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GUS NEWPORT TO LEAD PACIFICA RADIO FLAGSHIP STATION KPFA
94.1 FM
April 21, 2003
Contact:
danc@pacifica.org
,
gratephil@kpfa.org
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, DC (Apr. 17) -- Civil rights leader Gus Newport,
the former Mayor of Berkeley, California, and a veteran community
development advocate, has been named as the new general manager
of the nation's oldest listener-sponsored radio station --
KPFA 94.1 FM in
Berkeley, Pacifica officials announced today.
The appointment of Gus Newport follows an exhaustive six-month
search process that reviewed some 20 applicants and involved
a broad array of KPFA staff, listeners, community groups,
as well as local and national board members. It also concludes
a four-year period of interim leadership at the 54-year-old
listener-supported station.
"We're thrilled to have someone with Gus's expansive
vision and proven leadership qualities during these times
of national and international crisis," said Dan Coughlin,
the Executive Director of the five-station Pacifica Radio
network. "Gus brings to KPFA not just a national reputation
and deep roots in the Bay Area community, but a profound commitment
to the cause of peace and justice."
Gus Newport comes to Pacifica following a 30-year career
in public service, academia, and urban regeneration. Most
famously, Gus was Mayor of the City of Berkeley between 1979-1986,
managing a budget of $500 million and taking a leading role
in the international fight against apartheid. Since then,
Gus led the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, a major
redevelopment project in Boston, MA and taught at the University
of Massachusetts in Boston. He has also held teaching posts
at the University of California at Santa Cruz, and Portland
State University in Portland, Oregon.
"When we consider the growing consolidation of media
outlets and the present assault on civil liberties, it becomes
clear that the need for a vibrant and effective KPFA is greater
than ever," said Gus Newport. "I'm honored to have
been selected to lead this historic radio station".
Most recently, Gus has been a Senior Associate at the Urban
Strategies Council in Oakland and an independent consultant
in community development to a range of foundations.
Newport succeeds interim General Manager Jim Bennett, who
is widely credited with stabilizing the station following
the 23-day lock out of staff and community in the summer of
1999. The doors of KPFA were only opened after a march of
15,000 people in the streets of the East Bay. Since then,
Bennett has led the station to its most successful period
ever, raising more than one million dollars in two consecutive
fund-drives.
Following the turmoil at KPFA and other Pacifica stations,
a new national board has succeeded in stabilizing the network,
improving its finances, and restoring its progressive perspective.
"The appointment of Gus Newport is another signal that
the entire Pacifica Radio network is moving forward and attracting
talented individuals," added Dan Coughlin. "During
this time of war and crisis, we've seen tremendous support
from our listeners and we now stand poised for nationwide
listener elections that will transform Pacifica into the first
democratically-elected media broadcaster in the nation."
Founded in 1949, Pacifica Radio is the nation's first listener-supported,
community-based radio network. Today it is the largest progressive
media outlet in the United States. Along with KPFA in Berkeley,
it includes WBAI 99.5 FM in New York, KPFK 90.7 FM in Los
Angeles, KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston and WPFW 89.3 FM in Washington
DC and some 50 affiliates in 27 states. The network features
Democracy Now!, a daily news magazine hosted by Pacifica's
award-winning journalist Amy Goodman.
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