Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Listeners as the Guardians of KPFA
A commentary from the Berkeley Daily Planet of 9/2/05, in reply to a previous opinion piece in which it was said that 12-15,000 listeners marched in 1999 in support of the same staff which is "running the station now".
Commentary: Listeners Marched to Support KPFA, Not (Just) Staff
By MARA RIVERA
I was one of those 12,000 or more KPFA supporters Bob Baldock referred to in his Aug. 26 opinion piece, and I have a different take than Mr. Baldock (for whom I have a lot of respect) on both the meaning of that march for KPFA six years ago and of the present situation. We did not march to support the staff, but the station. And we listeners not only won it back, but we won recognition as the guardians of the station, and network, and a role in station and network governance which we hadn’t had before. Now we find some staff blocking us in this role.
I was out there to preserve the community ownership of the radio station which was my trusted source of information about our world. I’ve been a listener/supporter of KPFA since 1962 and as a leftist I pay attention to dissident views, and that is why I participated in movements to democratize the station and stop the corporate takeover, long before 1999 (Take Back KPFA and Save KPFA). It was not to support just the station staff—the station is more to me than just particular individuals. I was happy to see staff support the autonomy of the station from the forces trying to gag and sell it, but I was well aware that this struggle began long before 1999 and that previously much of the staff had had much denial for the situation and little support for those trying to save the station.
It was an amazing victory when we won the station back and won democratic participation for the listeners, who were instrumental in the victory. Our governance was changed from a general manager and an "advisory board", who did not represent us or the staff, to an elected board composed of 18 listener representives and 6 staff representatives, and reclaimed the 5 stations' representation on the National Board.
I don’t know all the details of the sexual harassment charges and denials, but I see that this elected board has taken it very seriously, spending many hours investigating it, and found Mr. Campanella not guilty as charged. I am a feminist but am all too aware of these charges being used to manipulate situations.
And as someone who keeps up with governance at the station, I am also aware that there is a basic struggle going on there for the last two years at least, between those who want a station run by shared decision making, and those who have de facto power and want to preserve it. I have been a part of various democratic collectives over the years, and I can tell you two things: Democratic decision making is essential to the health of community organizations, and those who have the power want to keep the status quo and will fight to the death—the death of their principles!—to preserve it! This is what is really going on: The general manager was trying to include others in the decisionmaking, and various forces on the staff are trying to push him out, just as they did the former GM, Gus Newport.
This is all very heartbreaking and confusing to most of us. We love and identify with the brave and true hosts and commentators on KPFA, and actually know them personally if we are staff. But, I have to say, we are also being manipulated with such issues as harassment, feminism, workers vs. management, violence, a safe workplace, unity, and they are all red herrings, whether intentional or not.
I will offer some websites as well: go to http://www.PeoplesRadio.net for pro-democracy articles; also http://www.IndyBay.org and/or SF.IndyMedia.org for articles such as Maria Gilardin’s well documented “Why Did the Staff not Prevent the 10-Year Corporate Raid?” (Aug. 30, 2004).
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2004/08/1702363.php
Mara Rivera is a KPFA listener and supporter.
By MARA RIVERA
I was one of those 12,000 or more KPFA supporters Bob Baldock referred to in his Aug. 26 opinion piece, and I have a different take than Mr. Baldock (for whom I have a lot of respect) on both the meaning of that march for KPFA six years ago and of the present situation. We did not march to support the staff, but the station. And we listeners not only won it back, but we won recognition as the guardians of the station, and network, and a role in station and network governance which we hadn’t had before. Now we find some staff blocking us in this role.
I was out there to preserve the community ownership of the radio station which was my trusted source of information about our world. I’ve been a listener/supporter of KPFA since 1962 and as a leftist I pay attention to dissident views, and that is why I participated in movements to democratize the station and stop the corporate takeover, long before 1999 (Take Back KPFA and Save KPFA). It was not to support just the station staff—the station is more to me than just particular individuals. I was happy to see staff support the autonomy of the station from the forces trying to gag and sell it, but I was well aware that this struggle began long before 1999 and that previously much of the staff had had much denial for the situation and little support for those trying to save the station.
It was an amazing victory when we won the station back and won democratic participation for the listeners, who were instrumental in the victory. Our governance was changed from a general manager and an "advisory board", who did not represent us or the staff, to an elected board composed of 18 listener representives and 6 staff representatives, and reclaimed the 5 stations' representation on the National Board.
I don’t know all the details of the sexual harassment charges and denials, but I see that this elected board has taken it very seriously, spending many hours investigating it, and found Mr. Campanella not guilty as charged. I am a feminist but am all too aware of these charges being used to manipulate situations.
And as someone who keeps up with governance at the station, I am also aware that there is a basic struggle going on there for the last two years at least, between those who want a station run by shared decision making, and those who have de facto power and want to preserve it. I have been a part of various democratic collectives over the years, and I can tell you two things: Democratic decision making is essential to the health of community organizations, and those who have the power want to keep the status quo and will fight to the death—the death of their principles!—to preserve it! This is what is really going on: The general manager was trying to include others in the decisionmaking, and various forces on the staff are trying to push him out, just as they did the former GM, Gus Newport.
This is all very heartbreaking and confusing to most of us. We love and identify with the brave and true hosts and commentators on KPFA, and actually know them personally if we are staff. But, I have to say, we are also being manipulated with such issues as harassment, feminism, workers vs. management, violence, a safe workplace, unity, and they are all red herrings, whether intentional or not.
I will offer some websites as well: go to http://www.PeoplesRadio.net for pro-democracy articles; also http://www.IndyBay.org and/or SF.IndyMedia.org for articles such as Maria Gilardin’s well documented “Why Did the Staff not Prevent the 10-Year Corporate Raid?” (Aug. 30, 2004).
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2004/08/1702363.php
Mara Rivera is a KPFA listener and supporter.
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
So Mara Rivera speaks for "the listeners." She is right that the listeners need to pay close attention to what their LSB representatives are doing in their name. I am a listener, a very well informed listener for many years, and Mara does not represent my views.
I'm a listener who has attended most LSB meetings since this board was elected and going back to the former LAB meetings. I've attended CdP meetings and marched at the station. I've joined the listserves and gone to the forums.
I've watched in amazement in just the last few months as the Peoples Radio-identified LSB members, particularly Riva Enteen, went from attacking Campanella for everything from his moving expenses to his decision not to implement a time change for DN. It seemed principled then.
Now, he can do no wrong and it looks like they made a deal with him in exchange for their support, and they're going to want their payback and soon.
No sooner than the decision not to terminate Campanella was announced, members of that clique were demanding to know when he was going to make the time change and, incredibly, if he is going to order an extension of Bill Mandel's show (and you can bet they are going to insist on it if the program council doesn't agree).
Then we will see how "democratic" and "transparant" they are when it comes to respecting PC decisions themselves.
Now they've banded with Marnie Tattersall, the corporate raider they were recently accusing of trying to infiltrate KPFA for her corporate masters. It was obvious at the last meeting they are actually working with her to protect the GM. What the hell is going on here?
With the appearance of a backroom deal with Campanella in order to save his job and make him beholden to them in their effort to purge staff and replace them with approved "radicals," I can not take seriously Peoples Radio claims that the GM has been the victim here.
I used to be a solid of supporter of those LSB members who identify as Peoples Radio, but no more. With great sadness, I have come to the conclusion that they are corrupt and abusing power in our names.
I'm a listener who has attended most LSB meetings since this board was elected and going back to the former LAB meetings. I've attended CdP meetings and marched at the station. I've joined the listserves and gone to the forums.
I've watched in amazement in just the last few months as the Peoples Radio-identified LSB members, particularly Riva Enteen, went from attacking Campanella for everything from his moving expenses to his decision not to implement a time change for DN. It seemed principled then.
Now, he can do no wrong and it looks like they made a deal with him in exchange for their support, and they're going to want their payback and soon.
No sooner than the decision not to terminate Campanella was announced, members of that clique were demanding to know when he was going to make the time change and, incredibly, if he is going to order an extension of Bill Mandel's show (and you can bet they are going to insist on it if the program council doesn't agree).
Then we will see how "democratic" and "transparant" they are when it comes to respecting PC decisions themselves.
Now they've banded with Marnie Tattersall, the corporate raider they were recently accusing of trying to infiltrate KPFA for her corporate masters. It was obvious at the last meeting they are actually working with her to protect the GM. What the hell is going on here?
With the appearance of a backroom deal with Campanella in order to save his job and make him beholden to them in their effort to purge staff and replace them with approved "radicals," I can not take seriously Peoples Radio claims that the GM has been the victim here.
I used to be a solid of supporter of those LSB members who identify as Peoples Radio, but no more. With great sadness, I have come to the conclusion that they are corrupt and abusing power in our names.
the phony claims of harrasment made to oust a good person and to get at the flash points content to change it from the radical voice that speaks truth that the facist powers dont want to be heard.
we must face the facts, kpfa has been infiltrated by right wing agents most are involved in NPRizing of the "news show and the morning show.
these agents that are behind the phony sex harassment clams must be routed out!
their real goal is to oust flah pionts and guns and butter along with any other radical programs that dare to speak the truth
we must face the facts, kpfa has been infiltrated by right wing agents most are involved in NPRizing of the "news show and the morning show.
these agents that are behind the phony sex harassment clams must be routed out!
their real goal is to oust flah pionts and guns and butter along with any other radical programs that dare to speak the truth
It's good to see people care about the health and righteousness of KPFA governance, but I wish folks could understand the situations there without resorting to "good" and "evil" to fill in the blanks when the details are not known, as is often the case.
There is something phony about the harassment charges but they are not necessarily outright malicious lying on the part of each of the eight women. Some kind of manipulation is going on but does any of us know the exact details? Even those who sat in on the LSB's private sessions?
Although we have the evidence of that email that getting Bernstein and Guns and Butter is one thing behind it, and it's not unreasonable to also suspect the involvement of the right wing.
Another puzzling thing is the extent of staff support. A good part of this could be the buddy dynamic where staff go along with each other to build unity among their affinity group.
But we can also see the disaffection of youth radio and the apprenticeship program. I think this is due to the changes in programming structure by the CPB collaborators in the 90's who fired programmers, destroying the highly diverse programming collectives (women's, third world collectives) where many volunteer programmers put on programs and the Folio told subscribers when these programs would be. The corporate-friendly administration substituted one and two hour strip programming with hosts many of whom are getting paid. With slots all sewed up, the it's hard for the apprentices to find airtime, and I've seen them attacking Osman and Bernstein for being long-timers. And of course there are the paid "entrenched staff" (not to say nobody there should be paid) fighting for their status quo and putting down some others as irresponsible conspiracy theorists.
So it's a very complex situation. I intend to run these theories by a more knowledgeable person, but in the meantime, what good is it to disrespect brothers and sisters most of whom are probably just trying to do the right thing as they see it?
And to "lsb watcher", I'm sorry, I did not mean to say that I speak for all listeners; my original title of the article was "I Marched to Support the Station....". The Daily Planet headlines editor changed it (and there was also a bad misprint which I've corrected here).
It is a serious exaggeration to say that People's Radio now asserts that "Campanella can do no wrong". Joe Wanzala's statement in a Judith Scherr (I believe) interview implies a critical attitude and no where does anyone else say this.
Neither can it be said that anyone is "banding with Marnie Tattersall ". Why should her signature have been rejected? We can have alliances with others for common goals. Just because Marnie thinks it's right doesn't make it wrong. Coalition politics is a necessary art. Anyway, corporate allies aside, everyone has a different opinion but in order to work democratically and effectively we have to accept that.
There is no "backroom deal" and no "payback" - just an LSB which has investigated and found
Campanella "Not Guilty" and crossed factional lines in their judgement. For better or worse, we were not privy to the details, up to this point anyway.
Your conclusion that you can no longer align with the most progressive alliance at the station is one that would gladden the hearts of any "agents" who might be working at the station!
Or maybe you are one!
If not,* please hang in there, ask questions, live with unanswered questions and uncertainty, and don't let fear tear apart the fundamental unity we should be building on.
* [or maybe even if so; remember Dennis Bernstein started out wanting to be a CIA/FBI agent!]
There is something phony about the harassment charges but they are not necessarily outright malicious lying on the part of each of the eight women. Some kind of manipulation is going on but does any of us know the exact details? Even those who sat in on the LSB's private sessions?
Although we have the evidence of that email that getting Bernstein and Guns and Butter is one thing behind it, and it's not unreasonable to also suspect the involvement of the right wing.
Another puzzling thing is the extent of staff support. A good part of this could be the buddy dynamic where staff go along with each other to build unity among their affinity group.
But we can also see the disaffection of youth radio and the apprenticeship program. I think this is due to the changes in programming structure by the CPB collaborators in the 90's who fired programmers, destroying the highly diverse programming collectives (women's, third world collectives) where many volunteer programmers put on programs and the Folio told subscribers when these programs would be. The corporate-friendly administration substituted one and two hour strip programming with hosts many of whom are getting paid. With slots all sewed up, the it's hard for the apprentices to find airtime, and I've seen them attacking Osman and Bernstein for being long-timers. And of course there are the paid "entrenched staff" (not to say nobody there should be paid) fighting for their status quo and putting down some others as irresponsible conspiracy theorists.
So it's a very complex situation. I intend to run these theories by a more knowledgeable person, but in the meantime, what good is it to disrespect brothers and sisters most of whom are probably just trying to do the right thing as they see it?
And to "lsb watcher", I'm sorry, I did not mean to say that I speak for all listeners; my original title of the article was "I Marched to Support the Station....". The Daily Planet headlines editor changed it (and there was also a bad misprint which I've corrected here).
It is a serious exaggeration to say that People's Radio now asserts that "Campanella can do no wrong". Joe Wanzala's statement in a Judith Scherr (I believe) interview implies a critical attitude and no where does anyone else say this.
Neither can it be said that anyone is "banding with Marnie Tattersall ". Why should her signature have been rejected? We can have alliances with others for common goals. Just because Marnie thinks it's right doesn't make it wrong. Coalition politics is a necessary art. Anyway, corporate allies aside, everyone has a different opinion but in order to work democratically and effectively we have to accept that.
There is no "backroom deal" and no "payback" - just an LSB which has investigated and found
Campanella "Not Guilty" and crossed factional lines in their judgement. For better or worse, we were not privy to the details, up to this point anyway.
Your conclusion that you can no longer align with the most progressive alliance at the station is one that would gladden the hearts of any "agents" who might be working at the station!
Or maybe you are one!
If not,* please hang in there, ask questions, live with unanswered questions and uncertainty, and don't let fear tear apart the fundamental unity we should be building on.
* [or maybe even if so; remember Dennis Bernstein started out wanting to be a CIA/FBI agent!]
this is off subject but the kpfa appreantice program could get air time by starting a small radio station in a station by getting a legal am or fm ramsey transmitter for about 90 dollers the range would be good for about 2 miles pluse a internet station at live three sixty five radio stream hell any body in berkley could do this legaley
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$215.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network