| Statement |
It’s just a radio station, isn’t it? Maybe, and maybe not, but it’s one of the few places where you’ll hear the truth when the public has been misled, or more importantly, been kept completely in the dark. I want to get elected to the Local Station Board to help preserve and enhance the strength, effectiveness and impact of KPFK.
I’ve been formally connected with KPFK for about 5 years. I’ve been listening to Pacifica since college. I’ve helped in committees and with the Community Advisory Board. I’m a retired Computer Systems Architect and am currently producing news and documentary shorts. I’m also active with several progressive non-profit organizations:
· President of the ACLU-Westside Chapter,
· Steering committee member of Protect California Ballots,
· President of the Visual Artist’s Guild,
· President of the Social Uplift Foundation (www.SocialUplift.org)
I want us out there with a stronger web presence. KPFK should be on the Internet with 24/7 programming; separate channels for Music, News, Community Issues, and Health & Spirituality. And when these are running well, they can be fed to X-FM, satellite radio.
We have to push for more challenging programming and stop running away from controversial or politically delicate issues. We need more direct dialogue, not one-sided rants, on: corporate fraud, HIV policy, climate collapse, vaccine hoaxes, economic imperialism, 911, drug addiction, religious fanaticism, right wing conspiracies and left wing conspiracies.
There should be programs on “How to get a job” and “How to get your kids off drugs.” Our Spanish Language programming should be improved and promoted through other media to increase our market share. We need more programming relevant to the growing Asian community in Los Angeles, as well as Persian, Armenian, Russian, Ethiopian, etc. We should cover a broad range of religious and anti-religious viewpoints. Why not have shows about sex, the sex industry, and sexual health? Also, limiting our content to one side of an issue diminishes our stature and stunts our outreach. If we close the door on dissent we’ve violated the Pacifica Mission and we haven’t done anything to bring about dialogue and resolution. That includes dissent with our own views as well.
Most importantly, the Local Station Board has to direct it’s full attention to running the station. This is far more important than debating political pedigree or posturing on ideological purity. Bills have to be paid. A budget has to be generated and followed. A strong fiscal hand has to ensure that KPFK does not fall into debt and receivership. Arbitron ratings should be used as a factor to guide management. Staff policies have to be set on performance and quality. New employees should sign arbitration agreements to help shield the station from frivolous and opportunistic law suits. Production values have to be improved, always. Shows should be tighter and more entertaining while continuing to be informative. Handicap access should be given high priority.
Vote for me and I’ll do my best.
*************************************************************************************
Ahora es el momento de expandir el alcance e influencia de KPFK. Necesitamos programas más fuertes para más oyentes (de inglés y de español), un alcance más amplio, una administración más estricta y una tecnología más avanzada. Nosotros no somos una radio “alternativa” sino que estamos a la cabeza de las radios públicas. Durante 50 años KPFK ha sido el lugar donde la gente va a encontrar verdad y cultura. Continuemos haciéndolo. He aquí mi plataforma:
• Canales de Internet 24 horas al día y 7 días por semana.
• Mejorar y vender la programación del idioma español.
• Cerrar la puerta a demandas judiciales frívolas.
• Cubrir a diversas comunidades: Persa, Armenia, Griega, Rusa, Etíope, etc.
• Presentar programas sobre asuntos controversiales: políticas de VIH, colapso del clima, prostitución, adicción a las drogas, 9/11, fanatismo e intolerancia religiosa
|
| Biography |
1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?
I want to contribute to the stability, health and effectiveness of KPFK.
I want to safeguard the integrity of the Pacifica Mission and keep KPFK on track providing a wide scope of viewpoints and a robust collection of programs.
2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, KPFK and the Community?
The LSB should act as a bridge, reaching out to diverse communities to find out their needs and interests and guiding KPFK to deliver programming relevant to those needs. Programs should include public participation (organizations and individuals) from across the broad listener area. We have to give KPFK a more human face. KPFK should also accept and submit programs to the other Pacifica stations and continue with collaborative efforts such as the Pacifica One Hour Newscast produced by KPFK and KPFA.
3. How could the station better serve its listeners?
• Increase community participation in program content.
• Restore internships and training programs.
• Restore local news and reporting.
• Provide more information on social and educational services available to the public.
• Continue to improve web presence and functionality.
• Allow more constructive input to governance through the Internet. Stream LSB meeting and allow questions to be emailed in.
4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in under-represented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience.
• Use my associations with the Asian, Latino, Russian, Indian, African American Communities and Artists to recruit members for the Community Advisory Board, LSB Committees, and the LSB.
• Adopt special music programming and community awareness programming which connects with under-represented communities (Cambodian, Philippine, Russian, etc)
• Work with leaders from different communities to have jointly sponsored events.
5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFK should solicit?
• Planned Giving (asking for people to put us in their wills.)
• Grants for internships and training.
• Grants for educational and investigative journalism.
• Grants for music programming that promotes community awareness.
• Event proceeds from co-sponsored events: public affairs forums, music and dance concerts, art exhibitions, and car shows.
• A General Membership Benefit Program similar to KCRW's Fringe Benefits program, but with our own guidelines, to increase membership sign up.
• Special Benefit Programs, similar to the Film Club but based on other activities such as a Dinner's Club, Travel Club, Health Food club, general "friendly local business" discount club.
6. Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.
• Secretary of the KPFK Community Advisory Board, 2008 and 2009. Drawing together individuals from the community to guide the station on community needs.
• Computer Systems Architect and Programmer for 30 years as a consultant and as a corporate employee.
• Drug counselor for five years, getting addicts off addition to hard core drugs.
• Producer and host of public access TV show on progressive issues.
• President of the Visual Artists Group (8 years): www.visual-artists-guild.org
• President of the ACLU Westside chapter.
• Founder and President of The Social Uplift Foundation, a non-profit which helps other progressive organizations increase their media exposure: www.SocialUplift.org
• Board Member of Protect California Ballots, monitoring election procedures and results toward the goal of free and fair elections: www.ProtectCaliforniaBallots.org
7. On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving?
Finance, Governance, Programming Oversight, Technical Support.
|
| |
|