall not be cut.

4. Sawaya: Rehire Nicole Sawaya as KPFA General Manager or hire her as Pacifica Executive Director.

5. Bensky: Rehire Larry Bensky as a Pacifica National Program host.

6. Sale of Stations: Pacifica must issue a legally binding written commitment not to sell, transfer or encumber or allow the sale, transfer or encumbrance of any Pacifica broadcast license or station.

7. Funding: Pacifica to reaffirm its commitment to "maintain independent funding" (from the Mission statement) without corporate underwriting.

8. Crisis Expenses: Any extraordinary expenses, including but not limited to security guards, legal fees, public relations and other expenses that have been or will be incurred in the current crisis in the current fiscal year or any future fiscal year, will be paid for by Pacifica national and will not be charged to any Pacifica station, and will not result in layoffs of station staff.

The Pacifica National Board members must fulfill their responsibility to raise funds for the Pacifica Foundation. The Executive Committee of the Pacifica National Board are directly responsible for the actions taken by the Executive Director of the Foundation, Lynn Chadwick. The Executive Committee of the Pacifica National Board must raise the funds for the extraordinary expenses approved and incurred by Lynn Chadwick. The funds shall not be raised through loans or sales/lease/barter of Pacifica assets.

9. Open Books: The Pacifica Foundation must maintain financial independence between the corporate headquarters, the five radio stations, and any other entities created by Pacifica. All transactions between the entities must be in accordance with standard accounting procedures and an audit trail for these transactions must be available for review by station management at the end of each monthly financial close process. The balance sheet and income statement for all Pacifica entities along with other financial tables that present the updated monthly status of endowments, trusts, and other financial instruments must be available to radio station management within a reasonable date after the monthly financial close (not to exceed ten days). The money from each station must come directly to each station and be controlled by each station.

10. Free Speech Radio: Pacifica must make a legally-binding written reaffirmation of its commitment to Pacifica as free speech public radio, with open and robust exercise of the First Amendment and a commitment to peace, social justice, and the arts. Pacifica also agrees to make a legally-binding written commitment to openly espouse and to exemplify the importance of the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively and to work in an atmosphere committed to the dignity of all workers.

Pacifica must require that all stations air monthly Reports to the Listeners programs for member-subscribers.

11. Training Program: Pacifica agrees to implement a training program at each station, based on the model KPFA has provided for 19 years, in order to provide diversity to all Pacifica stations, and Pacifica will move to thoroughly integrate apprentices into programming, and to support youth in all Pacifica work.

12. Diversity: Pacifica agrees to renew its commitment to diversity in every aspect of the operation of Pacifica, and each of its stations. Pacifica programming will include more slots for dynamic, top-quality community/public affairs shows appealing especially to young people and people of color, giving a voice to the voiceless including but not limited to the poor, elders, non-English speaking and disabled, the homeless, GLBTs, and women, using as many apprentices as is possible and feasible.

13. Member Subscribers: Pacifica must encourage all stations to return to the system of member-subscribers whose annual contributions entitle them to participate in governance and to receive a monthly useful Folio of programs and some space for exchange of views.

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