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Issues In The 2009 KPFA Election-Transparency and A Plan To Rebuild Listenership
Simply making structural changes will not solve the lack of listeners. Also VFJR is calling for transparency on the money being spent on election slates and mailings.
Issues In The 2009 KPFA Election-Transparency and A Plan To Rebuild Listenership
The Voices For Justice Radio slate has raised some key issues in the election such as a listener controlled Program Council to decide on new programming, collaborative regional programming between KPFA and KPFK and the establishment of a network of Pacifica and affiliate producers to develop national and regional programming on issues such as war, healthcare, labor, housing and the many communities in the US including Black, Latino, Asian, American Indian, Middle Eastern. We also support more programming for Labor community, Black community and LBGT at KPFA. Simply making structural changes such as re-establishing the program council without having a vision and perspective on how to rebuild our audience and connecting with the tens of millions of people in the United States who are looking for a voice is not a real solution to the crisis.
We believe that we need regular national days of programming on these issues that ties the network together and also develops a real national and international network. Part of this also requires transparency. Although the foundation has a budget of over $14 million dollars which actually is not a large amount for a national network of stations there are major costs that have harmed the Foundation. Large financial settlements for suits due to incompetent management and the lack of staff policies is critical. At KFPA despite the expenditure of thousands of dollars by the station management, they still have not produced a manual for the staff paid and unpaid.
While the paid staff are represented by a union, the unpaid staff which produces the majority of programming do not have a fair and just procedure to adjudicate grievances and other issues.
The VFJR slate also believes that there is an increasing use of larger and larger amounts of money in Pacifica elections without transparency and control. Slates particularly in New York, Los Angeles and the Bay Area have spent many thousands of dollars sending out mailers and even offering free "gifts" in an obviously blatant effort to buy votes.
VFJR believes that there need to be real controls and transparency on who and how much money is being contributed in election campaigns in Pacifica regardless of which slate or faction is spending these large amounts of money. Our own view is that there needs to be equal and fair election rules for all candidates and there should be the equal rights to reach out to all the members of the Pacifica Foundation.
We call on all other candidates and slates to support transparency in the election process and support the growing role of large funders in all Pacifica elections.
Voices For Justice Radio http://www.voicesforjusticeradio.org
info(at)voicesforjusticeradio.org
The Voices For Justice Radio slate has raised some key issues in the election such as a listener controlled Program Council to decide on new programming, collaborative regional programming between KPFA and KPFK and the establishment of a network of Pacifica and affiliate producers to develop national and regional programming on issues such as war, healthcare, labor, housing and the many communities in the US including Black, Latino, Asian, American Indian, Middle Eastern. We also support more programming for Labor community, Black community and LBGT at KPFA. Simply making structural changes such as re-establishing the program council without having a vision and perspective on how to rebuild our audience and connecting with the tens of millions of people in the United States who are looking for a voice is not a real solution to the crisis.
We believe that we need regular national days of programming on these issues that ties the network together and also develops a real national and international network. Part of this also requires transparency. Although the foundation has a budget of over $14 million dollars which actually is not a large amount for a national network of stations there are major costs that have harmed the Foundation. Large financial settlements for suits due to incompetent management and the lack of staff policies is critical. At KFPA despite the expenditure of thousands of dollars by the station management, they still have not produced a manual for the staff paid and unpaid.
While the paid staff are represented by a union, the unpaid staff which produces the majority of programming do not have a fair and just procedure to adjudicate grievances and other issues.
The VFJR slate also believes that there is an increasing use of larger and larger amounts of money in Pacifica elections without transparency and control. Slates particularly in New York, Los Angeles and the Bay Area have spent many thousands of dollars sending out mailers and even offering free "gifts" in an obviously blatant effort to buy votes.
VFJR believes that there need to be real controls and transparency on who and how much money is being contributed in election campaigns in Pacifica regardless of which slate or faction is spending these large amounts of money. Our own view is that there needs to be equal and fair election rules for all candidates and there should be the equal rights to reach out to all the members of the Pacifica Foundation.
We call on all other candidates and slates to support transparency in the election process and support the growing role of large funders in all Pacifica elections.
Voices For Justice Radio http://www.voicesforjusticeradio.org
info(at)voicesforjusticeradio.org
For more information:
http://www.voicesforjusticeradio.org
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Why has Steve Zeltzer been apologizing for the folks that almost bankrupted the network by letting WBAI go completely off the financial responsibility radar for years and not giving credit to the people that saved Pacifica, but instead he attacks them. Where did he find his running mate? From hearing him on the radio he seems like a nice guy who knows nothing about KPFA.
After listening to the debates and reading the articles and handouts I am voting for peoplesradio candidates except for Curtis. Henry Norr is another good choice. Phelps sometimes seems over confident that he has it right and then when I evaluate what he has written and says in the debates he seems to be right on the money with accurate history and progressive politics. I really learn the most about what has been going on from him. He seems to really give KPFA and Pacifica a lot of thought and energy.
I won't be voting for any Concerned Listeners. I am not sure about some other ICR people and I have to decide today, any thoughts? After reading the SF Greens endorsement posts I won't be voting for Sasha Futran and I won't be voting for Annie Hallat given her pro entrenched management votes in the past. If she couldn't see the obvious then how can she see it now?
After listening to the debates and reading the articles and handouts I am voting for peoplesradio candidates except for Curtis. Henry Norr is another good choice. Phelps sometimes seems over confident that he has it right and then when I evaluate what he has written and says in the debates he seems to be right on the money with accurate history and progressive politics. I really learn the most about what has been going on from him. He seems to really give KPFA and Pacifica a lot of thought and energy.
I won't be voting for any Concerned Listeners. I am not sure about some other ICR people and I have to decide today, any thoughts? After reading the SF Greens endorsement posts I won't be voting for Sasha Futran and I won't be voting for Annie Hallat given her pro entrenched management votes in the past. If she couldn't see the obvious then how can she see it now?
Get real seems to have a correct accessment . i will be turning in my ballot at the station today . i will vote for all of the Peoples Radio candidates though including Curtis. The poor guy isn't a public speaker but i been told he writes much better and does understand the issues .
My favorite is Stan Woods . He's been great onair . I admire the way he didn't lose his cool when that old crazy James Weber said that Stan and others weree''committed to violence ''.
i probably will still vote for steve Zalter . Labor fest is a great event . Hopefully he will change some of his views about pacifica national .
My favorite is Stan Woods . He's been great onair . I admire the way he didn't lose his cool when that old crazy James Weber said that Stan and others weree''committed to violence ''.
i probably will still vote for steve Zalter . Labor fest is a great event . Hopefully he will change some of his views about pacifica national .
Exactly what free gifts is the poster (presumably Steve Zeltzer) referring to ? If it's a violation, why hasn't he reported it to the Election Supervisor or National Election Supervisor, rather than casually tossing it out in a post on IndyBay?
How will a listener based program council be selected? How will it avoid being stacked by people with one political agenda or another?
The problem with the former (and current) UPSO is that it's membership rules were either tampered with or outright ignored. People who had not worked at the station suddenly came forward claiming dozens of hours and since they were unpaid and no records were kept, their status couldn't be confirmed one way or another. A few years ago, one person claimed that he could sign his dog up to UPSO if he wanted to.
How will a listener based program council be selected? How will it avoid being stacked by people with one political agenda or another?
The problem with the former (and current) UPSO is that it's membership rules were either tampered with or outright ignored. People who had not worked at the station suddenly came forward claiming dozens of hours and since they were unpaid and no records were kept, their status couldn't be confirmed one way or another. A few years ago, one person claimed that he could sign his dog up to UPSO if he wanted to.
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