Question Fourteen: How can our station better serve under-represented communities?

KPFA Listener-Sponsor candidates

Carl Bryant -

Steven Conley - Increasing community programming, making a commitment to doing community live programming, build community relationships.

Bob English - The number of subscribers has been stagnant rather than growing as programs and fundraising target, rely on and reward more exclusive affluent community large donors.
As listener supported community radio, KPFA has in the past and should now be open to, influenced by and reflect diverse community needs with programs vital and relevant to the life realities and emerging issues of our communities. More and a broader range of community activists and organizers should be invited to advise, appear on, develop and produce new programs based in and relevant to their communities. Bottom up community programming and direction will naturally result in programs more people will listen to and value and the listener base will expand naturally.

Dianne Enriquez - I believe that the apprenticeship program as a very valuable and underestimated outreach tool for under-represented communities. This program allows for the inclusion of perspectives and ideas that are not very often represented in other station arenas. The youth program is also another important way to bring in members of communities that are under-represented. Another important tool would be to reach out to more community organizations and work more collaboratively with them so that they may be better aware to utilize the station as a resource. All of this entails a greater focus on outreach.

Sherry Gendelman - By asking them what their needs are, and what their interests are. By observing what they listen to, what issues they face that are critical, and finding out where many are likely to assemble or tune in. Organizations active within our region's communities should be identified. When there is an event that is broadcast worthy, KPFA should consider broadcasting or sponsoring it. I think the Station should make its availability and support known to establish a reputation as a venue available to serve underserved communities. KPFA must continue to struggle to bring its message to as broad an audience as possible. That means it must reject programming strategies that may satisfy some faction within the station, but do not serve Pacifica's larger purpose. As someone with long standing experience within Pacifica, I will struggle to keep KPFA true to its mission.

Mathew Hallinan –

Chandra Hauptman – Creating air time for local programs produced by people from these communities.

• KPFA-sponsored events held throughout the signal area, not just in Berkeley and San Francisco.

• Diverse ethnic, gender, sexual-oriented and age-related programs that appeal to different types of people.

• How about a one hour show, rotating each week, to feature people from different parts of the signal area? Community organizations from these neighborhoods could produce the show. KPFA would have to provide technical support.

David Heller – I know there are many under-represented groups in the listening area. We have very diverse population in the bay area. I think air times should be made available at least once a month for these groups and if that cannot be accomplished, at least offer them studio time to create programming that would be posted on our website for listening online.

Warren Mar – I think we need to do more direct public events: music and performing art that diverse communities go to. Like the commercial stations, we should have tables at these events. I would like to have KPFA sponsor more diverse music events. Some of our DJ’s represent various music genres and are well known. On their own they are often involved in music shows and festivals from Bluegrass to Hip Hop. We need to have KPFA front and center at these venues. We will not be able to do outreach to diverse communities unless we are involved in the music and arts in diverse genres that these communities listen to. What about trying to come up with a cool (environmentally correct) KPFA Van or bus that we can take to these events?

Susan McDonough - The apprenticeship program of KPFA has been one of the most successful in bringing in new people, new listeners and new supporters to our station. We also have a news training program. We could learn from these two successful programs and grow that.

Antonio Medrano - If the costs were not prohibitive, possible consideration.

Attila Nagy - By learning from leaders in those communities and providing programming that address issues relevant to the communities.

Richard Phelps – We can and must do various types of outreach to under-represented communities. We must be aware of our changing demographics, such as the growth of the Spanish speaking community. One method would be to develop programs that cover the active issues in those communities and involve respected people from those communities in the program development and on air presentation. Promote the program in the community prior to the broadcast. When possible, have time for call-ins to give others from the community a chance to participate and cross promote other programs that we have that would be of interest to this new community during the promoted program. This would start the communication exchange with a community new to KPFA that could be the beginning of a new relationship or the deepening of an already existing but undeveloped connection.

Mara Rivera - By allowing regular airtime for people from those communities to air their issues and cultures.
We could have trainings for those who want to program but need skills. We could actively seek qualified people.
We could broadcast other communities’ events, and post information on our town halls, LSB meetings, and contact information, at their community centers.

Paul Robins - Cover stories that impact them in a meaningful way. Send reporters into the communities.
Play the music of these communities at times when the people would be listening.

CC Campbell Rock – The station can better serve underrepresented communities by reaching out to community based organizations, schools, and universities.

Tracy Rosenberg – Asking them is the best way to find out. I’m an advocate of not only asking them, but training them to provide it and then broadcasting it. That is what builds loyalty and a sense of ownership.

Gerald Sanders - We can and must do various types of outreach to under-represented communities. We must be aware of our changing demographics, such as the growth of the Spanish speaking community. One method would be to develop programs that cover the active issues in those communities and involve respected people from those communities in the program development and on air presentation. Promote the program in the community prior to the broadcast. When possible, have time for call-ins to give others from the community a chance to participate and cross promote other programs that we have that would be of interest to this new community during the promoted program. This would start the communication exchange with a community new to KPFA that could be the beginning of a new relationship or the deepening of an already existing but undeveloped connection.

Sureya Sayadi - We need to train youth, minorities, indigenous people who live or work for example on reservations, and broadcast from their communities. Also, we need to have more community programmers and develop regular programs from all communities in Northern California. Having a regular yearly broadcast in each of these communities and also regular coverage and news feed on the web page would be a very significant way of inclusion for under-represented communities.

John Van Eyck - Such as Labor? We need to get out and talk with more workers, their representatives and their families. See also, #15.

Joe Wanzala – KPFA needs to conduct more systematic and thorough outreach to communities whose issues are not addressed on KPFA – at the same time, KPFA needs to make its programming grip more flexible so that it can be responsive to any programming ideas that may be submitted by community representatives. The station board has a bylaws mandated responsibility to conduct community needs assessment and an active Community Advisory Board would be one effective mechanism through which the station can assess community needs.

Jim Weber - Under-represented communities within the KPFA signal area are getting improved representation, but it is still along way from the good representation needed. KPFA has a good, untapped connection, for example, with the black community, in Willie and Mary Ratcliff, friends of KPFA, who publish the Bay View newspaper. They have a wealth of historical people available who can enrich KPFA’s community image, attracting a larger, and more diverse audience.

Stan Woods - As touched on in answer seven, by being where the people are. We shouldn’t just cover what’s happening at UC Berkeley and the City Council but what’s concerning South Berkeley residents. Not just the sleazy maneuvers of Oakland govt. politics but what people in East Oakland are thinking.
San Jose is the largest city in the Bay area but our news dept. frequently doesn’t know the way (Pardon the obvious pun) South Bay coverage should greatly increase. (Thanks to the persistence of myself and my allies the next L.S.B. will be held in San Jose Oct. 20)
All several million Bay area residents are within listening range. Not just the 100,000 plus residents of Berkeley. We are a San Francisco Bay area station. Let’s act like one.

Steve Zeltzer - We need to have more community programmers and develop regular programs from all communities in Northern California. Having a regular yearly broadcast in each of these communities and also regular coverage and news feed on the web page would be a very significant way of inclusion for under-represented communities.

KPFA Staff candidates

Shahram Aghmir - Having dialogue with communities' organizations and their activists; holding town hall meetings; conducting well-prepared surveys in these communities.

Mary Berg - Host town halls and participate in other events in those communities. Promote on- and off-air cross-cultural exchanges to bring the various groups together and give them a chance to get to know one another (e.g., GLBT groups with African-American church groups), so as to form a common unity in their shared issues, while developing support and respect for their alterities, i.e., their unique qualities, needs and values.

Chris Brown - Getting more underrepresented voices on the air and in positions of decision making in the station. This station claims to be progressive, but as a person of color, all I see is the same tired White liberal BS. I know a lot of others here who don't appreciate the way folks of color are treated with regards to the station. Aside from the apprenticeship program - of which I've been a part of – no other department is looking to get more folks of color in here. No matter what they say it's total crap. Start having people of color run things! If you have your progressive news stories, fine. But don't freak when we confront you, that's a double standard!

Brian Edwards-Tiekert - Ask them, not me. Seriously--Pacifica needs to spend a lot less time deciding it knows what's best for "the people," and a lot more time asking "the people" what would make a difference in their lives.

Jeannine Etter - Public community forums for one. There are many communities represented in this station and they all have relatives and friends who don't have voices. If we engage the community in meaningful dialog, they will be better able to tell us how we can serve them.

Mary Tilson – More outreach – focused programming