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Diversity bylaw committee: Rosenberg proposition
3-24-03


Diversity bylaw committee documents

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The below response posted on the discussion board at: goodlight.net/wbai

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reposter
An Open Response To The Mimi AA Gambit
Mon Mar 3 19:02:54 2003
208.184.99.12

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An Examination Of The Worth Of Arguments In Support of Delaying Bylaws
Ratification:
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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN ELECTION OF DELEGATES AND DIRECTORS

"Full minority participation in the ownership and management of 
broadcast facilities results in a more diverse selection of 
programming. 
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This is a demonstrably false proposition. WPFW, a station which has been 
in near total minority control for many years, produces the least diverse 
selection of categorical programming in the Pacifica Network. Music is by
 far the dominant format at WPFW - ranging from 70 percent of programming, 
to over 95 percent of daily programming. The current interim GM at WPFW, a POC, 
very recently made a cart frequently aired by many music programmers that WPFW 
is sacred ground for jazz, and it will never be diminished at WPFW.
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In addition, an increase in ownership by minorities 
will inevitably enhance the diversity of control of a limited 
resource, the spectrum. 
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This statement states the obvious if it is simply addressing the genetic 
characteristics of a more disparate board membership. If the statement is 
meant to imply such ownership will insure a much broader spectrum of presented 
political views and issues, the statement also falls on the same sword as the 
first proposition; but the statement also adds the disgrace of a patronizing, 
paternalistic, stereotyping of a racial group regarding their political views.
In addition the statement is a far more relevant statement in the commercially 
traded broadcast spectrum. Pacifica is a foundation which not is owned, but 
administered by trustees, guided not by the political views of the board members, 
but by the Principles of Mission Charter. 
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And, of course, we have long been committed to the concept of diversity of 
control because diversification ... is a public good in a free society, and is 
additionally desirable where a government licensing system limits 
access by the public to the use of radio and television facilities."
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This statement poses the worth of diversity of control. This is certainly a 
positive core value for any society or organization. There already exists 
diversity of control in Pacifica. Look at the iPNB. There are absolutely NO 
restrictions to Pacifica membership. Any and all members of the entire planet 
are welcome to join the Pacifica family. The entire planet is invited to 
listen, and contribute. There are not now, nor have there ever been, any 
Jim Crow-like impediments to membership, or participation in Pacifica. But 
the deception here is that the patina of diversity of control is masking a 
drive to precipitate a loss of diversity of control by pre-ordaining control 
by a pre-selected minority. These two concepts are diametrically opposed, 
and the concept, rule by the minority, is un-American, and un-democratic to 
its very core, and it can only appear in public wearing a false costume.
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(Federal Communications Commission, Statement of Policy on Minority 
Ownership of Broadcasting Facilities, 68 FCC 2d 979, 981 [1978])

The Pacifica Foundation is a media organization. Its function and 
purpose is such that diversity in all forms aids in the actualization 
of the radio network's mission and goals, which include engaging its 
audience with programming that promotes peace and social justice and the fight 
against oppression in all forms. Promoting and securing diversity in 
Pacifica's governance structures will help ensure diversity in its 
programming and thus in its audience and as such in the realization 
of the Foundation's mission.
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The deceptions and mis-directs continue. Pacifica is not a media 
organization. It is an Educational Foundation, which has ownership of 
five broadcast facilities. The representation is intimated that Pacifica 
currently lacks diversity in the area of those who can make programming 
decisions. This is not true. What may be true, at some stations, is that 
there is a paucity of categorical variety in programming. But these are 
decisions, despite attempts at stereotyping, which are independent of the 
genetic heritage of those limiting diversity in programming. As already 
stated, the station with the absolute highest level of minority control, 
and audience, offers the very least diversity of programming in the 
Pacifica Network.
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One function of a media outlet is to work constantly to enlarge its 
audience. 
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This was the hijackers' mantra. It is incorrect. We are not a top 20 
station network trying to find out what format of programming can draw 
the largest listenership, and change our format to maintain that audience. 
WPFW has cultivated over many years, audiences for music formats which are 
incapable of support in the commercial spectrum. WPFW's current formula, 
even though it is a self-proclaimed "sacred ground" for jazz, 
also plays, the blues, zydeco, Caribbean music, world music, Latin music, 
Brazilian music, do-wop oldies, and a couple of other genres which slip my 
mind at the moment. The correct formula is mission first, audience second. 
If that can't be done by the station management, the station regime needs 
re-examination.
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The Pacifica Radio Network must do this both to carry out 
its mission and because it depends on listener contributions for the 
majority of its funding, and so audience growth is essential for its 
financial health. In each of the network's five signal areas, the 
majority of the population consists of people of color, women, and 
members of other historically underrepresented and disenfranchised 
communities
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I am immediately suspect of any so-called progressive category of 
repressed communities which include Ann Coulter and Sandra Day O'Connor. 
But it is true that many women are underpaid generally for the same work 
as a man, but it is also true that there are many women who wouldn't 
vote for a Democrat or a Progressive, if a diety was running as a 
candidate. So it is disingenuous to count the vary large number of 
women who would deny they are an oppressed minority as natural allies. 
This is a kind of demographic Enron accounting.
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that are core parts of Pacifica's constituency and 
mission. The network needs to consistently reach out to such groups 
and provide programming that draws them in as listener-supporters.
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This is another pseudo-mission canard which refuses to stay put to 
rest. In the Pacifica Mission statements, there is simply no reference 
to concentrating on a particular community subset of the signal area. 
Here are the mission statements:

The Three Pacifica Mission Statements Regarding Radio Broadcasting:

(c) In radio broadcasting operations to encourage and provide outlets 
for the creative skills and energies of the community; to conduct classes 
and workshops in the writing and producing of drama; to establish awards 
and scholarships for creative writing; to offer performance facilities 
to amateur instrumentalists, choral groups, orchestral groups and music 
students; and to promote and aid other creative activities which will 
serve the cultural welfare of the community.

(d) In radio broadcasting operations to engage in any activity that 
shall contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between 
the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and 
disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all of 
such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the purposes 
of this corporation to promote the study of political and economic 
problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial 
antagonisms.

(e) In radio broadcasting operations to promote the full distribution 
of public information; to obtain access to sources of news not commonly 
brought together in the same medium; and to employ such varied sources 
in the public presentation of accurate, objective, comprehensive news 
on all matters vitally affecting the community.

A reading of the mission leaves a reasonable person to conclude that 
Pacifica will attempt to reach the widest audience possible, consistent 
with the programming goals of the charter - not to cater to an arbitrarily 
designated subset of the listening area. In fact, to resolve conflict 
between parties, normally, both parties are engaged. Does it not make 
sense that the logical thing to do is to present the voices capable of 
bridging communities to those capable of enabling the bridging ? - namely 
those in a political position to affect change. Some in Pacifica have 
transmogrified the mission statement to telling the oppressed how 
oppressed they are, in a format which dis-invites those who could help.
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In order to further that end, the governance of Pacifica, which 
formulates policies and practices to further our core functions, must 
embody both the principle of and the actuality of diversity in each 
signal area. 
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More misrepresentations (were you expecting something else at this 
point?). Firstly, the PNB (the governance of Pacifica) has not in at 
least 25 years, directed programming choices or goals at Pacifica 
stations. If there was any exercise of programming control by the PNB, 
WPFW could not be a music station today. Secondly, the matter of local 
versus PNB controlled programming in the re-established Pacifica, is 
still very much a point of contention, really unresolved, and up in 
the air. To ensure racial allocations on the PNB with no local 
programming control, becomes much ado about little. Thirdly, because 
it is such a persistent Zombie, I must repeat that there is no reliable 
correlation between genetic heritage, and progressivism, noble ideals, 
compassion for others, suffering-induced wisdom. These higher level 
human traits are distributed evenly throughout humanity, and those 
who say otherwise, are either lying, or withholding proof from the 
rest of humanity.
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The governance structure must therefore mirror the concerns of the 
demographic makeup of Pacifica's existing and potential audience. 
Those elected to the Foundation's governing board and its local 
station boards need to be as diverse as the population in the signal 
areas that they both serve and depend on for support.
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How do this numbers alter the dialogue? Washington DC Metro listening area:
Population over 12: approx. 3.8 million, broken down as follows:
Blacks: 28 %
Hispanics: 9 %
White: 63 %
Percentage of WPFW audience: Black 70 %

It sounds like WPFW has a serious outreach problem.
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Without such an outcome, the network will be hindered in its effort 
to both maintain and expand its listenership among people of color 
and other "minorities" who in fact collectively make up the majority 
in each signal area. 
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No matter how hard I try, I can't escape Ann Coulter and Sandra Day O'Connor.
I repeat: 
Washington DC Metro listening area:
Population over 12: approx. 3.8 million, broken down as follows:
Blacks: 28 %
Hispanics: 9 %
White: 63 %

I don't have the breakdowns for the other listening areas, but for WPFW, 
all these statements of "fact" by the originating post are 
demonstrably false. Only by counting all white women, does the listening 
audience become an oppressed majority.
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Giving voice to the problems and issues that confront such communities
is crucial to the purposes of Pacifica. 
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(c) In radio broadcasting operations to encourage and provide outlets 
for the creative skills and energies of the community; to conduct classes 
and workshops in the writing and producing of drama; to establish awards 
and scholarships for creative writing; to offer performance facilities to 
amateur instrumentalists, choral groups, orchestral groups and music 
students; and to promote and aid other creative activities which will 
serve the cultural welfare of the community.

(d) In radio broadcasting operations to engage in any activity that 
shall contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between 
the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather 
and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and 
all of such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the 
purposes of this corporation to promote the study of political and 
economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and 
racial antagonisms.

(e) In radio broadcasting operations to promote the full distribution 
of public information; to obtain access to sources of news not 
commonly brought together in the same medium; and to employ such 
varied sources in the public presentation of accurate, objective, 
comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community
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It is equally crucial to building the audience that is necessary for 
the network to grow and secure the financial resources necessary to 
perform its mission.
Ensuring such diversity is thus a compelling goal that mandates the 
Foundation to consider the race, nationality, gender, sexual 
orientation, and/or disability of candidates as an essential factor 
in Pacifica's election process. 
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Fourthly, because it is such a persistent Zombie, I must repeat 
that there is no reliable correlation between genetic heritage, 
and progressivism, noble ideals, compassion for others, 
suffering-induced wisdom. These higher level human traits are 
distributed evenly throughout humanity, and those who say otherwise, 
are either lying, or withholding proof from the rest of humanity.
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This affirmative approach treats all participants 
as individuals while also seeking to achieve a critical mass of 
candidates (and ultimately elected Delegates and Directors) from 
groups that have been historically discriminated against and 
disenfranchised. 
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This is the arrogance of the privileged. There are absolutely no 
restrictions on anyone in the universe from joining Pacifica, from 
running for office, or any other thing. Instead of trying to make an 
already progressive (perhaps the most progressive) organization 
perfect, why aren't your energies directed to getting the 50 % or 
so of lower economic class Americans, who opt out of participatory 
democracy, registered, politically aware, and voting? Then you would 
really be making a change for the good for all victims of feral capitalism. 
All you are doing now is jumping up and down in the Pacifica lifeboat.

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A few other responses

Diversity bylaw committee documents



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