Save Progressive Radio Station WBAI and the Pacifica Network from the Racist and Corporate Take Over of 2009

SAMPLE, SAMPLE, SAMPLE -- NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION YET!

For the last 60 years the Pacifica Radio network, of which WBAI is a member, has been committed to being a vehicle for progressive political voices, especially progressive and disenfranchised communities of color.

It has provided a major challenge to the traditional, imperialist supported propaganda spewed by the mainstream media because it is a listener sponsored radio network that has refused corporate funding. And because of its mission, it has one of the greatest audio archives in the world chronicling leftist/civil rights movements in America and throughout the world. From the struggles of Malcolm, King, Robeson, Castro, Peltier, Chavez, and many, many others, its archives are filled with the struggles of freedom fighters who committed their lives to fighting against injustices everywhere.

But today, this entire network, and all that it has stood for is at risk due to the racist and virulent take over of the network in 2009 (for more information please visit www.takebackwbai.org). Progressive people of color were ousted from key positions throughout the network and many progressive shows were either removed, slashed or put on at hours that would have the least impact on the communities for which they were produced.

At WBAI in New York, many of the hours that were reserved for public affairs programming has been gutted out and replaced by music shows. And the reporting and coverage of local community issues has given way to prepackaged shows coming from California. The station is now starting to sound like an informercial, as unprecedented airtime has been given for producers such as Gary Null to hawk their products on the air.

Meanwhile a gag rule has been enacted and a ban was placed on many producers and staff who were not politically aligned with the takeover, which resulted in their being permanently banned them from the station and its airwaves. It what can only be seen as union busting tactics that echo the anti-labor fervor engulfing rightwingers, management violated labor contracts and refused to recognize unpaid staff unions.

Consequently, this has resulted in the silence of many on air producers wwho fear they will suffer reprisals for speaking out against the current management.

And perhaps one of the most troubling developments to date is the network's recent acceptance of corporate funding( see WBAI accepts money from Goldman Sachs). And incredulously, after accepting a check that is clearly from Goldman Sachs, those in charge now insult our intelligence by telling us that the money came from an individual.

The people who have taken over the network will tell you that they made these changes due to financial reasons and that they have turned things around. But a look at the facts show that nothing could be further from the truth. And while it is true that the network was experiencing financial difficulty, since the take over of the network in 2009, the Foundation has seen a decrease in listener generated revenue and support of over $3,000,000 across the network, and that WBAI has seen an average drop in listener generated revenue and support averaging about $500,000 a year.

It is clear that we the listeners must take our station back!