Wednesday, September 5, 2012

KPFK finally voices some transparent info re station finally!

{photo of Salton Sea images by photosbyalexandria.com. Thanx}

We finally heard Gen'l Manager and Ian Masters last week [in August 2012] were TRANSPARENTLY talking about Pacifica's and KPFK's finances and how the LSB has been limited and not getting the variety candidates needed to be more representative and more.... We I loved it !


If only they would replay it, even if they were begging for needed funds at the same, some unusual revelations were revealed. Yes, another dreary repetitive fund drive, always demanding more $$$ from us .... continuously, obviously necessary because the staff dont like doing it and members dont want to hear more of it and yet it continues...often, too many times a year.


In this program the GM was exceptional -clear speaking, frank, giving Information, catching any demeaning of others by one programmer who sometimes berates other [different versions of programmers and their paradigms [the truth' !].


Yet this 1 hr was 2 knowledgeable members discussing what we all wanted to KNOW more about and never ever get to hear ...on air... and openly discussed. One time - letting all us paying members know what they are paying for or working for there at KPFK station . The GM was good, and doing the unusual ...and especially for his top GM position too, making the sharing info even more relevant and believable.


And we appreciate Ian a lot, on air at his Hammer Forum programs too, and we also like 911 truthers and all the information they reveal, equally. So some of us are more open-minded than others, not limiting who we hear or like or want to learn from but being curious, explorers of more than 1 dogma or paradigm or 'reality'... but oh well..... while many who listen to KPFK are more selective and limited and stubborn - when they want the station only for their own taste and groups. So what is new about that way of acting out ?


That Conversation, Discussion, Revelation of what is happening with our [pledges, KPFK's income] the $$$... even that bit of confirmation revealed was surprising, admirable, exciting and that information and program needs to be repeated or re-done more to be heard by more people who missed it.


We need to find out how else can this be heard again, transcribed perhaps, or made available to all LSB members, PNB members, contributors to KPFK ? Hopefuly that program was archived - but who knows how to look for it ? So while many members complain [as was then also quoted = some of the many same complaints repeated for yrs now -i.e.

the long exhausting repetitious pledge demands, and the lack of premiums being rec'd after paying - even part of it if on installments

or the exclusive clutching of same old programs/programmers hold power and on-air promos for their own group/friends/tribes, hostile antagonistic programmers towards other ones - who also hold-on selfishly to their spots on station, even for decades !

and [previous to this conversation on air] the continuous lack of transparent info about OUR station - that we all pay for in many ways even more than in $$$. And even more of course !


Re premiums....We've heard from volunteers that people phone in all the time that they did NOT receive their premiums, and are not called back, when they later phone in about it to inquire. And the volunteer pledge takers -[ we know this for sure as we have been doing this work for umpteen yrs, same form, same phone instructions too - are only told to say " it will be received in 6 - 8 weeks" or some such timetable.


But..... no one paying on installment is ever informed how much they have to pay or how much time elapsed Before the premium is sent - and NO ONE ever informs payors that premium is unavailable or will be delayed or why 'it was never sent'


We have met people outside of station who have said same thing to us to our surprise. They did not get premium,, and were mad, and then distrust KPFK. We also hear it when we take a pledges there too - often enough - at least 1-2x/day during pledge drives. While we do tell them to call station directly again, but apparently "NO ONE ANSWERS" the phone in that dept to inform them what happened to their gift or their money either. .




Unfortunately, this is really Bad for KPFK's reputation. They are then seen as dishonest, inept, dysfunctional and not able to communicate forthrightly, except when they ask for $$$...hmmmm...unusual ? So why cant a volunteer be 'drafted' to make calls for premiums unavailable during time period promised ? Why aren't pledge takers instructed t explain When premiums will be sent if on installment - after $25 ? after 3x that $$ deducted ? whatever....anything is better than unavailability and silence.



Why isn't someone being RESPONSIBLE to be responsive instead repeating the usual Excuse of saying: "they didn’t pay up" - which maybe occasionally so, but we doubt that the many people who call have NOT PAID at all !!! That is not our KPFK type.


We have long ago and repeatedly tried telling & asking the Subscriptions Dept and we may get a nod - but no answer- and No Change happens ! Someone somewhere needs to put into effect some improvement. If KPFK wants more money ? The non-profited organization has to - must - give better service to those who pay for it's subsistence. That's simple business plan.

(c) mj 2012


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