Report on the Palo Alto Focus Group for KPFA Listeners
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Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 00:58:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Hebard Olsen

Summary of my impressions of the P.A. Meeting Thomas Moran was the facilitator. He seemed willing to do anything which would help the process except two things:

1 The discussion was to be only about programming!
2 He would not entertain the question nor would Genny Burson entertain the question as to whether the results would influence programming.
3 When people stated that other issues influence programming he did not encourage such discussion but indicated it might be accepted.


We were sat at tables 6-9 persons at a table involuntarily. Apparently he allowed people to swap seats. One person asked if this were just a venting session. Thomas said he would not be here if that were the case. Someone asked that Genny Berson tell us what she thought was the mission of KPFA and that question was sidestepped by the facilitator also. The questions presented:

1.What do you consider KPFA's Greatest Programming strengths? I felt the question was misleading as I could not tell if it was about the current programming or the past programming. I also felt it was there to be able to make the staff or board feel good about what they were reading. I think a better question would have been the following:
1.What is it about KPFA which makes it worth your while to come to this meeting?{ I answered their question the purposes of the Pacifica Foundation expressed in the document I received in 1962.)

Others said

• the 6:00 - 7:00 news,
• they heard things on KPFA they did not hear elsewhere,
• they aired a minority viewpoint,
• Flash Points (a few complain about things),
• Morning Show (with complaints about changed format).

When You're listening to KPFA, what makes you change stations or turn the radio off?

Some were annoyed with the question because they did not feel a need to listen to KPFA 100% of the time. I call this the Arbitron question. Many treated the question as if is said what do you not like about KPFA? Repetition came up many different ways:

• NO ONE LIKED the news interruptions of the morning show.
• Some thought the interruption converted the morning show to extended sound bites.
• Lack of diversity in programming.
• One program host frequently interrupted his guests.
• Many said turning on the radio for some public affairs and finding a music program.
• Hearing music in the evening.
• There was much complaint about public affairs in the daytime and music in the evening.
• Several said "Blabby interviews."
• Too slick programming.
• Uniformity in programs.
• Strict programming where staff is not able to discuss programming and station policies on the air.

3.What suggestions do you have to improve programming (clear question!)

• Bring back Bill Mandel,
• Return the morning show to its pre 1995 format.
• Bring back MaMa OShea,
• Get more diverse ideas.
• Political Satire.
• Discussions of social change.
• Get Latin Press program.
• Get European press program.
• More educational programs.
• Make entertainment an engaging experience not just a way to make time pass faster.
• It was suggested that people who pay a fee should be treated as members not as subscribers (money bags).
• Several people suggested that KPFA needed to have a way to get the feedback of its members as to what to broadcast and when to broadcast it.

No one expressed or accepted the idea that one person or a small group of persons should control the program content as a Queen or Court might. It was suggested to bring back the previous expanded folio or to put the folio onto internet ( can be changed for last minute changes an hour before program).

• Use local talent.
• Investigative journalism.
• Have more frankness from management.
• Trust in the listeners.
• Science programs.
• Labor programs.
• Youth programs.
• Organize and tell about events outside of Berkeley.
• .Thoughtful conservatives.
• Bring back Chapel Court and Countryside.

4. What haven't We asked you about regarding programming that you want KPFA to know?

• Where is the previous attitude of not broadcasting programs available elsewhere?
• People asked to be included in the democratic decision making.
• Have a Pacifica Board elected by the members (subscribers).
• Don't let grants sanitize the programming.
• Respect for long time programmers.

Open financial records.

• Don't have closed board meetings.
• People complained about the ways programmers were treated.
• There were complaints about union busting etc.
  
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Hebard R. Olsen 408-375-1742 | Peggy Miller Olsen 408-375-2016 Computer Consulting PC Linux | Landscape Plus Oil Painting Artist Antivirus Webpages | http://mbay.net/~hebard/peggy Monterey California 93940-4450 -- End --