OntheWilderSide

There is a wonderful, new web-site , called Pacifica Radio Videos created by some listeners to community radio station WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City.

WBAI is part of the Pacifica Network. WBAI and Pacifica are founded on the principle that since the regular media beats the drumbeat for war, these stations will stay free from corporations, be listener-sponsored, and proclaim peace. And, they also have a deeper goal of being democratic, community-centered, and respectful of diverse input. There are elections to the national board, and to the local station board, and many, many meetings and committees. Some WBAI listeners, with the help of Albert B. Solomon, taped some of these meetings, and created highlight videos, in an attempt to document the democratic process, and to draw more people into the process.

In addition to the videos, which provide interesting, sometimes comical, footage and commentary on the meetings of a non-profit-type-board, this web-site also displays interesting portraits, including the one above, of many of the “players” in this community.

I think the portraits are also interesting, for that fact that this whole WBAI community circles around the radio, where you don’t get a chance to see a person’s face. With these photographs, WBAI members and listeners can reflect more on the station’s staff, leadership, and listener activists. And, when it is election time again (is that soon?), the portraits (and the video) can provide a useful tool to keep track of who is who (and who is with who, and what their m.o. is.)

Thanks so much for this wonderful web-site, and this careful, devoted work on the mechanisms of democracy.

Pacifica Radio Videos
http://pacvid1.com

~Kimberly Wilder

Photo above is of: Susan June Blake, WBAI listener and peace and justice activist

Photo credit: Photos Copyright © Albert B. Solomon, 2005, 2006, 2007. Please include this notice with any further distribution. High-resolution portraits and videos available from 718-768-9079 or hobces@yahoo.com. These pictures and recordings are for free distribution only; any commercial use is prohibited.

Filed under: activism, Anti-War, grassroots democracy, local, media, Nonprofit Orgs, Our Favorite Radio Stations, Peace, progressive politics, war Tagged: | Not-for-Profit Board, Pacifica Radio, Susan Blake, WBAI