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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 94 23:45 CDT
From: James Davis <jdav@mcs.com>
Subject: People's Tribune (Online Edition) 6-27-94


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                 People's Tribune (Online Edition)
                   Vol. 21 No. 26 / June 27, 1994

                 P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654
                        Email: jdav@igc.org

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10. LET'S BOOST WPFW: GIVE PACIFICA THE BOOT

A PROPOSAL FOR DC-FREE RADIO


By Rick Tingling-Clemmons, community activist and WPFW supporter


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Radio station WPFW, through the hard work and
commitment of its volunteers and staff -- despite its hard times
and frustrations -- is an institution of great pride to the
Washington, D.C. community.

In the face of pressure and criticism, it has often upheld the
principles of free speech through its programming, helped
acknowledge and build appreciation for jazz in this community and
beyond, and worked at various levels to address the issues of our
community in an up-front and principled way.

Yet, for the second time in a year, we find ourselves in a crisis
that threatens to further compromise the history, viability and
future of this station. This threat is directly related to the
control and management of WPFW by Pacifica.

WPFW, under Pacifica's management and control, has moved away from
the station's traditional commitment to freedom of speech. Some
recent examples follow. There was very little programming of
Malcolm X's speeches or related programming on his birthday --
less, in fact, than other stations in the Pacifica network. There
was very little programming regarding the 23rd Malcolm X Day
celebration in Anacostia Park this year. There has been very
little about African Liberation Day coming up this weekend. There
has only been limited discussion on issues regarding Haiti and
Bosnia. Even though the recent pledge drive focussed much of the
evening air time on the issues of crime, there was not sufficient
time allotted for discussion.

The organization of the pledge drive undercut politics -- with
blues replacing jazz, mostly music, talking comedians, limited
conversation on the crime bill tapes (which were quite good and
important to air but frustrating in the lack of adequate
discussion time). It also repeated a number of mistakes of some
previous pledge drives by pre-empting regular shows and reducing
public affairs programming. What has happened to the commitment to
jazz? Pacifica's management of the station during this drive must
be held accountable.

Pacifica's management of the station has brought WPFW down, by
trivializing and/or dismissing the input of the local community
and volunteers and inhibiting its independent development.

For example, Pacifica acknowledged playing a substantial role in
controlling the appointment from a distance of the last general
manager. It now says the appointment was a mistake because,
according to Pacifica, he put the station in great debt and
virtual bankruptcy. Now Pacifica wants to dispense with any form
of democracy in taking the next steps because it cannot afford any
more mistakes.

First Pacifica allowed no democracy because they didn't see the
need and now they can't afford to allow democracy. The board
refused to even meet with the contingent from WPFW that recently
travelled to New York City for its board meeting. Pacifica's
representative actively discouraged any subsequent contact between
Pacifica board members and WPFW staff and volunteers. This dissing
must stop.

Pacifica has a license to represent the citizens of Washington,
D.C. How can they have our best interests at heart when they don't
live here and, for the most part, have not participated in the
struggles of this community for independence and justice -- such
as our struggle for statehood? In a nutshell, they cannot.

As the last land-based colony in this country, we are getting the
same treatment from Pacifica that we get from the U.S. Congress.
We can prove that Pacifica is not representing our interests
through its own actions. We should control our own station. There
should be no compromise with Pacifica that nets us anything less
than control of our own station.

WPFW comes up for licensing soon. Pacifica was given the operating
license by the FCC to represent the D.C. community. If they don't
do it in the way we think they should, their right to the license
can be challenged. We can prove that Pacifica's decisions "for us"
have stifled WPFW's growth and limited its independence and
development.

Pacifica's management can best be compared to that of an absentee
landlord.

We could create a board in this town -- of conscious
professionals, community members, and local leaders -- to help us
professionally run the station, improve the quality of the
technical operations and better develop the political aspects of
our public affairs and cultural programming. A union is a good
start but we need to give Pacifica the boot. Let's do it.

This proposal is offered with great love for your dedication and
in honor of your commitment to this community and to the right of
the people to know.

If you are interested in working with me on this proposal or want
information, call 202-397-2277.

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12. ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE

The PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE, published weekly in Chicago, is devoted to
the proposition that an economic system which can't or won't feed,
clothe and house its people ought to be and will be changed. To
that end, this paper is a tribune of the people. It is the voice
of the millions struggling for survival. It strives to educate
politically those millions on the basis of their own experience.
It is a tribune to bring them together, to create a vision of a
better world, and a strategy to achieve it.

Join us!

Editor: Laura Garcia
Publisher: National Organizing Committee, P.O. Box 477113,
Chicago, IL 60647 (312) 486-0028


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