Award-Winning Reporter Resigns On-Air from Pacifica
source: FAIR

MEDIA ADVISORY:
Award-Winning Reporter Resigns On-Air from Pacifica;
Calls for Campaign to Oust Network Leadership

In a dramatic on-air announcement, Juan Gonzalez, the co-host of the Pacifica Radio Network show "Democracy Now!," resigned this morning from the network. Citing harassment and muzzling of free speech, Gonzalez said that "the current management situation at Pacifica has become intolerable...the last straw being the Christmas Coup at this station, WBAI, last month"--a reference to the recent unexplained firings and bannings of top staff.

"I've come to the conclusion that the Pacifica board has been hijacked by a small clique that has more in common with modern-day corporate vultures than with working-class America," Gonzalez said.

Addressing his co-host at Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman, Gonzalez continued: "You are a wonderful and committed journalist and you have been subjected to slanderous personal accusations and constant undermining of your efforts. And the board of Pacifica has tolerated it and, I think, even encouraged this."

Gonzalez ended his on-air resignation by announcing a "national corporate campaign" to oust the Pacifica Foundation's embattled new board leadership, which he accused of "illegally chang[ing] the Foundation's bylaws." He said the campaign would call on listeners, instead of donating to Pacifica, to contribute money to groups challenging the board's legitimacy and working to democratize the network.

Visit the A-Infos Radio Project at http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=2574 to hear Juan Gonzalez's on-air statement

posted on January 31, 2001 12:02 PM