WBAI: Deconstructed

By Patty Heffley

(816 words)

____________________

The midnight changing of the locks at WBAI carried out by 4 women and a baby was the last stop in Pacifica's eight-year assault on free speech community radio. For years WBAI kept Pacifica at bay with their million dollar marathons paid for by the listeners while being kept in the dark about what was being done with that money (although there were some cool producers who spilled the beans). Many were surprised when Pacifica finally imposed itself on WBAI through the strategic appointing as interim station manager Utrice Leid, afternoon drive-time strip-programming star from the program "Talkback," who then slam-dunked the famous Wake-Up Call morning drivetime show host Bernard White and crew. This strategic play was penned the "Christmas Coup." Some call it the side effects of NFCB's [National Federation of Community Broadcasters] "Healthy Station Project" where Arbitron ratings are sacred and money is the bottom line.

This "Christmas Coup" has been very successful in bringing down the station as part of the "divide and conquer" approach by Pacifica, and is working very well at WBAI.

The two main warring factions are as follows: on the one hand there are Amy Goodman, Bernard White and the ever increasing number of "fired and banned" and their outraged fans along with the many very principled who believe "Hands Off WBAI" and "Process before Personalities" (two noble chants). On the other hand are the "scabs and or quislings" on the inside and their fans everywhere who have taken up the cry "anyone is better than Valerie Van Isler ," "Utrice is a great Manager" and "We are tired of being attacked by the fired and banned and their followers for not speaking out unequivocally for the reinstatement of the Wake Up Call Crew and are rebelling." All these factions are splintered as well.

Wait, there's more.

There are listeners for whom WBAI is not the focal point of their lives. They listen when they hear what they like, and now are getting their premiums more quickly. There is the unconcerned staff who say little or nothing and never have taken any interest in the health of the station in exchange for the privilege of airtime. These staff members need to communicate instead of argue with each other. Mandatory attendance by staff to a meeting called by UE local 404, and a united front of staff and union energies focused on Pacifica as enemy would be a start.

One of the most important groups is the ever-decreasing number of activist listeners who were motivated by the outrageous attacks on their station and the fear of losing it. Their numbers have dwindled because they have been denied the kind of deserved empowerment that keeps them interested. Their once abundant energy after the terrible Xmas Coup has been focused on what the fired and banned have called for: "taking back the station" and replacing local management. While management is a personally vindictive authoritarian arm of Pacifica, it is only an arm, responding to commands from the central nervous system. Using this energy for reinstatement of all staff has been a very expensive job action. It is also a weak maneuver since this primary demand will not remove the real problem, the Pacifica National board.

Focus on structure has been almost nil. Moreover the loud, influential voices with the main goal of taking back the station have severely retarded the ability of the groups and committees working on democratic elections of the LAB by the listeners to be taken seriously, and this strategy has been relegated to the back burner since those who think they own the movement here in NYC feel now is not the time. Educating people about the 3 pending lawsuits to end Pacifica's tyranny once and for all is not a focus either.

The group formed in October 2000, Concerned Friends of WBAI, needs to rethink its direction. This is an umbrella group now composed of the fired and the banned staff, members of the LAB, community groups, and only last, the listeners. Only recently was CdPNY, the only listener group in New York City, allowed to be a part of the coordinating committee of Concerned Friends. This occurred when CF opened membership to all interested community groups and branches of Concerned Friends outside NYC.

Since the Pacifica Campaign was formed there has been more focus on getting rid of the national board but still there has been little or no focus on structural changes or empowerment of listeners through democratic elections and education.

A harsh assessment? How much time do we have? It has been over 100 days since the "Christmas Coup." Where are we? We need a focus shift to structure and to democratization by endorsing LAB elections. The listeners are the most powerful element in this equation but in order to harness their energy they need inclusion and empowerment. It's quite simple, really.

______________________