In a major development this morning in the uproar over the censorship and lockout of the staff at KPFA Radio, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that “a proposal to sell Berkeley radio station KPFA is expected to come today before the policy-making body of KPFA’s governing Pacifica Foundation.”
Denials of plans to sell the station — which is broadcast throughout much of northern California — have come from Mary Frances Berry, who chairs the Pacifica Foundation board of directors and also chairs the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.
But the San Francisco Chronicle reports today: “Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources close to the crisis told the Chronicle that Pacifica’s seven-member executive committee will meet by phone today and is expected to vote on the sale. The executive committee is drawn from members of Pacifica’s 14-person board of directors.”
The newspaper added: “Three sources said a majority of the committee appear inclined to support a sale.”
A wide array of KPFA supporters are denouncing these developments as a betrayal of the 50-year-old listener-supported station and evidence of deception on the part of Berry and the rest of Pacifica’s executive committee. Among those available for interviews are:
VAN JONES
Jones is executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights based in San Francisco.
DENNIS BERNSTEIN
Bernstein, a journalist at KPFA Radio, was fired — and then was ordered arrested — by Pacifica management on July 13 when he broke the story of prospective sale of KPFA Radio on the air.
More Information
BARBARA LUBIN
Lubin is on the KPFA Steering Committee.
More Information
KAHLIL JACOBS-FANTAUZZI
Jacobs-Fantauzzi is on the KPFA Local Advisory Board and on the KPFA Steering Committee.
NICK ALEXANDER
Alexander has been a KPFA news department volunteer for 15 years and is a member of Blacks for Justice in Radio.
ANDREA BUFFA
Buffa is executive director of the Media Alliance based in San Francisco.
More Information
For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; David Zupan, (541) 484-9167
