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Maintaining its adherence to Pacifica founder Lew Hill's Mission,<ref name=mission>{{Cite web|url=https://pacifica.org/about_mission.php|title=The Pacifica Foundation|website=pacifica.org}}</ref> KPFK focuses on news, public affairs, and performance of local interest, while blending in nationally and internationally focused programming.
Maintaining its adherence to Pacifica founder Lew Hill's Mission,<ref name=mission>{{Cite web|url=https://pacifica.org/about_mission.php|title=The Pacifica Foundation|website=pacifica.org}}</ref> KPFK focuses on news, public affairs, and performance of local interest, while blending in nationally and internationally focused programming.


Programming is primarily English language, but includes twenty-two hours broadcast in Spanish five evenings per week, Monday - Thursday, and Saturday.
⚫
Programming includes twelve hours broadcast in Spanish from 9:00&nbsp;p.m.-midnight. With the rest of the Pacifica Foundation stations and in accord with the Mission's commitment to dialogue, KPFK maintains community access to the airwaves, which was stated as:


⚫
With the rest of the Pacifica Foundation stations and in accord with the Mission's commitment to dialogue, KPFK maintains community access to the airwaves, which was stated as:
⚫
"to serve the cultural welfare of the community.... to contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all of such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the purposes of this corporation to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms. In radio broadcasting operations to promote the full distribution of public information; to obtain access to sources of news not commonly brought together in the same medium; and to employ such varied sources in the public presentation of accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community."<ref name=mission/>

"To establish a Foundation organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member of the Foundation.

To establish and operate for educational purposes, in such manner that the facilities involved shall be as nearly self-sustaining as possible, one or more radio broadcasting stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and subject in their operation to the regulatory actions of the Commission under the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended.

In radio broadcasting operations to encourage and provide outlets for the creative skills and energies of the community; to conduct classes and workshops in the writing and producing of drama; to establish awards and scholarships for creative writing; to offer performance facilities to amateur instrumentalists, choral groups, orchestral groups and music students; and to promote and aid other creative activities which will serve the cultural welfare of the community.{mosimage}

⚫
In radio broadcasting operations to engage in any activity that shall contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all of such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the purposes of this corporation to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms.

In radio broadcasting operations to promote the full distribution of public information; to obtain access to sources of news not commonly brought together in the same medium; and to employ such varied sources in the public presentation of accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community."<ref name=mission/>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 07:36, 31 August 2022

KPFK
Broadcast areaSouthern California
Frequency90.7 MHz
BrandingKPFK 90.7 FM
Programming
FormatPublic Radio
AffiliationsPacifica Radio
Ownership
OwnerPacifica Foundation
History
First air date
July 26, 1959 (62 years ago)
Call sign meaning
PaciFiKa
Technical information
Facility ID51252
ClassB
ERP110,000 watts
HAAT863.0 meters (2,831.4 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
34°13′45″N 118°4′3″W / 34.22917°N 118.06750°W / 34.22917; -118.06750
Translator(s)See § Translators and booster
Repeater(s)See § Translators and booster
Links
WebcastListen LiveMP3
Websitewww.kpfk.org Edit this at Wikidata

KPFK (90.7 FM) is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves Southern California, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet. It was the second of five stations in the non-commercial, listener-sponsored Pacifica Foundation network.

KPFK 90.7 FM began broadcasting in April 1959,[1][2] twelve years after the Pacifica Foundation was created by pacifist Lewis Hill, and ten years after the network's flagship station, KPFA, was founded in Berkeley. KPFK also broadcasts on booster KPFK-FM1 along the Malibu coast, K258BS (99.5 MHz) in China Lake, K254AH (98.7 MHz) in Isla Vista and K229BO 93.7 MHz in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego.

With its 110,000-watt main transmitter atop Mount Wilson, KPFK is one of the most powerful FM stations in the western United States. The station can be heard from the California/Mexico border to Santa Barbara to Ridgecrest/China Lake. A second 10-watt translator is licensed in Isla Vista, California, a census-designated place outside Santa Barbara. The transmitter for that station is located atop Gibraltar Peak, allowing its broadcast to be heard over a large portion of southern Santa Barbara County.

Funding

The station is part of the Pacifica Network which has 5 radio stations besides KPFK, and provides programming to over 150 affiliates.

Operating costs are covered primarily by donations from listener-sponsors and sponsored events. The 501(c)3 non-profit station runs no paid commercial advertisements or sponsored programming. Memberships at a minimum donation of $25 allow participation in the election of Local Station Board members.

Local Station Board (LSB)

In two years during a 3-year cycle, station members and staff elect the Local Station Board (LSB) as required by the Pacifica Foundation Bylaws.[3] The KPFK LSB elects members from its body to the Pacifica Foundation board of directors and has support and advisory duties for the station. The full LSB meets monthly, and committees of the LSB meet on both regular and ad hoc bases.

Programming

Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei as a guest in historian Jon Wiener's radio show on KPFK, 2017.

Like all Pacifica stations, KPFK has, since its inception run an eclectic schedule of performing arts, public affairs, and news. Many programs are available through the Pacifica Network [4] for rebroadcast to affiliate stations and are streamed for a limited period on the Online Archives.[5]

Maintaining its adherence to Pacifica founder Lew Hill's Mission,[6] KPFK focuses on news, public affairs, and performance of local interest, while blending in nationally and internationally focused programming.

Programming is primarily English language, but includes twenty-two hours broadcast in Spanish five evenings per week, Monday - Thursday, and Saturday.

With the rest of the Pacifica Foundation stations and in accord with the Mission's commitment to dialogue, KPFK maintains community access to the airwaves, which was stated as:

"To establish a Foundation organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member of the Foundation.

To establish and operate for educational purposes, in such manner that the facilities involved shall be as nearly self-sustaining as possible, one or more radio broadcasting stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and subject in their operation to the regulatory actions of the Commission under the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended.

In radio broadcasting operations to encourage and provide outlets for the creative skills and energies of the community; to conduct classes and workshops in the writing and producing of drama; to establish awards and scholarships for creative writing; to offer performance facilities to amateur instrumentalists, choral groups, orchestral groups and music students; and to promote and aid other creative activities which will serve the cultural welfare of the community.{mosimage}

In radio broadcasting operations to engage in any activity that shall contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all of such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the purposes of this corporation to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms.

In radio broadcasting operations to promote the full distribution of public information; to obtain access to sources of news not commonly brought together in the same medium; and to employ such varied sources in the public presentation of accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community."[6]

History

In 1974, Will Lewis, the general manager of the station at the time, famously refused to turn over tapes acquired from the Symbionese Liberation Army after the terrorist group's kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst. After repeated requests by the FBI and subpoenaed, Lewis cited the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press[7] to no avail at a grand jury and was sent to federal prison for 15 days at Terminal Island. [8] Lewis was finally released by Supreme Court justice William O. Douglas. [9] Lewis shared a prison cell with controversial LSD guru Timothy Leary.

Lewis was just the second media representative to ever be sent to jail on a freedom of the press issue, the first was Los Angeles Times reporter Bill Farr in 1970 for not revealing sources to a story written during the Charles Manson case.[10]

Lewis progressive changes at KPFK during the 1970s[11] turned the Pacifica station into one of the most popular in the nation where many celebrity activists were able to express their views without censorship from mainstream media. Actors Martin Sheen, Paul Newman, Jane Fonda and her then politician husband Tom Hayden, who stood trial in the Chicago Seven case, were among many high profile visitors at the station during Lewis' leadership.

Lewis was a manager ahead of his times. In 1974, he was the first to introduce a radio show produced and hosted exclusively by and for the gay community "The Great Gay Radio Conspiracy" [12]as Greg Gordon, Enrich Murrello, and Colin McQueen began the program at 11pm the 3rd Tuesday of the every month. This controversial program eventually was referred to as IMRU as it created great consternation for a mostly conservative audience. Today, the program is still a fixture on KPFK as the longest running LBGTQ program some 48 years later.

KPFK was the only full service public radio station in Los Angeles during the early 1970s. Lewis and the station won awards for its Watergate coverage, including the Golden Mike Award to reporter Mike Hodel.[13]

Translators and booster

In addition to the main station, KPFK is relayed by an additional four translators and one booster to widen its broadcast area.

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class FCC info Notes
K258BS 99.5 FM China Lake, California 9 D —
K254AH 98.7 FM Isla Vista, California 10 D —
KPFK-FM1 90.7 FM Malibu, California 1,500 D Booster
K229BO 93.7 FM Rancho Bernardo, Etc., California 10 D —
K212FA 90.3 FM Temple City, California 10 D —

References

  1. ^ "About Pacifica - A Short History". Pacifica.org. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  2. ^ Blaine, John; Baker, Decia, eds. (1973). "Support Groups". Community Arts of Los Angeles (Report). Los Angeles Community Art Alliance. p. 49. hdl:10139/2728. OCLC 912321031.
  3. ^ "The Pacifica Foundation". pacifica.org.
  4. ^ "Pacifica Network - Broadcasting Network for Grassroots Community Radio".
  5. ^ "KPFK Public Radio - Online Archives Archive". archive.kpfk.org.
  6. ^ a b "The Pacifica Foundation". pacifica.org.
  7. ^ "The Press: Pushing Privilege Too Far?". Time. 15 July 1974.
  8. ^ "Desert Sun 20 June 1974 — California Digital Newspaper Collection".
  9. ^ "Radio Station Manager May Drop Tape Battle". The New York Times. 25 July 1974.
  10. ^ "Conflict over Protection of News Sources Enters New Phase Tomorrow in Farr Case in California". The New York Times. July 1974.
  11. ^ https://freepacifica.savegrassrootsradio.org/fp/tuneout.htm, paragraph 5
  12. ^ "History B".
  13. ^ "Remembering KPFK's Mike Hodel - Gone but Not Forgotten". 13 July 2017.
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