The very first "public" radio station in the United States was KPFA—FM in Berkeley. From it sprang the national network of noncommercial stations carrying almost exclusively liberal and left wing programming. Such broadcast outlets supposedly eschew market mechanisms, but most stations end up running what amount to commercials for underwriters" (sponsors). Because they must pay for programs from National Public Radio and Public Radio International, not to mention meet payroll, they do let listener and advertiser response influence programming decisions. Money talks. Not so at KPFA. Being located in Berkeley, it is far more purist in approach. Any influence from market forces is streng verboten. Accordingly, it is a test case for the concepts of "community control" and "collective organization" absent any feedback mechanism from the marketplace. And so it follows that the history of the station in recent decades is one of nearly constant turmoil. I happen to live nearly...(Read Full Post)