Following is the text of a press release distributed by Take Back KPFA -----------------------------------------------------------
May 5, 1997

A just completed compliance audit of the Pacifica Foundation, that operates radio stations in Berkeley (KPFA), Los Angeles (KPFK), New York City (WBAI), Washington, DC (WPFW), and Houston (KPFT), found Pacifica's governing board to be in violation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting regulations in several key areas.

CPB Inspector General Armando J. Arvizu recommended continued CPB funding contingent on compliance between now and November 1997. In particular the audit found that Pacifica:

• Improperly held meetings in executive session instead of open, public meetings as required by law
• Threatened local advisory boards to support Pacifica board decisions or resign
• Did not allow local boards the authority to assess public needs and make recommendations to the national governing board
• Had not provided reasonable notice of board meetings to the public

The audit was a result of a letter Take Back KPFA (TBK) sent to the CPB in July 1996 and fully supports the Committee's charges that Pacifica had been holding closed meetings for at least two years, had not allowed local advisory boards any standing within the national governing board, and had disregarded public views when making extensive programming changes in 1995.

Upwards of 700 listeners, supporters, and KPFA programmers, who are concerned with operation and programming decisions and changes at the Berkeley radio station, have been meeting in the Bay Area for several years and attending local advisory board meetings. Similar listener/ programmer groups have also been meeting in New York, Los Angeles and Texas.

Pacifica receives over one million dollars annually from CPB.

For more information, please contact:

[NOTE: This press release was sent out WITH the FULL TEXT of the Compliance Report.]