KPFK is one of the left’s few major assets in Southern California, and now that asset may be under serious threat. It is being reported that one of three finalists for the position of General Manager at KPFK is current Senior Producer Christine Blosdale. Blosdale is well known for pioneering the most discredited conspiracy-theory laden programming at KPFK, consistently promoting fundraising “thank-you gifts” that are journalistically questionable. Now, the small measure of credibility that the station has retained in spite of Blosdale, is in danger of being lost.

For example, many reports of the recent gruesome Arizona shooting have revealed that the alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, was influenced by a film that Blosdale heavily promoted on KPFK’s airwaves some years back, called Zeitgeist made by Peter Joseph. Joseph (who apparently does not use his real name) calls himself the leader of the “Zeitgeist movement.” His film features Ron Paul, a favorite of many libertarians and conservatives. The film also makes unproven claims about a government cover-up of the 9-11 attacks, and how a secret group of bankers and elites is controlling the world – both paradigms are favored on the extreme right as well as the extreme left, and are standard Blosdale fare.

It is also known that Blosdale runs her own Public Relations business called Good Karma PR (www.goodkarmapr.com). Aside from the obvious conflicts of interest inherent in a journalist running a PR side business, is a disturbing fact that Blosdale routinely provides paid services for people who make appearances on the KPFK shows she produces, who’s films are routinely used as thank you gifts, or whose events are sponsored by KPFK. In a nut shell, one can buy an appearance on KPFK, score a contract selling your products to KPFK, or get publicity for your event at KPFK by hiring their Senior Producer on the side. Several people have done just that, according to Good Karma PR’s own website: Dylan Avery, director of the 9-11 conspiracy film “Loose Change,” and William Rodriguez, whose speaking tour was organized by Blosdale’s company and then sponsored by KPFK. Good Karma PR even boasts about the unethical connection between the company and KPFK on the website regarding Roseanne Barr’s stint hosting a show at the station: “we created the press release announcing her radio show on KPFK 90.7FM!” The fact that Pacifica has not seen fit to immediately halt this blatant form of the illegal activity that the FCC calls “payola” is shocking.

Blosdale has been the single biggest influence on KPFK’s descent into conspiracy theories on issues that have been thoroughly discredited (chemtrails, JFK’s assassination, dangers of vaccines, etc). She has also turned the station into a personal cash cow for her side-business. The fact that she remains employed at KPFK makes no sense. The fact that she is one of three finalists for the most powerful position at KPFK is a travesty of whatever process their Board and Pacifica’s mangement used to arrive at this sorry state. KPFK listeners should beware what lies ahead for the last vestiges of sanity on KPFK if Blosdale is hired as General Manager.