Fans of WMPG’s Pacifica Network News (PNN) will be in for a change starting Oct. 1. After exploring options and considering listener feedback, the station will begin running Free Speech Radio News (FSRN) in Pacifica’s slot, weeknights at 7 p.m.
The station recently hosted an “Ask the Managers” program that allowed listeners to voice opinions and preferences regarding the news broadcast.
Station Manager Jim Rand said the overwhelming response from the audience was that they wanted WMPG to maintain an alternative, grassroots news broadcast comparable to PNN.
“Pretty much all of the response was `keep a news program on,'” said Rand.
The decision to separate from PNN coincides with the expiration of WMPG’s current contract, but also comes in the wake of what has been a messy, year-long battle between the news organization’s management and employees.
In 1999, PNN, under the direction new management made the controversial decision to fire several popular staff members at affiliate stations and further decided that the issue could not be discussed on the air.
In the following year, several reporters were fired for violating the network’s ban on airing its internal disputes. The ban has led many, listeners and staff members, to protest in large numbers what they perceive as censorship within an organization that made its name in supporting free speech.
PNN denied the censorship charges, saying the issue was not public and that coverage of PNN’s dispute amounted to staff members inventing news.
On Jan. 24, 2000, 40 journalists formerly employed by PNN went on strike. More followed within months.
The striking journalists, including Verna Avery-Brown whose voice was a trademark for Pacifica for over a decade, have since formed their own news organization. It is that group, FSRN, that WMPG has signed on to do its news broadcasts.
While local listeners were largely unfamiliar with the issues at stake in the debate, Rand said WMPG felt more comfortable going with FSRN because there were so many questions surrounding PNN.
Arts and Entertainment Editor Meghan Conley can be contacted at: [email protected]