Whither Pacifica?

Save Our Station_lukethomasLast fall, a committee of local KPFA board members interviewed and choose four candidates for permanent KPFA general manager who, they unanimously agreed, were qualified. The names and resumes were sent in early November to Pacifica interim executive director Summer Reese, who has the responsibility under Pacifica’s bylaws to hire one of them. To date, there’s no word from Reese on whom she intends to hire.

Meanwhile, KPFA’s current interim general manager, Richard Pirodsky, has now been given the task of also performing the same services at sister station KPFK in Los Angeles. That station, along with Pacifica’s KPFT in Houston, recently lost its Corporation for Public Radio grants due to declines in listenership; all 5 Pacifica stations suffered delays in their CPB funding due to Pacifica management failures. | SEE letter from CPB to KPFT, and the CPB’s audit of Pacifica

Last fall, KPFA’s former interim GM, Andrew Phillips, was transferred to Pacifica station WBAI, where he worked to bring new voices to the airwaves, before he resigned over disagreements with Pacifica’s fundraising reliance on AIDS denier Gary Null, as reported in Current. Pacifica management has sought proposals for outside groups to lease WBAI, according to both Current and Pacifica historian Matthew Lasar on Radio Survivor.

Pacifica’s National Board meets next weekend in Washington, DC and there are likely big changes coming as new representatives from each station take their seats on the national board. SaveKPFA‘s own Margy Wilkinson, former chair of the KPFA Local Station Board, is a candidate for chair of the PNB.

KPFA’s sister station in Fresno, KFCF, is back to nearly full power after having lost the power supply in its transmitter and running at 7% of power for a week.  The station bit the bullet and ordered a new transmitter.

Saying goodbye to Pete Seeger — KPFA to broadcast event

peteA celebratory evening dedicated to beloved folk singer Pete Seeger, who died January 27 at the age of 94, takes place at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage this Monday, Feb. 3. The free event begins at 7 PM in the lobby, followed by performances of Bay Area singers and artists at 8 PM.

Tune to KPFA for the live broadcast at 8 PM, or visit the Freight & Salvage page for directions to attend in person. Thanks to KPFA programmers David Gans and Mary Tilson and their KRCB colleague Robin Pressman for helping to bring the event to the airwaves.

Community events to support KPFA

dr-michio-kakuSupport KPFA by attending one or more of KPFA’s wonderful speakers’ events featuring the best of progressive writers, thinkers and activists. Coming up in February: Rickey Vincent on the Black Panthers and music, Isabel Allende on her latest work, and Michio Kaku on the future of the mind. Click here for details.