| Statement |
I have served on the KPFK Local Station Board (LSB) for one year filling the vacant term of the late and much beloved Don White. At the beginning of my term I was elected vice-chair and assist the chair in conducting LSB meetings. I am also chair of the governance committee which prepares the LSB agenda and deals with a variety of policy issues. We are currently undertaking a review of the KPFK committee structure, among other tasks. I also serve on the program oversight committee where I authored a resolution to change KPFK policy on programming related to 911 issues, approved by the LSB last year to little on-air effect. I also serve on the Personnel committee where we are about to undertake a search for a new Program Director (PD).
I am committed to finding a PD who understands the deleterious consequences of the last eight years of censorship on 911 at KPFK; and is committed to implementing the policy of the LSB for free and open discussion and debate on what happened to us on that fateful day.
I first became involved in KPFK out of disgust over our Public Affairs programmers apparently adopting a unitary line over 911, supporting the official propaganda fabrication, and belittling and insulting as "conspiracy theorists" any who would question the obviously false cover up of 911 - on Free Speech Radio. Our Public Affairs programming, with some exceptions, seems to be an open conduit for establishment views into the progressive left, at best. At worst, they are an uncritical conduit for whatever disinformation roll-out the CIA and National Security state wants to foist on the American people. The 911 lie tops the list, but is not the only issue.
After two years of investigation I can report to the listeners -the electorate - that there has indeed been an organized censorship, always denied, of 911 related issues and the National Security and Economic consequences, at KPFK. This has been undertaken by a small group of Public Affairs programmers both at KPFK and Pacifica wide who not only do not want to deal truthfully with 911, but don't want anyone else at KPFK to do so either. I do not know where these programmers came from, did we inherit them, they seem to have been here for decades and feel they own their on-air time.
I am interested in expanding the programmers and programming so we have alternative and more radical political views in our Public Affairs and National Security programming more consistent with our Mission.
As an outsider, originally, I ran for the LSB on an "anti-slate" platform, wrongly thinking that the "slate" was associated with 911 censorship at KPFK. However, after becoming part of governance I quickly recognized who the smart, interesting and congenial people were and they became my friends. Accordingly, in this election I am pleased to associate myself with The Committee to Strengthen KPFK. Some of the programmers I criticize are part of this slate. That's diversity.
Nominated by:
Grace Aaron: iEd Pacifica Foundation, PNB chair
Ricco Ross: past Chair, KPFK LSB, PNB delegate
Steve Weatherwax, current LSB chair
and many others.
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Yo soy Christopher Condon y el la actualidad soy Vicepresidente de la LSB y Presidente del Comité de Gobierno en la Mesa Directiva Local de KPFK. También he colaborado con el Comité de Vigilancia de Programas, en el que fui autor de la iniciativa de terminar con la censura de la verdad del 911 en KPFK, y en el Comité de Personal con el que estamos por comenzar la búsqueda de un nuevo Director de Programas. Antes de servir como colaborador de la LSB, colaboré como presidente temporal de la Mesa Consultiva de la Comunidad. He demostrado mi lealtad hacia KPFK y Pacífica con mi servicio de los dos últimos años. Es importante para la continuidad del gobierno de la estación que los veteranos que demuestren una contribución constructiva hacia la estación puedan continuar sirviendo a la misma en el futuro.
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| Biography |
1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?
I have been a listener subscriber for many years. A good part of my political education, pre 911, has come from KPFK. It is time to give back. One objective is to change the de-facto policy of censorship of 911 Truth, and support for the official propaganda fabrication, by our public affairs programmers. I am currently a member of the board, serving out the remainder of the late Don White’s term
2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica
Foundation, KPFK and the community?
The LSB elects four delegates to the Pacifica National Board (PNB). Most of our KPFK delegates are part of the movement to save the foundation from past mismanagement. We must continue to send good delegates to the National Board. I currently serve on the National Board Governance committee and would be willing to serve on the PNB next year.
3. How could the station better serve it’s listeners?
By changing its public affairs programming. Many of these programmers have been at the microphone for decades, some for 30 years or more. I no longer consider KPFK to be a reliable source of information on international affairs and national security issues, as it once was, and should be again. It has just replaced one propaganda agenda for another. 911 Truth is at the heart of this.
By radically revising the grid. We have too many sub-standard programs in both Spanish and English, and the structure of the program schedule, known as the “grid” defies logical understanding. We must support our new General Manager in making controversial changes and bringing rational coherence to the “grid”
By Increasing the intellectual level of the programming. We will not increase listenership by appealing to the lowest common denominator. We must lift up our listeners to a higher level. “Build it and they will come.”
4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
First, by acknowledging the 911 Truth movement as an underrepresented community and by developing programming to give voice to this rapidly growing international movement for truth and justice. We might also suggest that our current public affairs programmers get a little education here.
We are under-represented in programming related to Asian issues. I do not mean in Asian languages but related to the politics, culture, music and history of China, Japan, Indonesia, and the western Pacific rim nations including Australia and New Zealand. I have proposed a program, not for me but for the issues, as it once was, and should be again. It has just replaced one propaganda agenda for another. 911 Truth is at the heart of this.
By radically revising the grid. We have too many sub-standard programs in both Spanish and English, and the structure of the program schedule, known as the “grid” defies logical understanding. We must support our new General Manager in making controversial changes and bringing rational coherence to the “grid”
By Increasing the intellectual level of the programming. We will not increase listenership by appealing to the lowest common denominator. We must lift up our listeners to a higher level. “Build it and they will come.”
4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
First, by acknowledging the 911 Truth movement as an underrepresented community and by developing programming to give voice to this rapidly growing international movement for truth and justice. We might also suggest that our current public affairs programmers get a little education here.
We are under-represented in programming related to Asian issues. I do not mean in Asian languages but related to the politics, culture, music and history of China, Japan, Indonesia, and the western Pacific rim nations including Australia and New Zealand. I have proposed a program, not for me but for the station, titled “Live from Tomorrow,” because the western Pacific is always “tomorrow.”
By having a rational process for the development of new programming to give voice to these underrepresented communities.
5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFK should solicit?
None. We should be exclusively listener supported and adjust our budgets accordingly. Neither KPFK, nor the Pacifica foundation, should solicit nor receive foundation or private funding. This applies to our programmers as well. Those programmers who receive foundation funding should make full disclosure.
Under no circumstances should we borrow money using the KPFK building or any other Pacifica asset as collateral, as has been proposed. I proposed the “just say no” motion which was adopted by our LSB last year on this matter.
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.
I have a B.S. in Biology from Western Washington University. Whilst at university I was on of the founders of the “Northwest Passage” an underground newspaper, and was an early anti-war activist. I have lived an international life, and have spent some years in France and Australia.
My parents were beatnicks in the west village of New York City. I have spent my entire life in a multi-cultural and multi-racial environment. I was not raised with Television and do not watch it to this day. Accordingly, I see things that elude others. Such as on September 11, 2001 - I knew exactly what was going down on that day.
I am a small business owner. My company is Natural Extracts and we import essential oils and other plant extracts from pacific rim countries and supply perfumers, body care product manufacturers, and aromatherapy. In reality we are creating the post-capitalist medicine of the 21st century.
I am currently the vice-chair of the Local Station Board and assist the chair in keeping order, sometimes a difficult task considering some our members
7. On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving?
If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you
currently serve?
I am currently on the LSB, and the chair of the LSB Governance committee and also serve on the Program Oversight committee and Personnel committees.
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