Los Angeles, CA - Veteran KPFK 90.7 FM Producer and Technical Director Roy Hurst was named interim general manager of the Los Angeles Pacifica affiliate station, following the departure of Steven Starr, whose 60-day commitment to the post has ended. A national search for the permanent general manager is in full gear, with a committee comprised of local advisory board members, staff members, and community representatives narrowing down the candidates. A final recommendation will go to Pacifica's Executive Director Dan Coughlin, and a decision is expected within the next 30 to 60 days.

Roy Hurst's association with KPFK spans a decade, when as a listener he came on board and trained in the KPFK Apprenticeship Program. He joined the station staff in 1997 as a producer and production manager. His many credits include an award-winning series called "Radio Griot," dedicated to traditional African storytelling; and a celebrity dramatization of the Ralph Ellison novel, "The Invisible Man." Technically, he oversaw the Shadow Convention, and he saw the station through its historic national day of broadcasting during the winter fund drive. In recent months, Hurst had been acting operations director.

"Roy Hurst enjoys a national reputation throughout the Pacifica system as an award-winning producer and accomplished radio broadcaster," commented Pacifica's Executive Director Dan Coughlin. "We have every confidence that Roy and the KPFK staff and community will carry the station to new heights through this transition period."

Hurst will consult with representative staff members as part of an effort to arrive at consensus-made decisions. "My goal is to continue the democratization process that Steven Starr initiated during his term at KPFK," said Hurst. "My main focus is to bring more community involvement to the station, which will be directly reflected in its future programming. I'm very excited about the prospects, and I also look forward to assisting in the search for a permanent general manager who will be able to fulfill these objectives."

Hurst will be at the helm through the spring fund drive, which is set for May 14-24. For more information about the General Manager job description and other avenues for community involvement, please visit the website at www.kpfk.org.