MYTH: KPFA in Berkeley was shut down by Pacifica after programmers were yanked from the air because they criticized Pacifica management.

Reality: Not true. After KPFA's manager was not renewed by Pacifica in the spring of 1999, programming staff was on the air for 100 days--unchecked - agitating for her return and making one-sided accusations against Pacifica management. Finally, Pacifica called for programmers to stop agitating on the air about the dispute. That evening, one programmer went on the air - disrupting a live news cast--and passionately claimed that he was in physical danger from management thugs. This was immediately followed by a physical occupation of the station by demonstrators let in by this programmer's producer. Acting in defense of its federal license--which requires broadcasters be in control of airwaves and facilities--Pacifica pulled KPFA's live programming and replaced it with archive tapes. Many hours later, after the occupiers repeatedly refused to leave the station, they were arrested by Berkeley police. Weeks later, station staff returned to the air. It's now two years later, and some KPFA staff and volunteers still use programs they host to agitate against Pacifica on air.

MYTH: Pacifica carried out a "Xmas Coup" this past December at its New York station WBAI.

Reality: Last November, the long time manager of WBAI was requested to step down from her post while being offered a comparable alternative executive level post. The manager resisted her dismissal for several weeks. On December 1, she was given 30 days notice. Some of the WBAI staff -- including individuals who had previously and publicly denounced this manager as incompetent--then rallied to her defense. On December 23, Pacifica "dissidents" and some staff openly called on air for a "listener occupation" of the studios. In response, Pacifica national management dismissed the manager, the management-level program director and his producer. Pacifica named Utrice Leid, a WBAI staff programmer who hosted an afternoon talk show, to be interim manager. She requested that the locks be changed at WBAI to thwart the planned takeover of the studios.

MYTH: Pacifica and KPFK muzzle open on-air discussion with a "gag rule."

Reality: Not true. Pacifica and KPFK have no gag rule. Instead, they enforce universal journalistic and organizational standards. Because radio is a unilateral medium, with a programer speaking "at" the listeners with no rebuttal, KPFK does not permit individual programmers to divert air time to agitate about their personal positions on internal management and personnel matters. This is standard practice in every and all journalistic organizations.

This practice is of even greater importance in highly politicized stations such as the Pacifica outlets. This "dirty laundry" rule was adopted by KPFK very early in our history, and currently, there's a strong consensus of support for this policy among KPFK's staff and volunteers. Given decades of controversy and internal conflict, to not prohibit airing "dirty laundry" attacks would open the door to around the clock factionalism and raise serious legal liability for Pacifica. All current and former employees have a right to privacy and confidentiality in personnel matters and Pacifica is responsible for whatever is said on our airwaves.

Can you think of any political or social organization that allows anyone with an ax to grind to unilaterally hijack newsletter space and--without any factual vetting or editorial process--denounce its own organization's policies, staff members and leadership? Our "dirty laundry" is not new or unusual; it was adopted to protect our mission-driven program.

MYTH: Amy Goodman who hosts Democracy Now! is being persecuted for her political ideas.

Reality: The political content of DN is no more provocative or radical than countless other Pacifica radio programs that are nurtured and defended by the network. Amy Goodman has never been given any directives regarding the content of the program. However, as Democracy Now! currently consumes 100% of Pacifica's non-news national programming budget, the five Pacifica sister stations (which finance the program) have a number of issues with DN that require some solutions, such as program planning and promotion, fund drive coordination, and technical quality standards. This derives from the fact that for 2 years DN had no manager to scrutinize and oversee administrative operations. When a program manager was finally named last year and some efforts were made to address the longstanding non-editorial problems at Democracy Now!, some falsely politicized the situation by portraying Ms. Goodman as a victim of ideological discrimination.

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