Media Alliance

I realize Don Goldmacher and the rest of the Save KPFA crew weren't around during the struggle that led to the democratization of Pacifica and the re-opening of KPFA after the station was locked down and replaced with music from Texas, but if he had been on the inside then, he would know how absurd his charges are.

I direct an organization that was founded by professional journalists. But and this is the important part, professional journalists who had a profound and entirely accurate critique of most of the journalism they saw. They said that it was disconnected from communities and social change goals and sacrificed to the cult of objectivity the backgrounding and context necessary to tell stories accurately and help the audience determine where the truth lies.

Holding journalists accountable for living up to standards necessary to move us towards a just society is not the same as reviling professional journalists. Although like most media critics, I see a lot to revile out there.

I am also a believer in the statement that journalism is an action, not a job title and sometimes we are all journalists.

If all Save KPFA can come up with as a reason not to vote for me and the rest of the ICR slate is that we will fill the air with Larouchers, 9-11 advocates and stop the spray advocates, then they really are grasping at straws.

I don't mean to be rude to Don, but where has he been? The economic crisis of the past few years has hurt EVERYONE, not just media outlets, and thousands upon thousands of people have lost their homes and their livelihoods. I realize Don thinks the economic crisis is just an excuse for me to attempt to force my crazy sectarian programming beliefs on KPFA, but I think the evidence bears out that the economic crisis is in fact very real and it is causing most nonprofit organizations to have to reduce the size of their staff.

The mission of Media Alliance is below. It is about media working in the interests of peace and social justice.

"MA was founded with the belief that in order to ensure the free and unfettered flow of information and ideas necessary to maintain a truly democratic society, media must be accessible, accountable, decentralized, representative of society's diversity and free from covert or overt government control and corporate dominance. MA dedicates itself to fostering a genuine diversity of media voices and perspectives, holding the media accountable for their impact on society and protecting freedom of speech. Media Alliance is a media resource and advocacy center for media workers, non-profit organizations, and social justice activists. Our mission is excellence, ethics, diversity, and accountability in all aspects of the media in the interests of peace, justice, and social responsibility"

So back to 1999. At that time, Media Alliance sent out, over a period of 1.5 years, over 250 press releases and articles on the Save Pacifica Movement. It organized numerous benefit concerts, forums and events. It organized delegations to Pacifica board meetings going so far in 1999 as to coordinate an air-hotel package for the 50 activists who went from the Bay Area, If we hadn't done this work, it is unlikely KPFA would be here today. It was largely unfunded work.

I am curious what Don thinks is the "personal gain" I will experience from being a member of KPFA's board for three more years? I've already served a 3-year term as well as a year on the Pacifica National Board. The position is uncompensated. I already belong to three other boards in the media field besides KPFA/Pacifica's. What does he think I stand to gain personally? Because I have no idea, myself.

Media Alliance is using no organizational resources to support ICR. This is very different than 1999, when we did use a substantial amount to support the real movement to save KPFA. The mailing permit was loaned to ICR at no cost and as a favor because ICR's fiscal sponsor Redwood Justice Fund couldn't loan theirs in 2010 as they had in 2009. We all need to help out sometimes.

Just like Don is helping Save KPFA by launching stupid attacks at me on a sunny Sunday morning.

Here is my entire catalog of blogs on Huffington Post this year. Judge for yourself.

Public Access Television and the CAP Act: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-rosenberg/why-public-access-televis_b_457414.html

National Broadband Plan: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-rosenberg/single-payer-broadband-th_b_509087.html

Net Neutrality: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-rosenberg/net-neutrality-and-the-th_b_569883.html

Media Ownership (May FCC hearing) : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-rosenberg/geeks-rule-why-media-owne_b_569916.html

The New On-line Journalism: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-rosenberg/looking-for-journalism-in_b_610285.html

Bloomberg, Googlezon and Save KPFA: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-rosenberg/what-did-they-mean-by-tha_b_687187.html

Pacifica and Social Change : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-rosenberg/towards-a-just-communicat_b_721826.html

Here are the money-facts: KPFA lost 1.1 million dollars in 2 years - $652,000 in 2008-2009 and $495,000 so far in 2009-2010. Plus a $375,000 check recovered by Pacifica on KPFA's behalf after it had been misplaced by KPFA management and expired uncashed in a drawer.

That's the track record of Save KPFA/Concerned Listeners. Only vote for them if you want more of the fiscal irresponsibility and budget-busting.

Vote Independents for Community Radio. It's the smart choice. http://www.voteindyradio.org



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