Struggle heats up to save progressive radio
By John Catalinotto
The struggle to save Pacifica Radio, and especially its New
York station WBAI-FM, from a corporate takeover is entering a
crucial phase, according to fired producer and activist Bob
Lederer.
The Pacifica network in general and WBAI in particular have
throughout their history been a mass media outlet that provided
a way for voices of the U.S. left to be heard, along with
diverse cultural productions.
Increasingly, however, people with corporate positions have
replaced community and movement activists on the Pacifica Board
and then used their influence to alter both the board and the
character of the programming.
At WBAI, first host Bernard White and producer Sharan Harper
and later prize-winning news producers Robert Knight and Amy
Goodman were removed from their positions on the popular
morning show "Wake-Up Call." This show was known for its
aggressive coverage of police brutality and support for Mumia
Abu-Jamal and other political prisoners. This is no longer true
of its successor.
Since mid-August, the entire staff of Goodman's
prize-winning show "Democracy Now!" has been suspended without
pay for moving production away from WBAI's studios. This
suspension prevented on-the-spot coverage of the meetings on
the United Nations World Conference on Racism in Durban, South
Africa.
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
(AFTRA), which represents "Democracy Now!" staff, has said that
it is "no longer satisfied that the WBAI studios are a safe and
appropriate working environment for the `Democracy Now!'
staff."
Many other shows have been canceled, with 25 producers let
go in all. Goodman's former co-producer Juan Gonzalez resigned
to form Pacifica Campaign to Stop the Takeover. While there are
still progressive producers on WBAI along with cultural
programs, the news and analysis shows a much stronger influence
of the capitalist media.
The pro-corporate board majority is narrow. On Aug. 30,
after board member Valrie Chambers switched her usual vote
lineup, a six-to-five vote of the Pacifica National Board
directed Pacifica Executive Director Bessie Wash to immediately
resume broadcasting "Democracy Now!" and to restore the
salaries of its staff. So far she has refused.
A hearing is to take place in Alameda Country Superior Court
in California on Sept. 13 to decide whether the existing board
can expand its membership. Opponents of the new management
believe the existing slim majority will attempt to restack the
board at a Sept. 19 telephone meeting. This can allow it to
continue to slice away at progressive programming at WBAI and
Pacifica. Demonstrations had been scheduled to take place Sept.
12 in New York and Washington, but that was before the Sept. 11
attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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