Jim Thompson warns:
That totally makes sense because he said so!
This sounds like a right wing attempted coup 02.May.2013 18:18
Jim Thompson link
Comrade Thompson is commenting on this piece of enemy propaganda at Indymedia:
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2013/05/423165.shtml
KBOO radio Disfunction is a kind description.
And then is followed by copy/pasting comments by ENEMIES of The People:
Different year, same story, same villains, same internal corruption http://feedback.pdxradio.com/topic/kboo-nearly-bankrupt-and-about-to-fire-all-staff
Disfunction is a kind description.
The new station manager (hired after the staff collective management was a disaster) has said some fairly provoacative things about a new direction for KBOO ... one where the definition of "community" for community radio is cast wider than the very narrow definitions enforced by current staff when making program decisions.
There has been a lot of resistance to change by the current staff (I've heard some interesting conversations first hand and been told some second hand) and this is the pivotal moment where either KBOO reforms to become relevant and actually serve more than the 0.2 market share that still listens ... or goes off the air.
The previous station manager was forced out by a trumped up charge of harrassment that was proven unfounded, but he also was trying to save KBOO by changing the makeup of the board to have a percentage of appointed, stable, members of community rather than 100% elected board members. At this point, I belive the two things are related and he was shown the door to keep him from implementing change. Currently only about 300-400 persons vote and determine the wild swings in board direction. Stability is only a bad word when you run it past the extreemist elements of the current staff who view radicalism as an intrinsic value, rather than a tactic to use when other means fail.
The last several membership drives have been financial disasters, and I don't see how KBOO can last unless it's going to make serious and lasting change in how it's operated.
KBOO has called a membership meeting for 1pm Sat May 4th at Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont. If anyone cares about local community radio, show up. Should be interesting, hope it doesn't degrade into a hopeless name calling fest.
Posted on April 29, 2013 - 01:04 PM #
What was once a well-run ship at KBOO is now essentially rudderless. This station deserves better than what passes for leadership over there these days. And so do the radio listeners of this town.
Don't forget, they have two translators, too. The one in Eugene is run by a separate group that contracts with KBOO for the programming. The other one in the Columbia Gorge is KBOO-owned, if memory serves me.
best, Mike
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 07:02 AM #
Rockaholix Anonymous fell victim to kboo staff scheming in 2008. I saw plenty of potential audience being neglected. The work of recruiting new membership was beyond them, even at the Waterfront Blues Festival. Meetings is what they do, pointless meetings to 'improve pitching' to the same choir, dull charades that staff gets paid to run and even veteran programmers must attend or lose their shows. Uncle Mort had become an inconvenient critic of an unresponsive,lazy, incompetent cabal intent on preserving its party perks. Never mind it was one of kboo's most unique local music shows. Screw the audience, the pledge drive promises. Tell the community nothing. Replace it with a repeat of an earlier outoftown democracy now broadcast, that is available on cable & internet. Easier to fabricate sabotage by relentless kboo promoter Uncle Mort, easier to just ignore all the internal discipline rules altogether, use secret undocumented meetings and lies, than to actually do their jobs and stop mucking about. Blue Monday's host quit in frustration not long after. A newly elected board member with the wrong questions was frogmarched out too, just when they added a banker to the board who had never been a member at all. Who promptly acquired kboo's accounts. Strange times.
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 07:56 AM #
KBOO has had an attitude problem as far back as when I moved to Portland in the mid 70's. Every decade since there has been an event similar to this where someone throws their hands up and walks away and the station gets some kind of article in the Willamette Week and some new person is elevated to chief cook and bottle washer and the whole process starts again.
"For most of its existence,
KBOO was the only place in Portland to hear its diverse mix of music and
public affairs programming."
Not true. Not even close.
Yawn. Not news. Sorry.
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 12:06 PM #
What this story is really about is Ani Haines (the bearded lady staff member of 11 years) wanting to run KBOO for the benefit of her friends and the hell with anyone else!
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 12:51 PM #
Seriously. KBOO = DRAMA
That's all I've ever known, and the few shows I did tune into over the years, seemed to end up the subject of that drama, and gone.
When there are too many heads, or a head that's not focused on adding value to the community --a priority problem essentially, the product is a mess.
Fix it. And no amount of discussion resolves this. When it's fixed, people might give a shit, depending on whether or not the fix aligns with what they need. Some will though, and that's good! Of course, the priority is getting that quantity of "some" sufficient to make it all go in a sustainable, low noise way.
Good luck everyone.
Me? I've any number of podcasts to listen to before I listen to a mess.
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 01:10 PM #
All of the time I've known KBOO, it has been an assembly of people who mostly work and play well with others, but there has always been a club for the dysfunctional in KBOO's open arms, and there have been more than a few disruptive individuals over the years. That said, I stopped volunteering there maybe a decade ago when it became clear to me that some of the people running the station were more concerned about staying in power than anything else. KBOO was always the station that embraced change, now it's the symbol of stodgy.
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 02:07 PM #
Who will buy KBOO?
Public Radio Capital?
Pacifica Foundation?
Washington State University? (NWPR)?
Oregon Public Broadcasting?
KSER Foundation?
KPLU radio?
State of Oregon board of Higher Education?
Lewis and Clark College?
Portland State University?
Reed College?
Hopefully it wont be.....
Educational Media Foundation
WAY-FM
Calvary Satelite Network
or other Jesuscasters network.
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 05:20 PM #
Since KBOO is going bankrupt and about to lay off staff, they obviously would not be able to keep their transmitter on the air much longer. How can we ensure that a new owner of their transmitter and frequency goes to a good group and not something like EMF or WAY or other Jesus network?
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 05:38 PM #
I don't have any personal knowledge about KBOO but have worked with several non profits. The problem that seems to happen over and over with many of them is that over the years the organization is hi-jacked by a few individuals that claim to be well meaning. They turn the organization into their personal plaything and run off anyone that questions their motives. In reading the postings here it sounds like what has happened to KBOO.
Running a non profit is very challenging and it is hard to find people willing to give their time. But a good non profit with a good cause should always be able to find people. Most well run non profits have term limits in their bylaws that will prevent people from taking over an organization and hi-jacking it for their own. Anyone elected to a seat on the board or as an officer can only stay for a pre-determined term. This keeps too much power from falling into any one person or groups hands. It also makes sense from a financial standpoint as no one person controls the organizations finances for more than a short period. This prevents theft.
The big problem that happens is once you get into the position that it sounds like KBOO is now in it becomes impossible to pry people out or make the changes necessary in the bylaws that will improve the organization.
Andy is correct. At this point it is mostly conjecture. Time will tell if they are really in trouble. If they are, it may be better to let them go over the cliff and convince a bankruptcy judge to put a new board in place. It sounds like there is people that support the cause and that there are GOOD people willing to help. A house cleaning might be just what is needed to put things in order.
Posted on April 28, 2013 - 07:34 PM #
Just how did KBOO come about? And who was behind the station? You'll read below about Seattle's KRAB, looking to Portland for more subscribers to make up for the Seattle subscriber deficit. This piece appeared in the "Behind The Mike" column of "The Oregonian" November 25, 1965. Charles S. Sax was a Portland architect.
______________________________________________________________________________________
By Charlie Hanna, Columnist Pro Tem
"Charles Sax, Chairman of The Board of professional people (lawyers, professors and like that) interested in bringing a more intellectual brand of radio to Portland, says that an application is being sent to the Federal Communications Commission for local licensing of broadcasts the group wants to relay from Seattle's off-beat, 20,000 watt KRAB. It was the fourth noncommercial, listener-supported station in the country, set up in 1962.
Three Portlanders have put up a total of $400 for a transmitter to direct the broadcasts here from Seattle. There would be a 10-watt receiver here to pick it up. Sax admits the station is so off-beat that it has been known, on staff impulse (the staff includes anyone with a voice who wants to announce -- the paid people get as high as $50 a month) to play native music of India all night long, although they're supposed to go off the air at midnight.
The station has also been known to go off the air for an hour or so after announcing that another station is broadcasting an opera that listeners should hear. Sax says the subscriber price would be $15 a year, though currently it's $12 in Seattle. They will announce a price raise there to $15 shortly, said Sax.
KRAB allows anyone who wishes to talk on the air from extreme left to extreme right, Sax says. Nevertheless, Seattle only has some 800 subscribers in its own home town, and is looking to new frontiers, like Portland to make up the difference. Currently, the next move is up to the FCC."
Posted on April 29, 2013 - 01:29 AM #
It has been a long time since KBOO started, but I vaguely remember when it started. I tend to agree with everything Craig said in his previous two posts.
What I seem to remember is that they put a receiver up on NW Skyline Blvd. to receive KRAB in Seattle and then they just "translated" that to their initial Portland transmitter, which may have been at that same receive site. I don't know about a 10 watt receiver but the transmitter was a 10 watt transmitter at the beginning. There was no local origination at that time.
Posted on April 29, 2013 - 02:35 AM #
Here's more early KBOO insight from the "Behind The Mike" column piece announcing KBOO on the air, from "The Oregonian" dated Thursday June 20, 1968.
______________________________________________________________________________________
By Francis Murphy
"KBOO-FM went on the air at 1 p.m. Tuesday on 90.7 meg. Right now, it may be a little difficult to pick up, because it is operating on 10 watts of power under an FCC program-test authority. When the license is granted, the power will be increased to 1 kw. KBOO, which now operates from a garage on Healy Heights,
[Former KGW AM/FM Chief Engineer, Harold C. Singleton's garage and home at 4646 S.W. Council Crest Drive.]
picks up the programs from KRAB in Seattle and broadcasts them live. It is an unusual experiment in direct retransmission. The station is on the air from 7 a.m. to midnight. Like KRAB Seattle, KBOO is listener-supported, owned and operated by the "Jack Straw Memorial Foundation."
Dave Calhoun, who is Station Manager, said that KBOO has been testing for about ten days. Doing ground work for the Portland operation was Lorenzo Milan, who put KRAB on the air in Seattle. They decided upon the KBOO call letters after discarding KLAW or KLAM as too corney.
As soon as things get going, they hope to be able to cut in with Portland programs on the Seattle broadcasts. Programming is unique, since KRAB may spend a whole weekend with music of Bach, or another weekend investigating the various aspects of the music of India. They've had group therapy sessions on the air for 20 hours, with the microphone located in a private home.
Programming includes readings, dramatic performances and interviews. They believe in making radio available to people who criticize the existing system and have no other way to express their feelings.
KBOO programming this Thursday, for example, includes: BBC News at 9 a.m.; Letter from England at 11:15 a.m.; New Recordings at 1 p.m.; NHK News at 4:45 p.m.; A Jules Feiffer and William Styron press conference at 5:45 p.m.; Recordings of "Two Black Crows" by Moran and Mack at 7 p.m.; Music of Jamaica at 8:30 p.m.; Dixieland Jazz at 10 p.m."
Posted on April 29, 2013 - 03:03 AM #
I was thinking over night,,, could the KBOO frequency and transmitter be used to develope a new radio station - something innovative?
What I was thinking of for a new innovative radio station was something like this: a radio station for the people of the urban area that is independent of politics or personal desires or corporate actions. Such a radio station would deliver locally produced programming and be supported by the urban people it serves. It would be the first urban radio station in the country.
(Purposefully avoiding the term "community" because KBOO has turned that into a bad word)
Posted on April 29, 2013 - 08:36 AM #
"could the KBOO frequency and transmitter be used to develope a new radio station - something innovative?"
The short answer is no. Even if the license is assigned to some new non profit organization, the baggage is pretty heavy and extensive. It takes years to establish a new identity on a frequency known for years to be irresponsibly managed, inconsistent and manned by a revolving door of idealists.
Think of it this way. If someone bought KGON, and attempted to change it to a jazz station or soft wimpy AC or anything but classic shlock, how long do you think it would take to redevelop a new identity and develop a loyal following? Get the picture?
Posted on April 29, 2013 - 12:00 PM #
Ani, Andrew, & Jenka seem hell bent to fight any change. They need to be gone from KBOO.
Posted on April 29, 2013 - 04:46 PM #
ummm ... Uncle Mort, his name is Arthur DAVIS. And pointing out that he was abused till he gave up on KBOO is not glorification.
And to KBOO Angel ... one small group of staff and volunteers has an iron grip on the station. But the other small group of staff and volunteers who tried to take control of the station over the last several years including multiple lawsuits ... these folks are equally toxic to any future for KBOO.
A house cleaning and governance change might save KBOO. Yes, it would be different than it is now, but it might become relevant, serve a larger definition of "community", and listened to again.
Posted on April 30, 2013 - 08:26 AM #
RadioGeek is certainly on to something. Any semi-healthy person who attempts to present change at KBOO is harassed and hounded until either they leave KBOO or are kicked out of KBOO.
RadioGeek is also correct that a small group of staff and volunteers has an iron grip on the station - they use that "iron grip" to exert control and manipulation at KBOO.
Ani, Andrew, Jenka - the triangle of power at KBOO and they are about to throw away another station manager.
Posted on April 30, 2013 - 09:08 AM #
With all of the dysfunction and left over 60's hippie culture that is associated with KBOO...they'd be better off to change the call letters of the station when and if they do start over.
Posted on May 1, 2013 - 09:28 AM #
NPR does a great job and IMHO is one of the few real news sources left.
OPB produces great local and state news, but it's limited in the amount of time available for local programs, and it's really hard to pitch a story to OPB. I've tried several times it's really tough to get any press on anything.
KBOO focuses so hard on being "anti" and "radical" that it serves nearly no one. If there were a more open and inclusive form of KBOO that could serve the stories we can't get produced on OPB, perhaps that would save it.
Still waiting for Andy to take the bait.
Posted on May 1, 2013 - 12:03 PM #
From my limited experience at KBOO, and contrasting it with the operation of the pre-OPB KMHD, it seems to me that - as several posters on this board have already opined - the problem lies with a small group of individuals who have managed to poison the atmosphere of the entire station. I know, from my own experience, that I personally found their "volunteer coordinator" (whose name does not need to be repeated) was off-putting, in both her personal appearance, as well as in her attitude towards potential new volunteers. Additionally, there's such a desperate competition for the available airtime, that it's virtually impossible to develop a real sense of community or camaraderie among the majority of the volunteer staff.
Add to that, the unwillingness of the majority of the volunteers to stand up to this cadre as a group, just means that anybody who does have a better idea or a constructive suggestion, just gets marginalized and shut out.
As far as the station's assets go (including the call letters, which should NOT be changed under any circumstances), the law requires that if the non-profit that owns KBOO actually goes out of business, the assets cannot be sold, but MUST be transferred to another non-profit corporation; OPB as a "public corporation" wouldn't qualify, although theoretically, the license COULD be transferred to an educational institution.
Of course, if the membership would get their act together, hire a strong GM and PD and give them the power to actually control the station - including the programming and volunteers - KBOO could still exist as a viable entity, although it would require somebody with an awfully thick skin to actually run the place!
Posted on May 2, 2013 - 02:59 PM #
I was out driving today and came upon a license plate that read "KBOO 90,7" and at the bottom, "Pacifica". We just had a discussion about how they weren't related to Pacifica! What's that all about?
Posted on May 2, 2013 - 06:38 PM #
Station 'navigator' Lynn Fitch made the announcement at the KBOO general meeting that KBOO is going to allow the staff to unionize with the Communications Workers of America, with the collective bargaining process to proceed as soon as possible.
Posted on May 5, 2013 - 09:51 AM #
I think it could work. Just need to have a business minded person running the operation as far as getting the revenues to keep the station running. It can work....a few folks here have mentioned a few programming ideas and I think you can still have a station that 'speaks it mind' without sounding like some lunatic fringe...
Posted on May 8, 2013 - 06:09 AM #
A couple of days ago, I got in the mail a fundraising letter from KBOO, over the signature of Exec. Dir. Lynn Fitch. The appeal centers on KBOO's upcoming 45th Anniversary. The letter reads, in part:
"KBOO's strategic goal of becoming a regional media center is also becoming a reality. At a recent gathering of Oregon's community radio stations, KBOO suggested several activities for the newly-formed Oregon Community Media Consortium (OCM) to collaborate on, with KBOO assuming a mentor and leadership role.
"The emerging OCM will partner [with OCM] to produce statewide programming, with content provided by [OCM] stations. KBOO will produce the final pieces for broadcast. Together, we will seek funding for a shared reporter in Salem to cover legislative issues. KBOO will provide underwriter information and training to all [OCM] stations...Most importantly, with KBOO's support, the OCM [network] will brodcast [KBOO's coverage of] the 2013 Waterfront Blues Festival, helping raise money for the Oregon Food Bank and awaremess."
Underneath Lynn's signature is this:
"Remember when we believed that anything was possible? When we embraced change with our entire being? C'mon people now, let's get together! It's time to love KBOO..."
Best, Mike
Posted on June 1, 2013 - 03:23 PM #
Well! Teflon Fitch is saying "get together"? "Time to love KBOO?" The nerve of her continued civil attempts a constructive work!!! FUME!!!!
Other scurrilous comments by ENEMIES of the People can be found here:
Let's just say it's not bad habits or incompetence that creates low morale. It's informing the public about our bad habits and incompetence that creates low morale. There's a damn good reason we have moles in Indymedia censoring ENEMIES of The People!
To those at pdxradio.com we have only this to say to you: you will not escape our wrath! We will rise up like an unstoppable tsunami! A 100 miles inland. We don't know if that's even possible, but it will be unstoppable.
Can rivers make tsunamis?
-Meresa Titchell
COMRADE THOMPSON AND GLORIUS LEADER!
ReplyDeleteWhat is OPB? What is NPR? Are they now the new right wing enemy we've been fighting against all this time? Are they also EVIL INCARNATE just like FITCH? Please explain as the only source fpr news I've had in years is KBOO.
Comrade, there is no doubt from internal party memos, plus shit we made up, that KOPB and NPR are ENEMIES of the People!! And all Enemies of the People(FITCH, DEMOCRATS, LOGIC, FACTS) are EVIL INCARNATE.
ReplyDeleteSolidarity!
Right-wing forces of the enemy are everywhere. NPR and OPB are just the obvious ones outside of KBOO. Because any alternative media outside KBOO is the enemy.
ReplyDelete