IndyMedia activist and filmmaker Steven Starr has joined KPFK, the Los Angeles station in the five-station Pacifica Network, to lead an interim team designed to build and restore the station to its original mission.

Additional Pacifica Networks stations are in Berkeley, New York, Washington D.C. and Houston.

After a contentious five year local and nationwide struggle to return the network to its community roots, the thousands of activists involved in the effort were rewarded with a victory; all four lawsuits against the Pacifica Network, the first of which originated with members of the KPFK Local Advisory Board, were settled and the National Board members attempting to control Pacifica and use it to their own ends were ousted.

"I’d like to honor the incredible efforts of thousands of people who have been engaged in the struggle to restore Pacifica for so many years. Recent developments signal the promise of a great new chapter for those of us who believe in the possibilities of a truly independent and democratic media," Starr said in an open letter to the Pacifica listeners. “It's a great privilege. My career started in radio, and I’ve spent a great deal of time over the years working with various forms of media that empower the public.”

Starr is one of the architects of the Los Angeles Independent Media Center and joins KPFK after co-founding leading edge Internet company Uprizer with Freenet Project creator Ian Clarke. “Through his involvement with the Freenet Project, Steven has demonstrated his deep commitment to an honest and unbiased media," said Freenet founder Ian Clarke. “It's my full expectation that his integrity and skills will be a great asset to KPFK and it’s community of listeners."

Before Uprizer, Starr was the CEO of AntEye.com a netbased community built around user-generated content. Prior to AntEye, Starr wrote and directed the award winning film Joey Breaker, produced and created a variety of film and television projects, and spent 11 years at the William Morris Agency, heading the motion picture department in the company’s New York office. During his tenure at William Morris, he developed the early careers of such talents as Ang Lee, Ben Stiller, Larry David, Tim Robbins, Reinaldo Povod and Ziggy Marley. He started his career as a high school volunteer at WLIR-FM in New York, eventually running their internship program before moving on to WSRM, campus radio in Madison, Wisconsin.

Former KPFK General Manager Mark Schubb was relieved from his post Friday and placed on leave.

Founded in 1949, Pacifica Radio is the nation's first listener-supported, community-based radio network. Along with KPFK Los Angeles (90.7), it includes KPFA Berkeley (94.1), WBAI New York (99.5), KPFT Houston (90.1),
WPFW Washington, D.C. (89.3) and nearly 60 affiliates in 27 states. It features Democracy NOW!, a weekday political affairs show hosted by Pacifica's award-winning Amy Goodman.