Urban Unrest

27 March 2006 | Business, Pacifica | Ernesto Aguilar

On Sunday, March 26, during its quarterly national board meeting in Los Angeles, the Pacifica national board and staffers dedicated time to discuss the potential of Creative Commons and alternate intellectual property licensing for the radio network and its properties, including its massive back catalog of speeches by the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks.

The basis of this discussion was a programming conference call last week with Dr. Lawrence Lessig, a onetime conservative who is the leading advocate of Creative Commons, a unique and flexible licensing plan.

The dialogue is enlightening as a frank debate about finances, interests and power. Led by PNB Chair Dave Adelson, the discussion includes Pete Korakis (national information technology), Ursula Rudeneberg (coordinator of stations affiliated with Pacifica), Brian DeShazor (Pacifica Radio Archives) and Lonnie Hicks (CFO). Many national board members also weigh in.

The discussion [MP3; 44 minutes]

I cannot adequately express how truly important it was for Pacifica to have had this discussion. In an era when so many radio networks are aggressively sheltering their own intellectual property, Pacifica is engaging in open and serious discussion about Creative Commons and the complex IP puzzle with an eye to accessibility.

Pacifica for Dummies: The Pacifica Foundation pioneered the concept of listener sponsorship, which defines public radio, 55 years ago. Its radio stations are based in Berkeley and Los Angeles, Calif.; Houston, Tex.; New York City and Washington, D.C.; the stations are distinct in the fact many are content creators not only do the stations spin music, but volunteers create programs with guests, music, et al. Pacifica has been a hub of progressive politics, the arts and culture, but the network is struggling with the graying of its audience and staying relevant in the modern age. Its best-known program, Democracy Now!, spun off from Pacifica some years ago and is now an independent production. Its governance model is radical for nonprofits — listeners and volunteers elect its national board of directors and Pacifica — and it comes from a strong free-speech history (occasionally fighting such cases all the way up to the Supreme Court). You can get more info about Pacifica at www.pacifica.org. If you would like to sign up for a $35 basic membership to Pacifica, consider becoming a member of KPFT by clicking here.

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