Before a recent upgrade of the KPFK web site, the station maintained some forums in which listeners could post public notes and criticisms of station operation and programming. \r\n\r\nApparently few people knew about them, and the forums had only a few posts per week. Some UCLA members of the International Students for Social Equality, ISSE, were posting links to articles on the widely followed World Socialist Web Site, www.wsws.org, and asking why no one on the station was discussing issues or reporting facts.\r\n\r\nOther people were questioning particular programs.\r\n\r\nA long running thread asked why programmers at KPFK never answered emails.\r\n\r\nOther people were posting links to LA Indymedia articles asking who was financing Grace Aaron's slate mailers. That question remains unanswered.\r\n\r\nThe KPFK page no longer has links to the forums, and bookmarks to it return blank pages, as do links from Google searches. \r\n\r\nListeners now have no place to discuss or criticize the station.\r\n\r\nKPFK calls it self \"Revolutionary radio.\"\r\n\r\nNo one returned emails or phone calls about the removal of the forums.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"The new Grace Aaron\/Ian Masters Local Station Board slate candidates have moved to strengthen their control over the station by eliminating a source of listener criticism. ","numcomment":9,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2008\/05\/217405.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":217459,"heading":"re: listeners forum","article":"Just pointed the KPFK webmaster, Ali Lexa, to this post and asked him to respond. Prolly have to wait until Monday, a work day.\r\n\r\n","author":"Leslie Radford","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-11 16:35:25","modified":"2008-05-11 16:35:25","fileurl":""},{"id":217507,"heading":"RE: KPFK.org listeners forum gone?","article":"Due to security breaches in various user web input components, which allowed hackers to exploit our webservers, including uploading malicious code, shutting down servers, etc. all anonymous user components of the website have been disabled at this time. However, the "Program Comments" sectiom is still active, now as an emailer, and is the best way for listeners to get a direct response to their inquiries and comments.\r\n\r\n-- \r\nRegards, \r\nA Lexa \r\nKPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles \r\nKPFK 98.7 FM Santa Barbara \r\nwebmaster@kpfk.org \r\nListen online at: http:\/\/www.kpfk.org","author":"Ali Lexa, repost by L. Radford","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-13 22:02:24","modified":"2008-05-13 22:02:24","fileurl":""},{"id":217513,"heading":"Nonsense from KPFK staff","article":""Due to security breaches .... all anonymous user components of the website have been disabled at this time."\r\n\r\nThe internet contains tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of web and blogging sites with user forums just like the one KPFK used to have for listeners. Despite security risks inherent in any web site, they all permit users to post messages.\r\n\r\nYet KPFK can't do what all these thousands of other sites do?\r\n\r\nB.S.\r\n\r\nGrace Aaron, Ian Masters, and all the others of the slate mailer local board group just want people asking, "Who financed the slate mailer?"\r\n\r\nDoes Grace think that doing this before a fund raising drive is going to make anyone open their pocket books? It is going to give me an excuse to keep mine closed. ","author":"Aaron G","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-14 04:32:15","modified":"2008-05-14 04:32:15","fileurl":""},{"id":217547,"heading":"KPFK WEBSITE has censored it's listeners for sure !","article":"Yes, more than a few of us have already written KPFK comments line and webmaster to ask about the deleted "Listener Forum"....which no one at the station bothered to read or respond to anyhow.\r\n\r\nThere was, of course, NO RESPONSE to those emails & Questions, as usual. So what's changed ?\r\n\r\nThe same Bushy game of "security ! we need to close all our doors and listen only to our adultators" all others are terrorists [dissenters, questioners]....\r\nsame line, come now from Ali and maybe others who authorize this jerk to respond publicly for the station staff & their decisions?\r\n\r\nugh....\r\n\r\nAnyone who has access to another website or wants to join in to form one for outside non-malicious but sharing info about our concerns about KPFK and it's workings and dysfunctionings,\r\n\r\n please comment or connect here [ giving out a personal email address offers even those who loyally defend KPFK to malign and spam that address, unfortunately..somehow so many seem to be so vehement and intimidating as not to be easily trusted....yet...not blindly, or publicly yet....]\r\n\r\nAgain, this lapse is not the only one.\r\n\r\nQuestion was also asked about how to contact OUR LSB via email directly as the only email they had returned email as 'mail failure" 3 x and this was months ago ! not even when web supposedly maybe was 'hacked' ....?\r\n\r\nand if so hacked , by whom? and what was their purpose ? I know that things can be traced back and some investigation done if maliciious mischief or political domination was occuring. Why so secret about all that is suppose to be OUR LISTENER SPONSORED owned station ? huh?\r\n\r\nand the only place to write to and receive ANY RESPONSE AT ALL is "program comments" which asks for positive comments or song titles for programmers, not KPFK staffers, paid to communicate with us, beyond a few on the air 'cards' or announcements that we may Not have heard that 1-2-3 times it did play, if it did at all .....\r\n\r\nWhy the continual secrecy ? Pur paranoia ? Like Bush & henchmen play it out the same scene, the same actors with the same lame excuses ? \r\n\r\nWhat is the way to help, request, get KPFKers to become RESPONSIBLE ? to those who pay so dearly for it's maintenance and salaries and thus it's hiding so much and never answering phone msgs or emails ? What in the world is going on INSIDE this\r\nclaimant of 'free speech" when it is not freely given to those who ask of it, pay for it, work free for it....\r\n\r\ncan someone please tell me what we need to do to finally make or help make some positive CHANGES ?\r\n\r\nListener Forum was a pretend-to-listen but for all the questions, concerns mentioned about the station, not one response was given on that site, or in emails as the webmaster has access to the 'anonymous' sender's site source.\r\n\r\nwhat in that world is going on anyhow ! ? ","author":"Commentator","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-15 18:24:33","modified":"2008-05-15 18:24:33","fileurl":""},{"id":217558,"heading":"a corner","article":"I'll set up a comments board on my website over the weekend if you want (assuming LSB stuff doesn't take all my time). Probably Sunday--need to change my provider, update Joomla, so it will be later rather than earlier.\r\n\r\nYou should be able to reach most of the LSB at LSB2008@ kpfk.org or 2008LSB@kpfk.org, I don't remember which one. _Almost_ everybody's address is correct on that list.","author":"Leslie","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-15 20:45:53","modified":"2008-05-15 20:45:53","fileurl":""},{"id":217590,"heading":"kpfkstaffmember","article":"Jeeze - you people are nuts. Leslie why does everything need to be some conspiracy with you? If we needed to switch the company who handles our water at the station you'd call it some coup by Grace Aaron. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nEven though I think some of the sreeching comments left at the boards resembled a witch hunt, I did enjoy reading a few of them from time to time, but you and your gang of accusers haven't even thought far enough thru to the fact that maybe just maybe the webmaster is working on getting a different type of message board - one that is not so easily hacakable. \r\n\r\nThe message did state, "Due to security breaches .... all anonymous user components of the website have been disabled AT THIS TIME." But no, that means to you this is all some sort of conspiracy. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nYou claim that people can't reach staff now. Bullshit. it's called picking up a phone and calling or going to the CONTACTS section of the website and finding our our email address. Email us. Or better yet, quit whining and get off your butt and come down during fundrive and volunteer. Then you can discuss issues with us one on one. But it's easier to say we're all evil isn't it Leslie? We're all part of some sort of plan to destroy KPFK. You know you're really beginning to sound spooky. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nIf your little group of stone throwers wish to boycott the drive simply because the message board is down - what is going to happen when a new GM comes in who you think is the wrong zodiac sign? Will you torch a few voodoo dolls? \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n- KPFK Staffer\r\n\r\n \r\n","author":"xxx","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-16 15:59:36","modified":"2008-07-23 15:56:41","fileurl":""},{"id":217620,"heading":"No one answers or returns calls at KPFK","article":"Someone calling themselves kpfkstaffmember wrote:\r\n\r\n"You claim that people can't reach staff now. Bullshit. it's called picking up a phone and calling or going to the CONTACTS section of the website and finding our our email address. Email us. \r\n\r\nI have personally written letters by US mail, sent emails, made phone calls and left voice mail messages to dozens of people at KPFK.\r\n\r\nI have tried to contact both staff and programmers.\r\n\r\nI left voice messages because no one would take calls.\r\n\r\nNot once has anyone ever replied to my letters, returned my phone call, or replied to my email\r\n\r\nThe old message forum had a thread full of posts where other people described my own personal experience.\r\n\r\nAlso, I never saw anyone from the station reply to messages on the message board either.\r\n\r\nThis person also said: "Jeeze - you people are nuts."\r\n\r\nI don't think there is anything nutty in continuing to ask who is behind this KPFK Strengthening Committee. People asking questions have received nothing but stonewalling. The characerization of people asking these questions as "nutty" is totally uncalled for. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","author":"Henry","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-17 02:34:56","modified":"2008-05-17 02:34:56","fileurl":""},{"id":217643,"heading":"Is that really a KPFK staffer? Could it be ...?","article":"This is a bad way to prove KPFK is doing what it claims...\r\n\r\ncalling oneself a 'xxx" KPFKstaffmember and then maliciously name-calling others is really giving the rest of the KPFK staff members a very bad reputation by association. Sure hope it doesnt mean "X" is for a female gendered responder.\r\n\r\nLike Henry, many of us, not just me, have made many many many many attempts to communicate with KPFK....only reach a voice mail of someone who never responds to the question & call....or write to the prior listed LSB email address 3x, only to get it 'returned' as undeliverable... or to search the website for how to reach someone WHO WILL RESPOND, and it just Does Not Happen...no matter what we do ...from out here.\r\n\r\nAt many of us DO VOLUNTEER WORK TOO, that is how much we care, not just to complain, AS THE only thing left to do, but WE work work work for free and still....have no access...to reach someone or get an answer to a question, a concern, a suggestion, et al.\r\n\r\nof course, everyone there is "too busy"...of course....\r\n\r\nThe venting style of this above writer KPFKstaffer is hopefully a misrepresentation of a paid staff member, or else maybe it does explain why there is so little transparency there...\r\n\r\nthere is so much anger to hide .....\r\n\r\nthere is so much putting other's down [assumed superiority \r\nis it ?] that why bother responding to subscribers & their concerns? They cant be as important as The Staffers.\r\n\r\nAnd let's blame one person for offering information and making her website available. That makes sense. \r\n\r\nIndymedia is wonderful to write here anonymously and vent furiously and insultingly. But when a few people give information or state a concern, they are accused of....\r\nbeing bad bad bad, of course... Maybe I just dont get it !\r\n\r\nMaybe that was a fake and not a KPFK staff person after all, as easily disguised as am I...\r\n\r\nwhy the anonymity ? Because of plain ordinary apprehension - that revealing a name will incur further future wrath & vengence and accusations...at KPFK....from KPFKers...or from some readers who latch on to anyone they can intimidate and lash at.\r\n\r\nwhere have we arrived to ? when lying about working for pay at KPFK becomes a way to presume authority and claim the right to insult & humiliate others here. \r\n\r\nI guess this is the right place to do it....\r\nmaybe I'll try it but using another corp's name...like PBS, or..\r\nmaybe.....\r\n \r\n","author":"sidestepper","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2008-05-17 19:36:07","modified":"2008-05-17 19:36:07","fileurl":""},{"id":241661,"heading":"KPFK 2010 LSB Election","article":"
If you are a KPFK subscriber or know someone who is - I want to encourage you and your friends to vote for the following group of candidates in this year's election for new local board members: \r\n
Fred Blair Dennis McCoy \r\n
Steven Brooks Margie Murray* \r\n
Lance Charles Summer Reese* \r\n
John De Simio Jerry Van \r\n
Leonard Isenberg Richard Vega \r\n
Nancy Kazar Richard Wittmann \r\n
Chipasha Luchembe Lamont Yeakey* \r\n\r\n
For full details on each candidate go to: www.CandidateSlate.org <\/a> \r\n
For a brief introduction video go here <\/a> \r\n \r\nWe need these people on the board to continue our efforts to maintain KPFK as an outlet for community based programming that is professional, relevant and reality based. \r\n \r\nGo to the website<\/a>to find out about the platform, the candidates and the organization (The Committee to Strengthen KPFK.) \r\n \r\nWhat we're trying to get done is to establish basic operations, but getting them implemented takes focus and persistence when others want to drive off the road and over the cliff. Briefly are goals are: Responsible Governance, Competent Management, Financial Transparency, Compelling Programming, High Journalistic & Technical Standards, Expanded Local News, Greater Use of the Internet & Social Media, Internships, Improved Marketing, Outreach and Fundraising\r\n\r\nFrankly, there's nothing amazing or controversial in what we're trying to do. What is of note is that our candidates are there for the benefit of the station, the Foundation, and the Mission Statement. They are not there to advocate for any narrow interest or political faction. Go to the website and look over their qualifications. Then, I hope you'll vote for all 14, *ranking Summer, Margie and Lamont as the first three so they'll get re-elected.\r\n \r\nIf you can vote, please do, and please send a note to your own email list or to specific people you know who are KPFK subscribers.\r\n \r\nDeadline for getting the ballots in to the station is Sept 30th, 2010 at midnight.\r\n \r\nThanks again,\r\n Ken Aaron \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n","author":"Ken Aaron","parent_id":217405,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2010-09-09 18:14:47","modified":"2010-09-09 18:14:47","fileurl":""}]}