Urban Unrest

23 October 2006 | Pacifica | Ernesto Aguilar

As adopted on 10/20/06

Preamble: the role of programming in the Pacifica network is to fulfill the Pacifica mission and, in the process, to build audiences that keep the Foundation’s broadcast operations self-sustaining.

Programming, therefore, functions as a key indicator for the Pacifica National Board in determining that network operations reflect this mission and support audiences capable of sustaining the network in the immediate future.

The specific sections of this policy set forth criteria and parameters for programming that enable management to conduct day-to-day operations and establish initiatives for broadcast operations, in accordance with the Pacifica mission.

The underlying principles of this policy promote collaborative resource-sharing and decision-making at every level of the Pacifica family in order to create mission-driven programming that features a broad spectrum of voices, capable of engaging diverse local and national audiences.

1.0 Programming: includes local station programming, national programs, network broadcasts, affiliate programming, commissioned programs (e.g. Free Speech Radio News documentaries and Counterspin).

The Pacifica Radio Archives (PRA), Free Speech Radio News (FSRN), the Affiliates program, as well as network technical operations and internet and web site development staff, work alongside sister stations KPFA, KPFK, WBAI, KPFT and WPFW to produce mission-driven programming for increasingly diverse and larger audiences.

It is the intention that programming, staffing and decision-making in network broadcast operations conform to Pacifica’s Race and Nationality Policy and other commitments to equity.

1.1 Local Station Programming: Building and sustaining an audience is one of the chief responsibilities of local station management, who provide their listeners with a lively mixture of local and national programs, network broadcasts, and commissioned programs. These include news and public affairs programming, as well as arts, science, history, music and cultural affairs programming.

Local stations’ program goals and station services are identified annually, after surveying community needs, preparing budgets and developing policies that implement these goals and services.

Program evaluation, audience research and listener databases are tools used by local station staff to plan program schedules, implement and monitor them and make changes, as necessary. Guided by Pacifica’s Race and Nationality Policy, schedules should be reviewed regularly to identify areas of programming that need strengthening. The level of services provided to underserved audiences and demographic groups is determined annually, in conjunction with the assessment of community needs conducted by Community Advisory Boards (CABs), and is found in management’s yearly presentation of local station program goals and station services.

Local station program policy is implemented by means of: allocation of resources within budgets; apprenticeship and training programs for volunteers and paid and unpaid staff; fair and open evaluation of existing programs and new programming proposals; and, a commitment to encouraging the development of demonstration projects, pilot programs and originally-produced programs and specials. Programming decisions are made by management through a transparent, collaborative process that includes programmers and listeners in the evaluation of existing and needed new programming.

Local stations are encouraged to develop specific “missions” that programmatically define and articulate the Pacifica mission.

1.2 National programming: involves the use of network-wide resources and enhanced production to address national issues and trends. As a result, national programs feature voices and production rarely encountered in local programming and in mainstream media. Such programming will be planned in consultation with local stations.

1.3 Network Broadcasts: Network broadcasts are produced collaboratively, between stations, reporters, producers, hosts and programming collectives. The local station where such programming originates shall be invited to play a substantial role in developing, hosting and producing the broadcast.

1.4 Special Commissioned programming: Short term national programming may be commissioned in response to emergent or unforeseen events. Such programming will be planned in consultation with local stations.

1.5 Affiliate Programming: Pacifica stations should consider airing examples of the finest programs produced by its affiliate stations.

1.6 Independently-produced programming: Care must be taken to ensure that specifications for such programs adhere to the same mission goals, and non-commercial criteria as programming produced by Pacifica.

2.0 Mission-Driven Programming: is programming that fulfills the six purposes detailed in Pacifica’s Articles of Incorporation (See Appendix I).

Local stations’ budgets and other policy documents shall define annual program goals and station services, in accordance with the mission.

The Pacifica mission envisions no conflict between music, arts, science, history and cultural affairs programming and news and public affairs programming. Programs for children, youth, seniors and other audiences that “encourage and provide outlets for the creative skills and energies of the community” is presumed in the Pacifica mission.

The Foundation should support well-produced, sustainable, national and international “hard” news and commentary as well as documentaries and investigatory reports.

2.1 Programs that Build Understanding Between Nations and People: Pacifica’s mission statement encourages programs that achieve such understanding between nations and individuals. This may be achieved through cultural and arts or news and public affairs programming. Local stations should use evaluation processes that strive to identify programs with this potential and should consider allocating production resources to help them reach a wider audience.

3.0 Distribution and Licensing of Pacifica Programming: Discussion of 3.0 has been deferred while further advice and consultation is sought.

4.0 Comme rcial Programming: Programs that regularly promote products, services, and/or personal advice that are for sale, and from which the programmer receives a consideration, are defined as commercial programming and are antithetical to the Pacifica Mission.

5.0 New Voices: Local stations must provide training to current and new volunteers, including instruction in the Pacifica and local station missions and in on-air broadcast, production, and journalism skills. “New voices” must include people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, nationalities, languages, and different abilities, backgrounds and beliefs, particularly poor and working people, and under-represented communities. These people must be involved in the local station’s production and programming infrastructure.

6.0 Programming Resources: Resources must be provided at all levels of the Pacifica organization to establish a climate conducive to the production of creative, mission-driven programming; all operational units shall have production facilities that are maintained in good working order and staffed with a core group of people who possess the requisite level of experience and/or expertise for broadcast operation and volunteer training.

The PNB shall develop a strategic plan that addresses, among other things, how emerging technology will be used to further its strategic goals and support the production of mission-driven programming. Even Pacifica’s non-broadcasting units must be arrayed to provide an effective human and technical infrastructure that supports the Pacifica mission.

7.0 The Role of the Affiliates in Extending the Pacifica Mission: Pacifica’s commitment to its mission shall include expanding its audience through affiliation and exploring collaborative relationships with other community media networks and media advocacy organizations whose missions are compatible with Pacifica’s.

8.0 Program Evaluation: To comply with programming policy, local stations should develop structured methodologies to ensure that programming and program schedules fulfill the mission. Program evaluation should encourage programmers to explain how they fulfill the Pacifica mission and to detail their efforts to assure that their programs are educational, informative and engaging.

9.0 Using Research: Pacifica should develop the capacity to use quantitative and qualitative research methods to measure, analyze and interpret relationships with its listeners and members. All stations should establish and maintain listener databases and station managers are encouraged to enlist assistance in designing and implementing research methodologies customized to Pacifica’s needs. Analyses of this data should include the demographics of the signal area to be used to guide efforts on how to carry out Pacifica’s mission, how to reach underserved communities, and how to expand and deepen listenership. Additionally, station management should research the parameters and potential of our audience and identify and track its behavior as it interacts with local station programming, fundraising, volunteer and development activities.

10.0 Compliance with Federal Laws and Regulations: Station management and staff must receive careful training and useful reference materials that permit them to execute and monitor their responsibilities regarding the laws and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). It should arm them with a working knowledge of how to exercise and protect their rights of free speech. Additionally, it should enable them to understand the definitions of key concepts (e.g. indecency and defamation), provide them with guidelines that help them avoid witting and unwitting violations of FCC laws and regulations and appreciate the distinction and differences between minor infractions and serious on-air violations that might put Pacifica’s broadcast licenses at risk, or expose Pacifica to fines that could undo network finances.

11.0 Programming Calendar and Days-in-History: Pacifica should maintain an annual programming calendar that goes beyond federal holidays, national presidential elections and party conventions. The calendar should track national and international socio-political events and trends, and arts and cultural events that affect Pacifica’s constituencies, with particular attention paid to anniversaries of freedom struggles and liberation milestones in the history of oppressed groups.

12.0 The Role of a National Programming Coordinator: Pacifica shall employ a Programming Coordinator who will serve as an ex officio member of the PNB Programming Committee.

The coordinator’s responsibility is to implement the Pacifica Programming Policy under the direction of the Executive Director. This shall entail promoting a collaborative process among staff (both paid and unpaid) at local network stations and affiliates in order to plan and coordinate segments to be produced locally for network programs; and working collaboratively with governance and management throughout the network in the development of any new regular program or long-term series that is produced nationally.

These proposals for new programs, including a budget when appropriate, shall be brought to the PNB Programming Committee for review to assure that both network and local needs are met. If supplemental funds are required for such new national programming the request will be forwarded to the Finance Committee.

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