Interim General Manager, KPFA.
As you must know by now the story by Glenn Reeder on the Sunday KPFA evening news (April 24) on corporate underwriting at WBAI and my supposed support of it, was incorrect. As you both know, under your own news guidelines: "KPFA News strives for accuracy, fairness and integrity in its reports." The guidelines stipulate that in matters regarding Pacifica that the same criteria be applied -that it "must be as fair as possible, with all sides offered the opportunity to comment."
In the newscast, Pacifica was not offered that opportunity and neither was I. In fact, in my opinion, I was smeared by the KPFA news department which used a quote from an LSB meeting implying I supported corporate underwriting leading the audience to believe I am pushing for it here at KPFA (at WBAI for that matter) - which I am not!
This was not a time sensitive story and if you were unable to contact me or the Executive Director of Pacifica to respond to such an inflammatory story, you could have waited and should have, until you contacted us. What I would have said had you asked, was that I think responsible corporate underwriting should be explored along with other funding options, which is not saying I support it but that, in the context of Pacifica's financial duress, it should be explored as an option.
I have received numerous emails and telephone calls outraged by the content of your story and my remarks, which I point out again, were used out of context and constituted a Fox News-like smear. Shame on you. I also point out that I am quoted on the KPFA worker this way:
"Andrew Phillips suggested KPFA needs to move away from the listener-sponsorship model that has sustained it for 62 years, and said he was not opposed to business sponsorships. 'I am not against sponsorship at KPFA, or WBAI for that matter,' he stated. 'There are a lot of great businesses that deserve help, that we should be part of or could be part of us. And that could go a long way toward solving our problem. It's a sticky one, isn't it? But it should be in the mix. It's not good enough to say: no sponsorship. Because despite [KPFA and Pacifica founder] Lew Hill's genius, that was what οΎ 60 years ago? A lot's changed.'"
Yes, "its a sticky one" - difficult and challenging and I think we ought to confront it, talk it out, explore it. How long can KPFA expect to ask listeners to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets for expensive premiums? I noted that such decisions would be the responsibility of local and the national board. I was pointing out that, given Pacifica's depleted finances, corporate underwriting should be one of the considerations. In my opinion, it would be irresponsible not to consider it. I note that many community radio stations take "soft" corporate underwriting from right-minded business and run programs like Democracy Now.
It concerns me that kpfaworker.org, some kind of stealth organization that does not represent the majority of workers at KPFA and is closely allied with the KPFA union - CWA - mirrors the spin of the KPFA news department implying they are in close collaboration. Since kpfaworker.org site offers no clue to the identity of its editors/writers - is anonymous - its impossible to know who is so intent on attacking KPFA with no balance. Is it the CWA? It is agitation propaganda and is full of half truths. It is a huge disservice to KPFA and preys on our audience's worst fears in a skillful and vindictive manner.
As for proposed program changes at KPFA also noted on kpfaworker.org, I want to apologize for the categorical nature of the memorandum we presented to the KPFA staff. This was a mistake. In fact we are exploring a number of options. "Democracy Now" will not be removed from the 9am time slot. We understand how traumatic change can be but also recognize the need to reach out to new audiences, at the same time nurturing and respecting our current audience. The exaggerated kpwaworker.org story sows fear and distrust in the KPFA audience. It is infused with half-truths and innuendos. If KPFA is to suffer more cutbacks, some of the blame for that will lay at the feet of kpfaworker.org.
Below I include board treasurer of the Pacifica Foundation,Tracey Rosenberg's investigation of the Merrill Lynch incident.
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From Tracy Rosenberg,
Chair, Finance Committee
Pacifica National Board
Greetings,
Here are the facts regarding the claims of corporate underwriting from Merrill Lynch that have been erroneously reported by (sequentially), the WBAI LSB,* the KPFA News Department and the Save KPFA organization. Please feel free to forward this report. This is being provided in the fulfillment of my duties as the board treasurer of the Pacifica Foundation. Any reportsto the contrary issued by foundation spokespeople or broadcast should be retracted.
The issuer of the checks in question is Goldman Sachs Gives. Goldman Sachs Gives is the working name of the Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund, a Delaware non-stock corporation, including it's UK branch, the Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund UK, a company limited by guarantee # 6314343, registered in England and Wales under charity # 1120148 and as a charitable institution with Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department with a registered office at Peterborough Court 133 Fleet Street, London EC4 2BB.
This is a donor-advised gift by an individual who wishes to remain anonymous and is located on the Upper West side in New York City who has advised a gift via the Goldman Sachs Gives Annual Giving Fund, The funds are payable to the Pacifica Foundation and suggest the donation is recommended by the donor to support the WBAI News Department and a possible special series on Hydro-fracking.
The terms of the gift are as follows.
"After considering the above recommendation, Goldman Sachs Gives has approved a grant to your organization. This grant is being made from the GS Gives Annual Giving Fund, an account within Goldman Sachs Gives. It is not necessary to issue a letter of acknowledgment to Goldman Sachs Gives for this donation. By accepting this check, your organization is deemed to certify to Goldman Scahs Gives that 1) no tangible benefit, goods or services were or will be received by an individuals or entities connected with The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. or Goldman Sachs Gives and 2) you will not use this grant to satisfy the payment of any pledge or other personal financial obligation on behalf of the person(s) recommending this grant or any person or entity connected to the recommenders."
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This is a major donor gift from an individual to the Pacifica Foundation accompanied by a recommendation from the donor on how he would "like" the gift to be used that has no binding force of law. There is no grant report due to the entity Goldman Sachs Gives and no constraints on the Pacifica Foundation to use the funds in any way, except that they should not pay the donor's personal bills with it.
Please reclassify the funds as an unrestricted major donor gift so it is recorded correctly on the Foundation books.
Documentation available on request with thanks to WBAI and Goldman Sachs Gives for their assistance.
Tracy Rosenberg
Treasurer, Pacifica Foundation Board of Directors
KPFA -FM, Listener Representative
Check # 5618 $10,000 - From Goldman Sachs Gives to the Pacifica Foundation dated 2-18-2011- on the recommendation of D.S. via the Goldman Sachs Annual Giving Fund
Check # 4431 - $5,000 - From Goldman Sachs Gives to the Pacifica Foundation dated 10-26-2010 - on the recommendation of D.S via the Goldman Sachs Annual Giving Fund.
