Join the monthly event by WBAI’s John Kane
This month, a forum on:

Disappearing Voices: Gentrification of the Media

The points of view you’re not allowed to hear

Thurs., Jan. 31 from 6:30-9:30 PM

The Commons, 388 Atlantic Ave. (bet. Hoyt & Bond), Brooklyn
Subways: 2/3/4/5 to Nevins; A/C/G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn; F to Bergen; B/M/Q/R to Atlantic-Pacific

Livestreaming from “Let’s Talk with John Kane on WBAI” Facebook group page

Featuring:

Rosa Clemente, Afro-Puerto Rican journalist, political commentator, scholar-activist,
2008 United States Vice-Presidential candidate
Glen Ford, Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report, veteran journalist
Mario Murillo, Prof., Latin Amer. Studies, Hofstra U.; former WBAI Interim Prog. Dir.
John Kane, host, WBAI’s Talk Back – Let’s Talk (Thurs., 4-5 PM),
Native activist and producer of the “Let’s Talk Native” podcast
Mimi Rosenberg, cohost, WBAI’s Building Bridges (Mon., 7-8 PM), &
host, Equal Rights & Justice (Thurs., 9-10 AM); legal-aid attorney; community/labor activist

Video: Tarana Burke, founder, Me Too mvt.; Dir., Girls for Gender Equity
Film excerpt: “Disappearing Voices: The Decline of Black Radio”

This forum will be a must-hear, dynamic, analytical discussion of how corporate media,
“public” media (NPR & PBS), and community media like Pacifica Radio and WBAI have been
steadily narrowing the range of perspectives heard/seen. Corporate and public media – even
those claiming to be liberal — have always minimized grassroots and marginalized voices. But
as competition heightens, even more are squeezed out. Meanwhile, women’s rights and safety
are ignored as men with histories of harassment or abuse are pursued for airtime and ratings.
Now at WBAI, the corporate NPR-like model is being applied. The proportion of white men has
been increased and many hours of programming by People of Color have been removed or
reduced. New producers include those whose lens of understanding social change doesn’t go
beyond the Democratic Party. There’s even an accused sexual harasser being featured as a
“star,” with producers cautioned not to comment about it on the air — many have left over this
issue. In pursuit of the Almighty Dollar from an affluent class and a “mass” appeal, ratings have
become king — while alternatives for solving WBAI’s financial crisis are ignored.
WBAI is supposed to be the alternative to mass media—and we must struggle to keep it so.
Come hear what you won’t hear elsewhere—and join the fight to challenge the corrosive logic
that’s taken away the people’s control of our airwaves.
More information: www.LetsTalkNative.com
Email: jmkane1220@aol.com