RadioPoetics.org

TOWN HALL MEETING ON POLICE VIOLENCE AT KPFA
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 7th, 3 p.m.
WHERE: The Black New World, 836 Pine St (between 8^th & 10^th Street), West Oakland
HOST: Minister of Information JR (producer of the Block Report on KPFA Radio)

Site is wheelchair accessible

Below is Google Maps link location for this ddress:
http://maps.google.com/maps?channel=s&hl=en&q=836+pine+st,+oakland,+ca&u...

An Eyewitness Account

By Anita Johnson (Hard Knock Radio - Producer and Host)

On August 20, 2008, at about 1pm, I am recording in the main production studio, on the first floor of KPFA Radio (94.1 FM) when suddenly I hear a loud commotion across the hall from the studio. I leave the studio to investigate and find out that the commotion is coming from across the hall in the Ujima Studio. I enter Ujima and see 2 police officers and KPFA unpaid producer Nadra Foster struggling. Nadra is asking the police, “Why are you doing this? Stop...”.The police say: “Calm down.” I ask: “What's happening?” That's when all three notice I am in the room. Nadra, asks me to help her. The police tell me to leave. They become increasingly violent towards Nadra. They are shoving her excessively, pushing and grabbing, hitting her arms and her legs, while talking to each other. I can’t hear what they are saying. One officer looks at me and tells me: “Leave the room.” I refuse and say to the police: “Stop and calm down!” When that doesn't work I say, to both the police and Nadra: “Wait and calm down.” Nadra again asks for help so I leave the studio to look for help. I go into the hall and scream for any KPFA staff located in the area to assist. I can't find anyone so I go back into Ujima to continue to be a witness.

Hello all,

Nadra's bail was reduced to $5,000. The bail is going to be posted today so that she can be released today. There was a heartening show of support by KPFA staff members who were present in the court room including LSB members Tracy Rosenberg, Noelle Hanrahan, Shahram Aghamir and Henry Norr.
Also, I got an email response from Nicole Sawaya who informed me that KPFA/Pacifica will not be pressing charges.

Chandra

Prelim Agenda (includes Free Speech Radio News funding)
Saturday, August 9th, 2008
11 AM to 4 PM
Café de la Paz
1600 Shattuck St.
Berkeley, CA

Charges of censorship are being leveled at KPFA, flagship station of the Pacifica Radio network, in the wake of a decision by station management to prohibit on-air appearances by financial expert Catherine Austin Fitts, a former Assistant Secretary of Housing in the Bush I administration and president of Solari, Inc., an investment advising company. According to Fitts, a frequent guest on KPFA’s /Flashpoints/, her latest scheduled appearance was abruptly cancelled without discussion due to a critical email received by the station....

For the full story, go to
http://muckraker-gg.blogspot.com/

Ms. Fitts posts the original letter at:
http://solari.com/blog/?p=1294

To listen to archive of Monday's LSB Show go to:

1. www.KPFA.org;
2. click on "more archives"under "recently archived shows " in left
hand column;
3. then click on "previous day" until you get to Monday, June 30th;
4. then scroll down to 1pm "women's magazine" and click on that to
listen to LSB Show.

I asked several people at KPFA to list the LSB Show for Monday, June 30th, in the 1pm slot instead of Women's Mag, but no one has done this and the webmaster is on vacation. So at least I was able to find out where the show is stored so those of you who wanted to listen belatedly can do so.

Chandra

Hello Folks:

FSRN now has an online petition on its website (www.FSRN.org). You can also go directly to the petition by using the link below.

"Keep FSRN on the Air!"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fsrn?e

Thanks, Chandra

Greetings-

The KPFA LSB is meeting this Saturday at Cafe de la Paz, near the corner of Cedar on Shattuck in Berkeley. Meeting begins at 11am and is wheelchair accessible. Below is the draft agenda for this meeting.

Chandra

_*DRAFT*_

_*KPFA Local Station Board & Delegates’ Meeting*_

6/10/2008
11 AM to 4 PM
Café de la Paz
1600 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA

ITEM #

Agenda Topic

Call to Order

Introductions & Announcements

Excusing Absent Members

Agenda Review and Approval

Minutes Review and Approval

Consent Calendar

Public Comment

FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS IN CRISIS
Funding Cuts Bring Popular Grassroots Newscast to the Brink

BERKELEY, California - June 6, 2008 - One of the most important alternative news outlets in the country is facing closure after its major supporter substantially reduced funding.

Free Speech Radio News, which broadcasts a half-hour, worker-run daily newscast on more than 100 stations nationwide, has long been a beacon in the global media justice movement. By regularly highlighting the voices of marginalized communities most affected by social and economic policy changes, the newscast challenges old models of media access and media control. Thanks to the more than 150 reporters worldwide who live and work in the communities they report from, FSRN has re-shaped the way critical issues are represented in the news. Headlines editor Shannon Young says that FSRN is an unmatched model. "Our international network of community-based reporters is unique for a US-based news outlet."

The Pacifica Network is teetering on the brink of a major financial disaster. Due to major decreases in listener donations at all 5 stations, several fund drives across the network that did not achieve their financial goals, cuts in CPB funding, and poor financial management, Pacifica is in a very grave financial state.
Most of you know that WBAI has been a financial drain on the network, for several years, due to substantial debt. Things there have not improved. Now KPFK has a deficit as well and the National Office does not have enough money to bail out these stations.