SaveKPFA – Page 9

Finally: local control at KPFA

February 6, 2025August 12, 2014 by Save KPFA

Former Pacifica executive Summer Reese had also stalled the hire of a permanent general manager for KPFA, which has had a series of interim appointments since early 2010. (The difference: “permanent” managers are hired with participation of KPFA’s elected board, which also gets a say in whether they’re terminated. “Interim” managers are installed and removed at the whim of Pacifica — making it much more difficult for them to protect the interests of the station.)

KPFA’s elected Local Station Board had submitted a pool of candidates for the position last fall — but Reese failed to hire from it, opting instead to keep the position filled by “interim” appointments until the end of her tenure.

At the end of June, KPFA finally announced the hire of a new permanent GM: veteran broadcaster and nonprofit manager Quincy McCoy. McCoy will be delivering his first report to KPFA’s Local Station Board this Saturday, which will be held at the SEIU Local 1021 hall, 155 Myrtle St., Oakland, from 11 am to 4 pm. The public is welcome. [Meeting recording is here.] Now that he’s in place, KPFA’s Local Station Board is moving forward with hiring a permanent Program Director — something the station hasn’t had for 15 years.

McCoy’s first email to KPFA’s membership went out this week — praising KPFA’s coverage of the war in Gaza, and appealing for financial support during the station’s summer fund drive.

SaveKPFA heartily supports that call: for the first time in years, Pacifica has leadership that is bringing transparency and accountability to its finances, and allowing KPFA’s elected board a meaningful role in choosing the station’s leadership. The financial mess left by previous management is daunting, but manageable — if KPFA and the other Pacifica stations can meet their fundraising goals. Please donate at www.kpfa.org.

Judge’s decision order Pacifica exec to leave offices

February 6, 2025July 1, 2014 by Save KPFA

Here’s where you can read Judge Ioana Petrou’s decision on the terminated Pacifica executive.

KPFA’s new general manager: Quincy McCoy

February 6, 2025June 25, 2014 by Save KPFA

After years of interim management, KPFA will finally have a permanent general manager: Quincy McCoy, a radio veteran with 30 years of experience in a diverse range of positions.

Pacifica issued this press release with the news, noting that McCoy currently serves as executive director of the Museum of Children’s Arts in Oakland, having previously worked as chief of operations for Salon Studio at Salon.com and vice president of Radio for MTV Networks and Rhapsody America. McCoy was also on the board of Youth Radio International, and published No Static: A Guide to Creative Radio Programming (2002).

Pacifica’s interim executive director Bernard Duncan chose McCoy from a pool of candidates put forward by KPFA’s Local Station Board (LSB), as per Pacifica’s bylaws. Duncan said McCoy’s “combination of experience and personal attributes is rare, and we are pleased to see him move KPFA through the next successful phase of its development as a key component in the Bay Area’s media landscape.”

Duncan announced late last week he will be moving back to his native New Zealand; Pacifica will begin a search to replace him. Interim KPFA general manager Richard Pirodsky will continue to serve as iGM of KPFK in Los Angeles.