Makes You Wanna Holler!

I have been busy dealing with changes in my work place as I continue to work as Music Director for KPFA in Berkeley. KPFA is the oldest listener sponsored public radio station in the U.S.. However, KPFA is one of the most complicated and dysfunctional media outlets with a history of internal politics, conflicts and never ending drama. Currently, there is a serious financial crisis with both KPFA and it’s parent network Pacifica. This valued resource of left thinking alternative media has been around for 61 years but now is broke due to a toxic combination of mismanagement, over spending, a difficult “democratic” governance structure and a bleeding network. There are major disagreements between paid staff running the station, the unpaid programming staff and network management over the recent firing of the entire Morning Show staff. Network management has been criticized over the timing of the firings and the lack of public disclosure of a plan B to replace the program which is the station’s most successful fund raiser. That controversy has led to a public relations disaster which is alienating loyal listeners. Add to that situation, dwindling resources and lack of money supporting KPFA’s original model of a listener sponsored station without commercials and underwriting that has led to never ending fund drives and shrinking audiences. KPFA interim management had to cancel the station’s upcoming fund drive scheduled for this week. The network is being accused of attempted union busting due to the political nature of the firings while the executive director claims that she is following union protocol honoring seniority of staff. The diverse and divisive opinions from internal waring factions from the paid staff to the non fund raising local station board fly all over the place as the painful layoffs and reduction of hours of staff continue. Seven key people have taken voluntary layoffs. It is a situation that is sad, absurd, challenging and puzzling at the same time. In spite of this morale busting environment, I am continuing in my now part time job and hosting my weekly program “Con Sabor” with the goal of producing good radio in this chaotic time. Other fellow music programmers are doing the same because the station deserves to exist and get support. I’m doing a lot of soul searching as I’m contemplating things in my life right now. Life tests you from time to time to see what you are made of and what choices you need to make to survive and move forward. To be continued…