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The Fear Behind the Silence
For this first issue, we the editors approached many current programmers at
KPFT asking them to submit a short description promoting their shows. Sadly,
we must report that with the exception of KPFT stalwarts Ray Hill and Larry
Winters, all have declined our offer.
But more troubling than that refusal has been the reasons for non-participation.
Not surprisingly, a small cadre of programmers has been openly hostile to our
efforts, seeing us as wild-eyed commies or somethin’. This hard core seems to
have confused their roles as DJs with that of cheerleaders for the current station
manager.
But others had some interest in participating. Two even went so far as to agree
to submit a program listing, only to get cold feet soon thereafter. And they
were not shy about their reasons for backing out. As one put it describing efforts
to reform the station, I’ve “seen this sort of thing come and go….Those who
participate in it, never set foot in the station again.” This fear of reprisal
from the station manager was a common theme and holds real weight given the
recent removal of long-time programmer George Reiter for daring to participate
in a Pacifica reform rally. But it is disheartening to see that the climate
of intimidation and lack of respect for free speech has so completely taken
hold at KPFT. That is not how a Pacifica station is supposed to operate.
Furthermore, our conversations and emails with the current KPFT guys (and they
are almost all guys) has revealed something else troubling about the station.
The programmers themselves don’t listen to KPFT after their shifts are over.
The type of bland radio being pumped across the daily schedule is unpalatable
even to DJs who staff the station. One of the KPFT talk programmers, a musician
himself, admitted (on air) that he never listens to the station during the week.
A weekend music DJ explained that he didn’t have an informed opinion on weekday
playlists because he preferred to listen to the oldies station. KPFT is stuck
in a rut of bland radio and everybody involved has a fear of changing anything
or expressing any contrary view lest they get removed or fired.
A few radio rays of sunshine, however, continue to peek through the clouds.
Below is a greeting from the inimitable Spare Change host, Larry Winters,
cautioning all to proceed cautiously with reform of the station. Also we profile
a new daily show, Free Speech Radio News, being produced as an alternative
to the watered-down Pacifica Network News. We encourage all to listen
to FSRN on the web and ask KPFT to carry their show as well.
In future issues of this publication, we hope to welcome a few more KPFT programmers
to this page. In the interests of open dialogue, we will offer space to any
KPFT programmer, current or future, and publish his or her views, uncensored
(even the Ganter cheerleading squad). And to those who were not asked the first
time around, no slight was intended.
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