Vince Ivory, KPFK producer

 

Programmer Alert:

Last week I learned that Larry Bensky, host of Sunday Salon, was fired
for using national air time to protest recent actions by Pacifica and
dismissal of KPFA Manager, Nicole Sawaya.

You may have strong opinions about the recent events at Pacifica; so
do I. This is an appalling situation, but nevertheless I must remind
you to PLEASE RESPECT KPFK'S LONG-STANDING PROHIBITION AGAINST
REPORTING OR COMMENTING ON-AIR ABOUT INTERNAL DISPUTES.

*Dirty laundry* about this was aired last week on other stations.
Unfortunately, the damage done will far outlast any controversy. For
every one person who writes in protest, hundreds more who hear it will
SIMPLY THINK LESS OF US. This decades-old policy is basic to
protecting KPFK's growth and renewed reputation as a public radio
station.

While I can't speak for Pacifica's recent actions, if you want to talk
with me about this, or feel we need a forum to discuss it, please let
me know.

Thank you,
Mark Schubb
General Manager

4/12/99

As a Pacifica listener, I personally would think enormously MORE of
Pacifica radio for discussing its governance issues as a regular part
of programming.  It would give people an example of how authentic
democratic conversations can be carried out in a public sphere.  The
idea that such discussions will make people "SIMPLY THINK LESS OF US"
is based on an alienated concept of the listener as "consumer".  No,
the Pacifica listener is not a consumer; they are THE SPONSOR.  *THE
SPONSOR* will not think less of their station for knowing what is
going on with it.

But I must point out, the current discussion is not about *dirty
laundry*.  It is in fact about the *theft of the laundromat*.

Lee Altenberg, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Information and Computer Sciences
University of Hawaii at Manoa
E-mail:  altenber@mhpcc.edu, altenber@santafe.edu
Web:     http://pueo.mhpcc.edu/~altenber/