(Hi All,The latest on labor matters at Pacifica. Seth Sandronsky) Journalists Threaten Strike To Fight Censorship at Pacifica January 24, 2000 -- Pacifica Radio's top free-lance reporters and contributors today say they are prepared to strike Pacifica's national news program to protest on-going censorship at the 50-year-old community-radio network. The dozens of journalists from across the Americas, Europe and Asia, many of whom have won the industry's top awards, are calling on Mary Frances Berry, who chairs both the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and the Pacifica Foundation, to publicly renounce censorship throughout the network, and to reassert the editorial independence of Pacifica's local and national-news divisions. Should management not meet the demands sent today, the stringers say the 3-month strike will begin on January 31, 2000 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific time. The striking journalists comprise a majority of active contributors and reporters to Pacifica Network News--PNN--a daily, half-hour news program that airs on some 70 radio stations nationally. In a recent two-month period, nearly 70% of Pacifica's stories came from its stringers. Virtually the entire news staff of the network's flagship Berkeley station, KPFA, and its New York station, WBAI, are supporting the action. Strikers say this action in no way targets the local news divisions of the network's five sister stations. A letter outlining the group's demands was sent to Pacifica's management today. "Censorship puts the credibility of the Pacifica Network at risk," said 6-year PNN contributor Robin Urevich from her home in Los Angeles. "Pacifica has built its 50-year reputation on consistently challenging the Establishment, by not bowing to the political agendas of corporate sponsors and by its producers and reporters functioning free of interference from management. This freedom is now under attack," Urevich added. Pacifica has long been a bastion of free speech--from broadcasting Alan Ginsberg's "Howl," to defying the HUAC witch hunts, to airing the commentaries of death-row journalist Mumia Abu Jamal. Since the crisis last spring, when armed guards were called in to lock out staff at KPFA, Pacifica reporters say management has subjected journalists, contributors and independent producers to repeated acts of alteration, suppression and censorship of news stories and public-affairs programming, which they say are of vital interest to the listeners of Pacifica and the broader communities it serves. Reporters also note that management has repeatedly silenced programs in mid-broadcast, and ousted signature voices such as Polk award-winner Larry Bensky. In November, Pacifica Network News director Dan Coughlin was "removed" after airing a story detailing a boycott by sixteen Pacifica affiliates over the issue of censorship. Most recently, veteran news anchor Verna Avery-Brown, the only African- American national-news anchor in public broadcasting, resigned amidst the crisis at PNN. Brown cited, among other concerns, censorship and a disturbing trend away from progressive coverage in Pacifica's national news. The strikers are also demanding that Coughlin be reinstated. (Here are a group of letters and reports about Coughlin's removal). "We believe Pacifica management seeks to intimidate and censor those who try to report on matters that management prefers to keep quiet," said PNN contributor Aaron Glantz from his base in Berkeley. "One result is that the independence of news production is now seriously under threat," Glantz added. For more information, contact Pacifica Reporters Fighting Censorship, (212) 439-8087 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] Addendum: From http://www.savepacifica.net/strike/ --------------------------- Strike Fund If you wish to support us financially, please make contributions payable to Friends of Free Speech Radio, and mail to: "Free- lancers' Strike Fund," c/o Friends of Free Speech Radio, 905 Parker St., Berkeley, CA 94710. If we do have to strike, many reporters will be putting their livelihoods on line. Depending on our fundraising success, we hope to be able to make strike payments to PNN freelancers who have signed onto the strike. ---------------------------- ________________________ http://www.radio4all.org http://www.radio4all.org/freepacifica Public PGP Block: http://www.radio4all.org/pgp/ - /*This message comes via the freepac list. */ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
