Virginia Browning, KPFA LSB candidate
Which Way, KPFA?
I'm Virginia Browning, a candidate for the KPFA Local Station Board (LSB), running on the Rescue-Pacifica ticket.
In today's media world, trying to keep everything the same is a recipe for failure.
Only about half as many people subscribe to KPFA now as earlier in the 2000s.
But what needs to change, and how, so that KPFA remains viable? And what should not change?
MUST CHANGE:
Technology: obviously, KPFA must do more to adapt to technological change and new ways (some now not-so-new) of accessing media. KPFA's archives must be searchable; otherwise they're like a library with no catalog. Multimedia is no longer the future; it's here. More programming must include video.
Will online technology coexist with radio -- or replace it?
Among the scary concerns with privately-owned digital media: privacy, security, equal access, and inclusivity. Radio still has a role to play.
Call-in shows are attractive to many, and one of the activities where radio is still unrivaled (no one can call in to a podcast!) We need more of them -- let's listen to the listeners.
Participation: Assigning a capable volunteer coordinator would really pay off (I say this as a former volunteer coordinator for a very successful organization, when I was young -- and this is a job for an energetic person).
Hearing community feedback: KPFA's management and board need to work more seriously at listening to communities the station serves. Previously, KPFA town-hall gatherings were well-publicized and well-attended. But recently the 'Protectors'-controlled board has taken to holding fake town halls, with a select-few board members talking at length, instead of listening to the community they're supposed to serve. It's time to bring back the real thing, and to do more community outreach.
News: Having recorded, gathered, condensed and aired news, I know it can be very labor-intensive. Even so, KPFA news should be an alternative to corporate media, not an echo of it. Let's stop marginalizing journalists who don't toe the Washington-consensus line. And let's have more local reporting. Cooperative arrangements with other community-media organizations could be one way to make this happen. I'm a huge advocate for community media, having worked in it when I was young. I saw how it brought people together for dialog, even in conservative Utah. It made a difference -- it still can.
PRESERVE:
Just a few highlights of KPFA's many great programs:
Hard Knock Radio: Davey D's insights, and the powerful commentaries of Mumia.
Letters and Politics: Mitch Jeserich's ability to to disentangle arcane subjects;
Education Today: incisive interviewer and longtime activist-intellect Kitty Kelly Epstein
Project Censored: pointing out the failures of "mainstream" media, and showing a better way
Music: Art Sato, Avotcja, Gospel, Music of the World, and more!
PEACE, NOT WAR
Continue KPFA's historic anti-war orientation. Why give nine hours a week (or even one hour) to a war-promoting show like "Background Briefing," which scatters "progressive" crumbs among poison seeds? (Effective propaganda generally combines fact with distortion, omission, and removal of context and perspective). Let's be all-for-peace, all the time; let that be KPFA's distinction.
VOTE:
There are nine seats to fill on the Local Station Board, and your 'STV' ballot lets you rank multiple candidates. So don't vote for only one candidate! Please vote for me, Virginia Browning, and the entire Rescue-Pacifica team -- we're your reform ticket in this race!
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RESCUE PACIFICA'S 8 LISTENER CANDIDATES:
DR. RABAB ABDULHADI, Rescue Pacifica
Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi is a founding Director at the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities Studies Program at SFSU, member of the Board of Advisors of the National Students for Justice in Palestine, and author of over 80 articles and books in several languages.
Longer Statement by Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi
DONNA CARTER, Rescue Pacifica
Donna Carter is currently a KPFA LSB member and a Director of the Pacifica National Board. She is a longtime anti-war and anti-racist activist. She was a nurse contract negotiator and member of the California Nurses Association (CNA) She is a retired nurse.
Longer Statement by Donna Carter
STAN WOODS, Rescue Pacifica
Stan Woods is a lifelong activist. He wears several hats: former member of ILWU Local 6, member of the State Executive Committee of the Peace and Freedom Party, on ILWU endorsed Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality and State Repression, East Bay DSA, and a former LSB member.
Longer Statement by Stan Woods
FELIPE (PHIL) MESSINA, Rescue Pacifica
Felipe (Phil) Messina is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), has worked with Valley Improvement Projects and Modesto Cop Watch, and is a lifelong KPFA listener and supporter since the mid-1980s.
Longer Statement by Phil Messina
PHOEBE THOMAS SORGEN, Rescue Pacifica
Phoebe Thomas (aka Phoebe Sorgen) is a former KPFA LSB member. She sits on the Social Justice Committee for Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Berkeley, BCA Steering Committee and Move to Amend East Bay Steering Committee.
Longer Statement by Phoebe Thomas Sorgen
PATHMA VENASITHAMBY, Rescue Pacifica
Pathma Venasithamby is a software engineer, UC Berkeley retiree, Jewish Voices for Peace activist, and long time supporter of KPFA. Now, more then ever, in the Battle for Hearts and Minds, as we march onward to the cliff edge, distracted by our bickering leaders, led by the war mongers, above the cacophony of the corporate media with their endless nonsensical news, KPFA needs to raise a lucid voice.
Call out Human Rights Violations, Racism, Climate Change, and the dereliction of duty by our leaders. Help us make this happen.
Longer Statement by Pathma
VIRGINIA BROWNING, Rescue Pacifica
Virginia Browning is a former KPFA LSB member and previously served on KPFA local and national committees. She is a former co-chair of Standing Together for Accountable Neighborhood Development (STAND). She is also a former radio reporter, host, and producer.
Longer Statement by Virginia Browning
MICHAI FREEMAN, Rescue Pacifica
Michai Freeman is the former Chair of the Berkeley Disability Commission and is a Systems Change Advocate at the Center for Independent Living. She was a 2022 Berkeley City Council candidate .
Longer Statement by Michai Freeman
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*** STAFF CANDIDATES ***
RESCUE PACIFICA'S 2 STAFF CANDIDATES:
(KPFA Staff candidates run in a separate election in which only the staff participate)
ANTHONY FEST -- Staff Candidate, Rescue Pacifica
Anthony Fest is a staff candidate (not on the ballot for subscribers). He hosted the KPFA Sunday News for 20 years. Currently, he produces the Project Censored Show and the Poor News segment of Hard Knock Radio.
Longer Statement by Anthony Fest
MIGUEL ANTONIO PEREZ -- Staff Candidate, Rescue Pacifica
Miguel Antonio Perez is a staff candidate (not on the ballot for subscribers). He produces Las Voces del Pueblo on the first Friday of each month. It is part of the KPFA program, La Onda Bajita. He advocates for more Spanish language programming on KPFA.
Longer Statement by Miguel Antonio Perez
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We're endorsed by past and present KPFA staff members, including Andres Soto, Peter Phillips, Joy Moore, Ann Garrison, Frank Sterling, and Anthony Fest, as well as many peace and justice advocates. Read more at www.RescuePacifica.net
Thanks for your support!
Virginia Browning
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FOR MORE INFO, please visit:
RESCUE PACIFICA rescuepacifica.net
PACIFICA IN EXILE pacificainexile.org
PACIFICAFIGHTBACK.ORG PacificaFightback.org
PACIFICA-DEMOCRACY-PROJECT.ORG pacifica-democracy-project.org
*** RELATED ARTICLES: ***
KPFA's Programming: Criticisms, Thoughts, & Suggestions
"How the Seizure of a Radio Station in New York led to the Seizure of $305,000 from KPFA"
Why didn't KPFA defend its journalist?
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KPFA's LSB (Local Station Board) election began August 15 and will continue till Sept 30th. You are a voting member of KPFA if you gave at least $25 between July 1, 2023 and June 30th, 2024, and should have received an email-ballot. If you didn't, please make a ballot request at elections.pacifica.org
Or call the National Election Supervisor at (707) 500-1910
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KPFA 94.1 FM is one of five stations of the Pacifica radio network located in major cities across the country. The other stations are WBAI 99.5 in New York, WPFW 89.3 in Washington, DC, KPFT 90.1 in Houston, and KPFK 90.7 in Los Angeles. There are also about 300 affiliate stations.
