KPFT Notes

New from KPFT’s favorite daughter, Renee Feltz…

Hello,

We are excited to announced the launching of our investigative-new media masters project, The Business of Detention.

Snapshot: The nation’s largest private prison company has partnered with the federal government to detain close to 1 million undocumented people in the past 5 years until they are deported. In the process, Corrections Corporation of America has made record profits. Critics suggest the CCA cuts corners on its detention contracts in order to increase its revenue at expense of humane conditions. Thanks to political connections and lobby spending, it dominates the industry of immigrant detention. CCA now has close to 10,000 new beds under development in anticipation of continued demand.

Check out the site at http://www.businessofdetention.com

Cheers, Renee Feltz & Stokely Baksh

Rare Recordings Now Public – Almost Forgotten Heroic March on Washington, 40 Years Ago
7,000 followed Reverend Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson and others

The year was 1968, and on May 2nd through June 25th, the Poor People’s Campaign with thousands converged by mule train, bus, car, train and foot on to Washington, D.C. where they lived in temporary shelters on a 16-acre site named Resurrection City, U.S.A. African-American demonstrators from the South, Native Americans from reservations and whites from Appalachia were there to lobby Congress for economic justice for all poor people.

The Poor People’s Campaign was conceived by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1967. In May 1968, in the wake of Dr. King’s assassination on April 4th, the Reverend Ralph Abernathy led as many as 7000 people from nine caravans from all parts of the country. In these recordings, a young Jesse Jackson leads the demonstrators in the now-famous call-and-response, I Am Somebody — which he later performed with the children of Sesame Street. Although the community was strengthened, and the message was delivered, Washington remained entrenched, and on June 23, 1968, Resurrection City was closed. Now, Pacifica Radio Archives is making these authentic and unique recordings available to scholars, activists, artists, and non-profits for free.

“What is amazing about these recordings is that Pacifica reporters were everywhere, at the start of the caravans, on the road, and at Resurrection City, capturing speeches by the leaders and the experiences of the people who made great sacrifices to participate. The sounds and voices captured are inspiring accounts of a valiant effort to shame Congress to wage war on poverty.” Brian DeShazor, director, Pacifica Radio Archives.

“It is crucial to be aware of our recent History to have a context for what is going on today in this atmosphere of human rights travesties and the growing resistance to them in the U.S. and all over the world. The Pacifica Radio Archives has, in some instances, the only historical documentation of these struggles from the 1960’s. Key to their collection are the recordings of reporting from 1968 with the Viet Nam War, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations, and the explosions of protests on campuses around the world. Hearing these events enables a greater understanding of what is happening today.” Juan Gonzalez, columnist, investigative reporter, New York Daily News and Democracy Now!

“The voices of resistance are always under threat and challenge. Support for the [Pacifica Radio] Archives allows us to create an intellectual, political and moral legacy that challenges structural racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination and equality that actually reinforces the great traditions of democracy in this country.” Manning Marabel, Professor and Founding Director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University.

The Poor People’s March recordings are part of the Pacifica Radio Archives’ Revolution Rewind Collection of unique recordings from that explosive year. Made possible in part with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Newspaper editor ousted from radio gig

By MIKE GENIELLA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A Mendocino County public radio station has bounced a local newspaper editor from her weekly community affairs program following a contentious on-air marijuana debate.

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The abrupt ousting of Editor K.C. Meadows of the Ukiah Daily Journal following last Thursday’s program underscores rising political tensions surrounding Measure B, a citizen-led drive to repeal in the June primary election the county’s liberalized local laws surrounding personal marijuana use.

Meadows, as the local newspaper editor, figures prominently in the county-wide repeal campaign, serving on a coordinating committee and having written frequent editorials urging voters to “take back our county.”

Meadows couldn’t be reached Monday morning for comment on her show’s removal from the Philo-based public radio station’s programming.

But in her daily Web blog, Meadows wrote, “I have to say I find this odd given the dedicated bias of KZYX, NPR (National Public Radio) and other public radio sources on any number of left-of-center issues.”

Vance Crowe, a KZYX spokesman, said Monday that Meadows was removed because her on-air advocacy violated the station’s policies regarding up-coming ballot issues.

“Our job is to provide non-partisan forums,” said Crowe.

Via North Bay Press Democrat

Full-community radio station comes to life

By Elizabeth Wilson–Record-Bee staff

LAKE COUNTY — Political pundits, newshounds, music buffs and talk-show hosts were buzzing around a sunny suite on the second-floor of an historic downtown Lakeport building Friday where the new Lake County Community Radio (LCCR) makes its home. The team was organizing last-minute details in preparation to go on the air today.

An unofficial two-week broadcast period for KPFZ 88.1 precedes its official launch on April 27 as a full-power FM station reaching Lake County and beyond.

The station is the fruit of 12 years of labor involving “hundreds and hundreds” of area citizens, said founder and General Manager Andy Weiss. The station previously was broadcast on a low-power frequency that reached limited areas of the community between 2001 and 2005.

“Three years ago we decided we wanted to be full-power and reach throughout the county. We weren’t even getting to Clearlake, much less beyond it was very limited,” said LCCR Board President Susan Krones, the host of the music show Celtic Collage that goes on-the-air Sunday from 12-2 p.m.

“We’re a full community station. We got the construction permit, got a federal grant to get up-to-date equipment and from there have been trying to pull it all together. It’s been a long road this is a dream come true,” Krones said.

“Progressive Point,” a community-issues show, launches the station during its test period today. The hour-long show starts at 9 a.m. when hosts Mark Knaup and Michelle Borzoni welcome the first guests during the hour, Sen. Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) and Assembly candidate Wes Chesbro, Knaup said.

Overall, the station’s content will be half music and half public affairs, covering the community and culture of Lake County. Shows are slated for youth to learn the ropes of broadcasting as hosts of both music and public affairs topics, as well as a program catering to the interests of senior citizens.

“We want people to feel as if they’re eavesdropping on the community on everything that’s going on,” Weiss said.

Eventually, a news director will lead the 40-plus “programmers” or show hosts and broadcast-board operators.

“Our ultimate goal is to bring local news to the county, which takes a lot of resources. We have a lot of people who will be stringers [reporters who will update the station on breaking news]. We need someone to be the news director to make this station a very significant news outlet,” Weiss said.

Knaup said volunteers could help in any capacity and learn valuable skills including how to operate a broadcast-board and how to convert news events into broadcast script. “This is going to be the heartbeat of the community. We’re going to be very provocative,” Knaup said.

Krones said she learned broadcasting by watching a mentor do her own show. “I did a half-hour segment and she was there to help. I did that about three or four times. When you first fly solo, you’re nervous, but you do it more and more and then its yeah, I know how to do this,’” Krones said.

The mandatory training period includes learning Federal Communication Commission rules. And there will be a special training program for youth. “It will be really great for high school students to gain experience and confidence, because a lot of colleges have radio stations,” Krones said.

Following “Progressive Point,” at 10 a.m. husband-and-wife team Steve Elias and Catherine Elias-Jermany will host “Both Sides Now, One Side at a Time,” a resurrection of their “Both Sides Now” show from the previous, low-power station. The topic today will be genetically modified crops.

Both Saturday shows will take calls near the end of the hour. The phone number will be broadcast several times during the show. Anyone interested in becoming involved with LCCR can call 263-3640, or stop by the station located above Ashley’s restaurant at 149 North Main Street, Suites 220-240.

Via Lake County Record Bee

Portland Community Media Seeks Executive Director

The Opportunity: Founded in 1981, PCM serves greater Portland, Oregon, with a mission of promoting broad participation in civic and cultural life by encouraging effective use and understanding of community media. As the public face of PCM, the Executive Director serves as the organization’s primary spokesperson, builds relationships with diverse partners, leads the staff, and works in partnership with the Board of Directors on planning, resource development and advocacy. PCM’s FY 2008-2009 operating budget is approx. $1.6 million plus a capital budget of approx. $650,000. Primary funding is provided through a contract with the City of Portland. PCM is governed by a Board of 9 to 11 community members and has a staff of 22.

Compensation: Annual salary range is $70,000-$80,000 depending on
qualifications, plus benefits.

Apply by May 8. For details: pcmtv.org

Strength of Women is a unique new media production that explores the positive ways women’s lives have changed in Sri Lanka since the Indian Ocean tsunami.

The online documentary provides a space for women who are involved in women’s rights NGO Kantha Shakthi to tell there stories of strength and survival. By providing a space in the media for an under represented minority group, Australian filmmaker Dani Venn, hopes to raise awareness about gender inequalities and empower women through recognizing positive change.

The format of the documentary is non-linear, small videos which the user can view at there own pace and in there desired depth. Introduction videos are used to explain areas of the organization and interviews provide personal narratives.

Strength of Women is presented in both Singhalese and English.

All donations made through the website go directly to the Kantha Shakthi organization, please see kanthashakthi.net.

Just a little something on media justice front.

This Absolut ad has stirred much controversy, to the point where the company, which ran the ad only in Mexico, said it was pulling it from circulation.

As you may notice, the old-school map represents Mexican territories prior to the U.S.-Mexico War, when the United States seized holdings which today comprise California to Texas. Conservative commentators and blogs, in a result shocking no one, are in a froth over it, bringing up everything from Chicano nationalism to Islam. Yikes.

Absolut’s ads, at various points, have sought to be provocative. This particular ad, however, has ignited more misinformation (historical and otherwise) and ultra-nationalism than usual.

I will spare you further remarks on this, but will add Racialicious and the Los Angeles Times have comments posted, of varying flavors.

The second annual Houston Palestine Film Festival (HPFF) brings an honest and independent view of Palestine and its diaspora’s society, culture, and political travails through the art of film. This group of groundbreaking cinematic texts rises above the degrading stereotypes or reductively politicized depictions that are so familiar to Houstonians. A major goal of the Festival is to directly expose our local community to the perspective of artists as a first step toward circumventing the many government and media filters that pollute our understanding of Palestine and the wider region.

The film festival will take place in May, spanning 6 nights and 2 venues. There will be receptions on the opening and closing nights, and several directors and other guests will be in attendance for post-film discussion. Also, this year the Houston Palestine Film Festival is featuring Iraq in the night of shorts.

The Houston Palestine Film Festival is especially honored to have KPFT as a co-sponsor and supporter for the second year in a row. There will be an Open Journal about the film festival on the opening day, which will include interviews from directors from 2007 and 2008 as well as organizers of the festival. Also, unconfirmed but planned are interviews with directors and organizers on various shows in KPFT.

Hello All-

The Grassroots Conference 13 will be held July 25th – 27th– with registration and reception open on Thursday, July 24th. We are just finalizing the facilities agreements, and hope to have some information about registration, costs and lodging options to you very, very soon!

It seems that there will be an option of hotel rooms, a couple of blocks from the conference site, that will be double queen rooms for $120- / night (this is one room with two queen beds– the hotel doesn’t care if there are one, two, three or four people in the room– it’s the same price). I would love to know what people think about that, and of those planning on coming, about how many might want to be in hotel, who thinks they want to have a home stay that we arrange. I need to reserve the block-o-rooms for lodging at the hotel any minute now, so a little help estimating will be terrific.

I welcome your ideas on workshop & round table topics. What do we need time and space to talk about?

This GRC-13 is being co-hosted by KBOO, KPSU, KPCN and others!

I am very much looking forward to seeing you all and having a great exchange of skills, ideas and energy this summer in Portland! Please get back to me with any ideas or feedback, on or off list.

Solidarity & Love!
ani

Ani Haines
Volunteer Coordinator
503-231-8032 ext. 213
Fax: 503-231-7145
volunteer@kboo.org

This Friday at midnight on Dead Air, Weston Brown, a purveyor of rock and roll, joins Sandy for an in-studio performance following a Grateful Dead second set from the fall of 1974. Rumor has it that 3rd Ear might also be around to debut a new CD.