Urban Unrest

14 May 2007 | Pacifica | Ernesto Aguilar

The Board of Directors of the Pacifica Foundation has asked that I release a statement about my intention to leave the position of Executive Director by April 2008 or earlier. Let me begin by saying that I fully support the PNB’s recent decision to initiate a search for a new ED and to promptly complete that process, although it is difficult to predict precisely how long that will take.

In the meantime, it is my intention to continue working for Pacifica until a new Executive Director has been chosen and, on a mutually agreeable basis, to help that person acclimate to the job. Most senior staff prefer not to have an interim Executive Director, a position with which I agree.

When I applied for the position almost two years ago, some friends described it as “undo-able” or “the dream job from Hell.” It hasn’t been that rough, but I can’t say there have been no problems. In a recent evaluation of my performance, some members of the Pacifica National Board chided me for failing to deal effectively enough with the organization’s tendency toward factionalism. Others said I wasn’t diplomatic or decisive enough, and that I could be more sensitive to race and sex dynamics within the organization.

Actually, that evaluation – which involved survey forms circulated to more than 140 people, but completed by less than 60 – revealed that a clear majority of those motivated to respond felt I had done a fairly good job. At its April in-person meeting, the Board itself voted by a two-to-one margin to retain me; some people even thought I deserved a raise.

However, I made it clear when applying for the job in 2005 that I wasn’t planning to remain for more than three years at most. Some of the reasons are personal. But it’s also a fact that the average term of a Pacifica ED for the last 12 years has been slightly over two years, and all of them departed under less than ideal circumstances. Mindful that I was the first ED in recent history — if ever – who didn’t have a significant history with Pacifica, I also felt that I could serve best as a transitory leader, helping to clarify issues, and to begin a process of reconciliation and reorganization without focusing of the consolidation of power.

How have things worked out? In general, communication within the network is more regular and systematic than it was in 2005. I have also encouraged uniform and fair employment practices, have cultivated a culture of cooperation, financial transparency, and effective management that respects the contributions of staff and volunteers and the interests of listeners, and have begun to reassert Pacifica’s role as a relevant and popular voice for political change and social transformation. These were some of the objectives I set, and I believe that, to some extent, they have been achieved.

Let me be more specific. In programming, I pushed for the development of new national programs, including the daily Spanish Language newscast “Informativo Pacifica,” and a weekly series on the 2006 congressional elections, “Informed Dissent,” that included more than 50 segment producers from more than 15 states. In addition, Pacifica now has a more open and inclusive process for national specials review and approval, and a programming calendar. As a result, specials have been airing more regularly, including coverage of May Day, Hurricane Katrina, election 2006, key congressional hearings, the Media Reform Conference, International Women’s Day, and much more.

At the urging of the Board, I developed and wrote editorials for broadcast on net neutrality, the undermining of habeas corpus, the Iraq War, and other issues reflecting Pacifica’s commitment to peace and social justice. In addition, I have actively supported the effort to rapidly expand Pacifica’s digital distribution of content using the Creative Commons family of licenses. Meanwhile, the staff is developing a new program evaluation process that should open up grids at various stations.

Much of my effort has been focused on improving the organization’s management and ability to promptly respond to challenges. To that end, I led the process of selecting a general counsel to handle the Foundation’s business. Although Pacifica receives excellent legal advice on FCC matters, it lacked a general counsel for several years; now we are more prepared to respond to legal issues, and to resist pressures for expensive legal settlements.

In addition, we established a functioning management group. It has met at least twice monthly for more than a year, includes almost 20 of the top managers and national staff, and makes substantive decisions. I facilitated the negotiations concerning a contract with Free Speech Radio News, leading to an agreement that begins to resolve a long-standing dispute. And I supervised and promoted the development of new administrative policies concerning issues like confidentiality, expense approval, management reporting, harassment, and profanity, obscenity and indecency.

Since early 2006, significant new hires have included General Managers at KPFA in Berkeley and WBAI in New York, as well as Pacifica’s Network Programming Coordinator and National Technical Director. These decisions have brought new talent and energy into the Pacifica leadership. In Fall 2006, we held a two-day retreat with managers, national staff, and PNB members to improve lines of communication; assess the structure and functioning of the national organization; and provide a forum for discussion of communication, accountability, lines of authority, and decision-making. More recently, a programming retreat for managers was held in April 2007, leading to new initiatives and proposals.

The role of Executive Director also requires attention to promotion, finances, and outreach. New promotional pitches have raised almost $1 million via direct mail, while I have projected a new vision for Pacifica in public talks. Pacifica’s finances are stable, although long-term sustainability and changes in listenership remain concerns. With the guidance of Pacifica’s Affiliates Program Coordinator, I’ve supported the Radio for People campaign, an effort to promote applications for new non-commercial license applications. Pacifica is beginning to receive public and financial recognition for this important effort.

Obviously, none of this could be accomplished without the help of a strong and competent staff. Despite any differences we have, I have benefited greatly from their willingness to cooperate and look past old disputes. Pacifica’s General Managers and Program Directors are frequently under attack by disaffected listeners and local Board factions, yet they manage to remain focused and committed. Members of the national staff suffer from a shortage of resources, yet still manage to keep the quality and reputation of Pacifica at the center of their attention. I have been increasingly impressed with the dedication of this team. But I am concerned about an undercurrent of governance-management conflict that continues to threaten the organization’s health.

No single person can solve Pacifica’s problems; they ultimately have roots in its long and tumultuous history and will take years to work out. In the meantime, my hope has been to raise standards and make modest improvements, while avoiding paralysis and encouraging a process of long-term re-evaluation and change. Some people have urged me to “clean house” and impose a strong central leadership model on the network. Others have feared that I would do precisely that. In truth, I have tried to raise some fundamental questions – for example, the question of whether Pacifica’s current governance structure is sustainable or even wise — while simultaneously avoiding actions that would produce debilitating resistance.

For the coming months, my main objective is to help make the transition to a new Executive Director as smooth as possible in order to further Pacifica’s successful future development. Regardless of any rumors circulating, I want to make it clear that, as I understand it, this change is being handled by mutual agreement, and I hope to work for and with the foundation while the national board pursues its process.

I offer my sincere thanks to the Pacifica community, and look forward to hearing many more years of groundbreaking community radio.

Greg Guma, Executive Director

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