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Pacifica Radio Network Becomes Antiwar Voice
Wall Street Journal - March 24, 2004
By ANNA WILDE MATHEWS
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Amy Goodman at Pacifica's WBAI
99.5 FM in New York; photo Pete Korakis; |
A few weeks ago, Amy
Goodman played master of ceremonies at a peace rally in
Washington. Later that day, she attended a different antiwar
protest, involving many of the same people, this time doing
interviews for the show she hosts on Pacifica Radio -- and
wound up getting arrested
outside the White House.
Her dual identity captures the unique role that Pacifica
is playing in the media's coverage of the war in Iraq.
The nonprofit five-station network, which provides programming
for dozens more outlets, is combining reportage and advocacy
to provide what its leaders say is a perspective missing from
the mainstream news outlets.
"That's part of the mission, for social justice and
peace," says Verna Avery-Brown, Washington bureau chief
of the Pacifica Radio network, which is owned by the nonprofit
Pacifica Foundation. "How often do you see these views
portrayed by the mainstream media?"
Pacifica , founded in 1949 by pacifists in Berkeley, Calif.,
has long served as an outlet for social activism and antiwar
messages. Despite its relatively small listenership, its archives
include decades of tapes featuring high-profile figures including
Malcolm X, Eleanor Roosevelt and Allen Ginsberg. In recent
years, Pacifica had been torn by internal conflicts and financial
problems.
The network subsequently reorganized, and its position as
an outlet for those opposed to war in Iraq may be boosting
its profile. The network announced its most successful fund-raising
drive in memory, with more than $4 million in listener contributions
this past winter. Just after the initial attack on Iraq, Pacifica
went initially to round-the-clock coverage of the war, stepping
up its role as a touchstone for the antiwar movement.
Pacifica executives say their programs provide a counterpoint
to other coverage. Indeed, Pacifica's approach stands out
on the radio dial, where the most popular talk-show hosts
are typically conservative.
After one member of the Dixie Chicks made a remark critical
of President Bush, a number of U.S. country-music stations
at least briefly stopped playing the band's songs.
Glenn Beck, whose radio show is syndicated by Clear Channel
Communications Inc.'s Premiere Radio Networks, has hosted
a series of "Rallies for America" to show support
for U.S. troops.
Pacifica shows have provided a showcase for antiwar protests
and views, including those of celebrities such as Susan Sarandon
and Danny Glover.
The Pacifica Web site (www.pacifica.org)
includes links to a "peace
resource" page and the slogan, "Pacifica is
peace radio." The network had a correspondent in Iraq
until recently, interviewing civilians about the possible
hostilities. "They give the opportunity for voices of
dissent to be heard," says Jodie Evans, co-founder of
the peace group CodePink.
When she recently had to put together an early-morning peace
demonstration in Los Angeles on short notice, the local Pacifica
station helped get the word out, she notes.
Her group helped pull together the rally in Washington March
8 at which Pacifica host Amy Goodman spoke. Ms. Goodman, whose
morning show is called "Democracy
Now!" has emerged as perhaps the most high-profile
personality on Pacifica's programs, as well as an in-demand
speaker at antiwar events. "Reporters have opinions,
we have to be honest about them," while providing fair
and accurate coverage, she says. She adds, "I am an antiwar
reporter," or a "media activist."
Ms. Goodman dismisses many of the "embedded" reporters
for other outlets who are traveling with military units as
"in bed" with the U.S. government. "It is very
difficult to distinguish the reporter from the military unit
they're with," she says. On a recent show, she called
the American advance on Iraq "unprovoked," and referred
to an attack on a bunker where Saddam Hussein might have been
hiding out as an "assassination attempt."
The reporting was broken up by strains of the chorus, "War
... what is it good for?"
Write to Anna Wilde Mathews at anna.mathews@wsj.com
[This story is illustrated with a picture of WBAI's chief
announcer, Michael G. Haskins at the controls.]
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