KZYX isn't happy with me...
This morning I talked with Belinda at KZYX after calling the station to talk to program manager Mary Aigner to congratulate her on her participation in my program last night on Measure B with Ross Liberty (Yes on B) and Keith Faulder (No on B) . Mary, I was told wasn't there but, boy, Belinda (Station Manager) wanted to talk to me. She said the folks at KZYX were very upset that I got involved in expressing my own opinions during the hour and that Mary had been suspended for speaking out on problems with commercial pot growing. As soon as Mary (who was running the board for me and there to do pledge drive breaks) started saying her own Anderson Valley neighborhood had been overtaken by pot growers the staff at KZYX went nuts, signaling to her over and over to shut up. She didn't.
Mary never said, "Vote for Measure B." She simply stated that problems with commercial pot growing were real and she'd seen them first hand. Suspending her for that, it seems to me, borders on a serious First Amendment violation. (I wonder, if Mary had said something like, "It's been my experience that medical marijuana patients really have a problem finding supplies" she would be under suspension right now.)
For some reason there was a real crowd at the station last night, I assume because they're in the middle of pledge drive. The crowd, I am told from someone standing among them, was also going crazy trying to get me to shut up too. One woman actually put a note to that effect up to the broadcast booth window, but I didn't have my glasses on and couldn't see it.
Anyway I wouldn't have shut up. I said at the beginning of the broadcast that I was a fervent B supporter and that would be clear during the show. For some reason the folks at KZYX assumed I was simply hosting some kind of non-partisan debate on Measure B. I would never have agreed to that. First I am not unbiased about it. That is why I stepped aside from my usual role as moderator for the forum the Daily Journal is hosting May 8 with the American Association of University Women and the National Women's Political Caucus. Plus, I express my opinions on my monthly show all the time. Why would last night be any different?
Belinda (I am sorry but I don't know her last name and the staff isn't listed on the station Web site) told me that all programmers are forbidden from expressing opinions on anything on any up-coming ballot as they are officially representatives of the station when on the air. She said that's an IRS rule and an FCC rule.
I have to say I find this odd given the dedicated bias of KZYX, NPR and other public radio sources on any number of left of center issues. They defend it saying they are basically the voice of the non-mainstream and that's their mission.
Belinda said she would send me a copy of the rules.
She said I am suspended from KZYX too.
I said, let's just consider it my last show.
Email comment link: http://www.kzyx.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_chronocontact&chronoformname=DJ
Surface mail:
P.O. Box 1,
Philo, CA 95466
Station manager: Belinda Rawlins
Board of Directors:
Anderson Valley
· David Hoppman (2007 - 2010)
· David Jackness (2007 - 2009)
Coast
· Mike Grady, President - (2005-2008)
· Jim Culp (2007)
Inland
· Jane Futcher ,Vice President - (2005-2008)
· Eric Enriquez, Secretary - (2006-2009)
At-Large
· Tony Miksak- (2006 - 2009)
· Claire Lobell (2007 - 2010)
Programmer-Elected Board Member
· Doug Livingston (2007 -2010)
2 comments:
Radio host dropped over pot stance
Ukiah newspaper editor, Measure B advocate had hosted talk show for years
By MIKE GENIELLA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
UKIAH -- A local newspaper editor is the latest casualty in an escalating Mendocino County ballot battle to curb marijuana cultivation.
Editor K.C. Meadows of the Ukiah Daily Journal has been bounced from her weekly community affairs program on a Philo-based public radio station following a contentious on-air debate last Thursday. Meadows expressed her strong support for Measure B, an initiative aimed at sharply reducing the amount of pot allowed for personal use in the county.
A spokesman for radio station KZYX said Monday that after several years on the air, Meadows was removed because her on-air advocacy violated the station's policies regarding upcoming ballot issues.
"Our job is to provide nonpartisan forums," said spokesman Vance Crowe.
Also in hot water is station program manager Mary Aigner, who apparently has been suspended for speaking on-air about concerns in her own neighborhood over pot production.
Crowe on Monday declined to comment on Aigner's status, citing station personnel policies. Aigner could not be reached Monday for comment.
As the Daily Journal's editor, Meadows figures prominently in the countywide Measure B repeal campaign, serving on a coordinating committee and having written frequent editorials urging voters to "take back our county."
On Monday, Meadows said she was surprised by the station's move but suspects it's the result of the political volatility surrounding commercial marijuana production.
"I've been doing my public affairs program for several years, and this issue of not being able to express an opinion has never come up," said Meadows.
Meadows said station managers knew for weeks about her planned marijuana debate, which included one guest each in support and against the ballot measure.
"I said at the beginning of the broadcast that I was a fervent B supporter, and that would be clear during the show," said Meadows.
If approved in the June primary, Measure B would toss out the county's current liberalized laws surrounding cultivation and personal use of marijuana.
Current regulations adopted by voters in 2000 allow individuals to grow and possess up to 25 marijuana plants each.
You can reach Staff Writer Mike Geniella at 462-6470 or mgeniella@pressdemocrat.com.
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080415/NEWS/804150431
Newspaper editor ousted from radio gig
By MIKE GENIELLA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A Mendocino County public radio station has bounced a local newspaper editor from her weekly community affairs program following a contentious on-air marijuana debate.
The abrupt ousting of Editor K.C. Meadows of the Ukiah Daily Journal following last Thursday’s program underscores rising political tensions surrounding Measure B, a citizen-led drive to repeal in the June primary election the county’s liberalized local laws surrounding personal marijuana use.
Meadows, as the local newspaper editor, figures prominently in the county-wide repeal campaign, serving on a coordinating committee and having written frequent editorials urging voters to “take back our county.”
Meadows couldn’t be reached Monday morning for comment on her show’s removal from the Philo-based public radio station’s programming.
But in her daily Web blog, Meadows wrote, “I have to say I find this odd given the dedicated bias of KZYX, NPR (National Public Radio) and other public radio sources on any number of left-of-center issues.”
Vance Crowe, a KZYX spokesman, said Monday that Meadows was removed because her on-air advocacy violated the station’s policies regarding up-coming ballot issues.
“Our job is to provide non-partisan forums,” said Crowe.
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080414/NEWS/451225925
Ukiah Daily Journal Staff
Article Last Updated: 04/24/2008 08:28:10 AM PDT
Public radio?
To the Editor:
I have enjoyed the programs I have heard of editor K.C. Meadows on KZYX for their frank and reasonable tone. To curtail the airing of her opinion because it disagrees with the usual slant of the radio station seems to defeat the purpose of a community radio station. It was my understanding that as long as equal time was given to opposing opinions, the expression of those opinions was not only acceptable, but encouraged. I hope that KZYX will reconsider their attitude. Isn't part of the point of public radio to allow the discussion of controversial issues?
Meadow Shere
Laytonville
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/letters/ci_9039454
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