TO: Jeff Cohen, FAIR
FROM: Lyn Gerry
RE: Accuracy in Reporting

January 1, 1997

Dear Jeff,

I am writing you in the interest of accuracy in reporting. In a recent letter to Maria Gilardin of Take Back KPFA, you made the following statement:

><snip> Specific complaints to FAIR from listeners about on-air content have often been unfounded, empty or isolated examples. Recently, for instance, I checked out the innuendo that KPFK was somehow suppressing a Ralph Nader speech taped by David Barsamiam - and found that the accuser had his facts all wrong and that KPFK was readying the speech for special high-profile promotion.

I do not know the source of your information nor what your investigation of the allegation consisted of, but your statement above is inaccurate. I broke the story on what I call the "Nader Embargo." I would like to give you the facts from the source, just to set the record straight, as once again someone associated with FAIR is implying I am liar, and I am getting very tired of it. ( I am a "she," by the way)

Let me introduce myself. Actually, we technically met in 1989 when I was a dogsbody volunteer from KPFK who had offered to work on the co-sponsored conference, the second I believe, put on by FAIR/KPFK. After the conference, the VIP's went to eat dinner at Gorky's Cafe in downtown LA. The two women from FAIR who were organizing the conference invited me along, though not a VIP, in appreciation for my work straightening out some godawful mess someone had made with the registration. I didn't say much, it was a large group, and I would be very surprised if you remembered me.

I am also the person who broke the story of Pacifica's hiring of union busters, the American Consulting Group, which even FAIR seems to now acknowledge is the truth, in spite of denials made by Pacifica's Executive Director Pat Scott and KPFK Station Manager Mark Schubb--formerly Executive Director of FAIR's Los Angeles chapter.

By the way, since FAIR likes to compile statistics on lies--I have quite a list told by your former LA Director Mark Schubb. I have lies in print, on audio and videotape-- should you ever care to make such a study.

In fact, on the American Consulting Group story, I sent two hard copies of my report to FAIR's New York Office--one to Jim Naureckas and another to Janine Jackson. I was actually concerned that FAIR be aware of the damage to its reputation that was likely to result from the activities of its former Los Angeles Director, Mark Schubb, and its current Los Angeles Director, Jim Horwitz, (who serves on KPFK's board) in relation to their activities supporting the union-busting at Pacifica. At that time, I had a high regard for FAIR, who I was sure would not compromise their integrity by such an association.

I am no longer sure of that. I never received any reply from FAIR on the material I provided, which astonished me.

Now that you have my "bona fides," let's talk about Nader. The report I made was based on a document and the testimony of witnesses. These witnesses asked for anonymity as they would have been subjected to a campaign of harassment by Mark Schubb---many have been---but were it hypothetically necessary, at least 3 witnesses could testify under oath to the facts I am about to report.

THE DOCUMENT

(an image of this document can be viewed on the World Wide Web at the following URL: http://www.radio4all.org/fp/nader.gif )

The document is written and signed by Kathy Lo, the "Program Director" of KPFK. I have placed program director in quotes as Ms. Lo, a relatively young person with little radio experience or political acumen, has the position in name only. Mark Schubb, who hired Ms. Lo, is generally understood to dictate her actions and is the "de facto" director of programming.

The text of the document, dated August 23, 1996, addressed to two staff members, reads:

>From now until October 20, do not broadcast any Alternative Radio programs that include Ralph Nader. If there are any changes, I will notify you of this in writing. Thanks for your cooperation. *******************************************************

This document was widely circulated by Green Party activists who were trying to get enough support by September 15 to compel Nader's inclusion in the nationally televised presidential debates. In my story, I made clear that this embargo on material had nothing to do with Nader's political views, though as it travelled around the country this point may have been lost. It had to do with a concern on the part of KPFK management that listeners would buy tapes from David Barsamian instead of KPFK.

FROM WITNESSES

The date mentioned in the memo, Oct 20, was the date KPFK was scheduled to conclude its fall on-air pledge drive. It is important you understand that there were 3 Ralph Nader tapes:

1) a tape of a live broadcast of Nader's acceptance speech in Los Angeles, broadcast by KPFK---KPFK had the rights to this tape and planned to use it as an incentive in fund raising----the management had also attempted to prevent the rebroadcast of this tape by an overnight programmer because this tape was also available for sale at the Pacifica Archives, and KPFK management was concerned that listeners would buy the tape directly from the Archives for $15 instead of spending the $50 to make a subscription and get the tape "free" with the subscription two months later.

2) There was a version of Nader's acceptance speech David Barsamian had scheduled as one of his weekly editions of his satellite broadcast Alternative Radio.

3) There was an interview with Nader done by David also scheduled to be on the satellite.

The reason David Barsamian's programs were embargoed was the fear listeners would buy tapes from him, as he gives ordering info at the end of each broadcast. This is how he survives, as the broadcasts are free to all stations. David Barsamian's programs have run on KPFK for many years. In the past, David had graciously allowed us to give away his tapes during pledge drive to make money for the station. David never charged us a dime---the poor man must have a whole closet full of T-Shirts we sent him in appreciation----at that time, prior to the Scott/Schubb regime--we also expressed our appreciation of David's work by running his program in "morning drive time" the most populous piece of real estate in Radioland.

When the Scott regime swept in, David's program was first cancelled them moved around to various less desirable times of day. David would never say anything publicly about this because he is a kind individual who prefers networking to conflict, but it is a fact he no longer provides free tapes for Pacifica fundraising.

Some people see this issue as irrelevant, but I don't: David Barsamian has been very good to Pacifica for many years and has gotten kicked in the teeth. I do see this as important because it shows the mindset of this current group, who have rewarded the loyalty and devotion of more than one good person similarly.

People who have no loyalty to those who have served an organization wholeheartedly are people who cannot be trusted. I thought it was important that organizations opting to stay in bed with this group that now wishes to represent itself as "Pacifica" should be aware that when they have outlived their usefullness, they should expect the same treatment.

Pat Scott, Pacifica's Excutive Director, is on the record on more than one occasion stating this conflict is not about "moral issues." Hell if it ain't. Anybody so unconcerned with moral issues has no business pretending to "leadership" of the Pacifica Foundation. Or pretending to be "progressive" for that matter.

EPILOGUE

Green Party activists responded with an intensive campaign to have the speeches run---as it impacted their organizing effort. One of the sad things was the political consequences of embargoing the Nader material does not even appear to have been a consideration in KPFK's management's decision making process---in spite of their claim to "leadership of the progressive movement." etc.

By the way, the massive outcry resulting from the publication of the above information caused the embargo to be lifted--quietly. There was no high-profile promotion.

Hope this clears up a few things, Jeff, just in case FAIR is not so far gone that it no longer cares about things like fairness, accuracy and moral issues either.

Sincerely,

Lyn Gerry former staff member, KPFK

PS.-- Happy New Year.