(RESEND) WHAT ITS LIKE TO WORK FOR GRACE AARON, CHAIR OF THE PACIFICA NATIONAL BOARD

It is been a busy week in our part of cyberia. 

Last Monday we broke the national story about Maxie Jackson resigning as Executive Director of Pacifica Radio.  We have had over 3,000 page-views since we posted the story.

We’ve also learned more about Grace Aaron, the Chair of the Pacifica Foundation’s National Board of Directors. 

Aaron’s management style is one of reasons Jackson departed. 

Today we will let you, our readers, learn more about Aaron and the Pacifica National Board.

Jackson had been the Executive Director of Pacifica for around nine months. He was hired after a national search by Livingston & Associates. On Thursday (7/25) Aaron announced that Jackson had been replaced by John Vernile, who will serve as interim Executive Director until a full-time ED can be found.

Vernile has had an impressive career in the music business including over a decade at Sony Music. He worked in various capacities at Sony Classical, Columbia and Legacy, ending up as SVP of Artist & Catalog Development. Vernile also worked at as the head of promotion at Windham Hill/High Street (BMG).

Most recently Vernile worked as a sales rep for Forest Incentives, a firm that provides pledge drive items for public radio and TV stations. He worked at two radio stations in the late 1970s and early 1980s: WUSB, the excellent student station at Stony Brook and WYSO in Ohio.

Vernile’s lack of experience in radio may work to his advantage at Pacifica because he is about to experience radio “Grace Aaron style.” 

We wish Vernile success at Pacifica.

Aaron is product of the Pacifica governance system. 

Some folks call it "democracy" but it actually seems more like a Soviet style politburo. 

Aaron has no experience or expertise in broadcasting or public media that we know of. She has risen to become the Chair of the Pacifica Foundation the old fashioned way: She played the system to her advantage.

As a service to Mr. Vernile, and anyone else who is curious about what it is like to work for Ms. Aaron, we prepared a YouTube video based on audio from an actual Pacifica Foundation Programming Committee meeting. The meeting was held via a conference call on March 19, 2019, and it features a dialog between Aaron and Jackson where each explains their radio programming philosophies.

There was nothing secret about acquiring this audio clip. It was publically posted on the Pacifica website [link].  As your listen to this seven-minute excerpt, imagine yourself in Maxie Jackson’s shoes.”

Link to video: https://youtu.be/cw4asLVnet4

NOT EVERYONE AT PACIFICA IS A FAN OF GRACE AARON & THE PACIFICA NATIONAL BOARD

Also this past week we received a copy of a memo from Anyel Fields, the General Manager of Pacifica’s Pacifica’s KPFK in Los Angeles.  Anyel sent it to the staff of KPFK short after the announcement that Maxie Jackson was gone. 

We are posting it verbatim and without commentary: 

From KPFK GM Anyel Fields:

I write this letter to express my sincerest concerns about stability in the Pacifica Foundation. I have spoken with my fellow managers who are perhaps the most qualified individuals to speak on behalf of our listeners, members, staff, volunteers, and board members as we engage with them daily to hear their concerns.

It is our responsibility to ensure that Pacifica serves at the highest levels and that the Foundation can continue to conduct business for years to come.

In the spirit of speaking truth to power, I want to express the deepest concerns of staff, volunteers, potential donors and members that I have had conversations with about the vote to dismiss Maxie Jackson and or Pacifica's path of instability.

Instability is the bane of our healing process. Pacifica has weathered turmoil after turmoil, but how long does Pacifica have, how long do we have as custodians of a once great network to get it right?

Pacifica is in debt in which we have no plans nor contingency plans that have been communicated if there is one to face what some consider a doomsday clock. We are suffering from increasing days of fund drives, relying on an old model of fundraising with old tools.

The over-reliance on our old models of raising funds is driving the very listeners we rely on away. It also makes it difficult to truly grow our listenership, when we interrupt regular programming for fund drive programming that nearly equates to infomercials.

Many in the network say we need youth in our organization, but many aren't willing to pass the torch for another generation to inherit the duties of being vanguards to this progressive network nor embrace the changes necessary for a new generation.

What is to become of Pacifica once most of its supporters have transitioned and when the Foundation continues to drive away youth and seasoned professionals it needs?

For the past several months under the leadership of the previous ED, network-cohesion among the stations started to take root, and we began to look beyond Pacifica's comfort zones. We had begun to adopt best practices, develop, and implement plans to make Pacifica relevant in the rapidly changing media landscape.

Having seasoned professionals that immerse themselves in the industry they work in and staying abreast of market changes is a key factor to a successful business. Stability is one of the most critical circumstances in growing a successful company. The following are four essential factors that impact nonprofit success:

A well-informed, passionate, engaged board

A relationship built on respect, sincerity, and open communication between board members

A knowledgeable, dedicated lead staff person

A relationship built on respect, sincerity, and open dialogue between the staff, volunteers, and all board members

I understand many don't want to risk the Pacicifca status quo, and it may feel suitable for some, but this comes at the risk of keeping Pacifica less than its potential.

The world is rapidly changing, and no longer is the Foundation, the only place people can get information, enlightenment, and encouragement to forge progressive social change. The nature of how public media has changed too, and Pacifica and its stations require the resources to adapt and be an innovator in the field.

I ask these questions of the Pacifica National Board:

• When will we set aside our differences and together work towards a strong and thriving Pacifica?

• Do we have the courage to face the terror of change to evolve and adapt to new public media models?

• What are the plans to inspire confidence in our members under unstable conditions?

• What are the plans for hiring another Executive Director?

• Will seasoned public media veterans a chance to make positive impacts in our Foundation?

I hope you take into consideration what is expressed in this letter, the effects of the board's decisions have ripple effects. The Foundation you represent on behalf of our listeners needs all vested parties to work together.

As members of the Pacifica National Board of directors, their unique role as high-level volunteers make each of them responsible for the position of raising support, awareness and providing the conditions for stability.

It is my hope that all factionalism on the board end so that we can quickly hire a new Executive Director that is seasoned and allowed at least a year to get acclimated with our unique working environment that isn't always welcoming, establish network cohesion, and develop a business plan to re-establish Pacifica.

PS: I am committed to making a positive impact on KPFK and Pacifica's future during my tenure. I know that there will always be some disagreements with my decisions, business philosophies, and management style. However, I make my decisions from an objective and respectful position and have always engaged with anyone that is willing to contribute there input. I believe that Pacifica's greatest accomplishments will be born out of collaboration. I will always strive to foster a collaborative and transparent working environment at Pacifca.

BCC: I have included the KPFK staff and programmers on this email so that they are aware of the concerns many of us have and perhaps seize the opportunity to contribute to a healthy discussion and solutions moving forward.

Sincerely,

Anyel Z. Fields
General Manager, Sustaining Member, and Listener