The recent and surprising changes imposed on WPFW 89.3 FM Pacifica Radio in Washington, D.C. by its management have been referred to by some as a “coup.” This is the feeling held by so many long-time listeners, programmers, volunteers and staffers precisely because of the undemocratic and unceremonious nature of the programming changes – most of which came as last minute “surprises” to programmers – and the importation of NPR, corporate-underwritten programming whose political and cultural content cannot be seen as consistent with the mission of the Pacifica radio network or of WPFW itself. Today’s show was dedicated to these and other issues and included a roundtable of current and former programmers and staff: Tom Porter, Katea Stitt, Netfa Freeman, Mark Bolden, Bob Daughtry and Todd Burroughs.
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Video from the rally that took place today after the show in front of WPFW’s studios
With its history of great programming and activist programmers it’s a shame the WPFW community is not better organized. If we were on our game a Hughes would never have set foot in the City Paper bldg. Yet as is often the case with liberals, we focus on our pet projects and agendas to the detriment of the larger struggle for power. In this moment we have an opportunity to represent our best interests and those of the larger community. It is time to organize, go into action and prepare for a truly people run WPFW.
Time to get knee deep in Mr. Hughes behind! Find out how he’s getting his $$$, who is he working for? Who at the pacifica foundation is sanctioning this? Sue the FCC to get access….
It sounds like the purges that struck KPFK in Los Angeles about two years ago have reached WPFW. You have my sympathies! Everything described and discussed on the Super Funky Soul Power Hour has been underway in L.A. for a long while. The purge of the most consistently Black radical voices were purged in the 1990s at KPFK, and it undergoes a period scrubbing ever since then. It has been a struggle to keep the few who survived on air. And as described by Dr. Bolden, these programs are often moved around so much that they become difficult to follow. KPFK went after the Westside and Valley liberal money none too comfortable with L.A.’s internally colonized communities’ critiques of their misuse and monoploy on power. Many of these same people had a fit when a few years back KPFK had the nerve to introduce more Spanish language programming in a region where Spanish is as widespread as English. Radio for the people indeed! Pacifica has become a veiled organ for the Democratic Party. How is that in keeping with its mission? Fight for yours. We’ve pretty much lost ours in SoCal.
A few of us in Dallas, Texas listen to and enjoy the internet version of WPFW and hope it can be continued in its present form.If not,is it beyond the realm of possibilities to organize an Afrikan owned radio station to continue the much needed good work.
I love your show and will follow you. I am a WPFW member for the jazz, blues, and Latin music. Every few yrs they do this… replace music shows with political shows… then they realize their mistake and reinstate the music shows. Good luck raising money for their new studio and transmitter without the jazz money.
peace.time for serious study of cutting the strings “chains ” of pacifica.in my 40 +years of activism the east coast and west coast have never been on same page.zacco and venzetti instead of Tom Porter? how white can you get. Time for an Atlantica or Patomica to serve the needs of revolutionary progressivs
This further evidences that what took place at WBAI in NYC in ’09 was in fact, a coup. The same measures were taken, such as the implementation of an interim PROGRAM DIRECTOR/STATION MANAGER. The same justifications, which were in fact pretexts, were given. This is Radio Station Imperialism: obviously RACIST to the core, & will have racial implications.
Like vultures come to prey on weakness and complacency… this isn’t a new situation. People like Dhoruba Bin Wahad and others have been warning people about the “consolidation” stage of media and opinion at large for some time now. The only thing that shocks me is how slow this is happening. What I would have liked from this and future shows is to discuss not only what’s going on but what the people can do about it. I’d like to say that this can be stopped completely but it’s more likely to merely be blunted for a few years to a decade or so. Which is more than enough reason to fight so that the collapse of black media in safe spaces isn’t immediate. Vultures are patient and they never forget history or lost ground. A trait most of us in this world would do well to learn and embody.
I’ll say it again. Bring back Pinchback. At least when Ron was the GM there was not all this disharmony and bitterness. I dont even listen any more! The current WPFW sucks!!
it really does
Ron Pinchback was a Prince! His departure was NEVER explained to my satisfaction as a member, #1 fan of the station since 2000! First thing in the morning I flick on the boombox atop our refrigerator. I got music ALL day long, washed dishes and created meals listening to fascinating From The Vault programs, and On The Margin was a wonderful show!
This coup is just another Clear Channel type corporate takeover of talk radio; this won’t happen to Rush Flimpaw, believe me!
As long as Cowboy Fred remains on Saturdays, I can live, but the spirit of the station is gone, Big Brother is HERE!
This is a mess we have here. Ugh, I too wish some of the old shows would be brought back on air. Anyone miss the decipher at 10? I know I do. And would prefer Spectrum Today over the rebroadcast of Dem Now! at 6p. Did I miss something or is the ‘real’ Community Comment like gone? Callers complained about the calendar being played at 9:15a I thought they would have made it a little better for listeners. I have no idea, like Outta Site Mike is commenting, what ever happened to Ron Pinchback but I thought he came across pretty good on air. Also bring back one of the best Monday morning hosts you’ve ever had, Wayne Tucker. I remember he used to a jokes to the news guy Mike Jones, then say “I’m not gonna touch that” LOL I don’t understand how a station would not use volunteers and local programming, and in turn want to pay for shows they “think” we’d like. Tavis? not that I have a lot against him, but man he does dang book reviews sometimes on the TV show (public TV) I’m just waiting for him to come out with a cooking or recipe segment like Oprah. Many times I don’t find Tavis’s chatter that progressive or informative – though on Dem Now! he and Mr West seem to stay on point. Not sure if I could tolerate them a full hour a few times a week honestly. I’m up for talk but would like the evening drive time jazz restored for the actual ride home. The evening shows where great…..Im just going on and on here, please just bring back some of the shows people are requesting, roll in some of that transparency we expect too. I’m trying to hang in there with the ‘new’ WPFW but is a bumpy ride.
Tavis Smiley ? Really? Really? I’m done!
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email.
I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.
thanks glinda, there is an “about” link below with an email address, mine is also imixwhatilike@gmail.com and – just for the record – voxunion celebrated its 10th anniversary in the summer of 2011. welcome, and in the immortal words of flava flag, “here is your late pass.”