Message 496 of 1767 Message-ID: <20020129231703.76507.qmail@w...> Received: from [143.111.43.36] by web10905.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Tue, 29 Jan 2002 15:17:03 PST Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 15:17:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: FSRN in Houston To: PNN strikers Cc: exitvalrie@yahoogroups.com, KPFTilab@yahoogroups.com In-Reply-To: From: D Jones X-Yahoo-Group-Post: member; u=42990084 X-Yahoo-Profile: dmjo_2000 What this is about: The correspondance below is from Aaron Glantz and FSRN and regards the real story behind Hep's event with Monica Lopez on 2/5/02 which was A LOT more than he explained. It was in fact a plan by Aaron Glantz of FSRN and Hep to move two reporters (from Berkeley and Alburquque)to Houston on a long-term basis to set up a Houston "bureau" to do news. This would presumably be at KPFT and would in reality be the news department of the station starting as early as this Friday. I uncovered this "deal" when I began asking if FSRN was interested in having some Houston folks doing reporting for them in the future. I was then informed that FSRN already had a Houston "bureau" plan in place, worked out with Hep. In his emails to me, Mr Glantz explained that he felt the situtation in Houston was a "scandal" and that we needed outside experienced reporters to learn how to do news and that at some point (after they had been trained by his people) local people would be ready to begin doing stories themselves. It was pointed out to me by other FSRN staffers that FSRN has no other "bureaus" (other than DC), that its other reporters in the US are based in the cities they report on. I also note that FSRN apparently didn't think it was important to have such a Houston bureau, until after Mr Ganter left. I am of coure delighted that experienced reporters would be interested in coming to Houston to teach and offer their services. And to produce stories from and about Houston. But I find this largely secret plan to insert two semipermanent reporters into the tiny KPFT news facilities without any consultation with the LAB, current programmers, a broad group of activists or most troubling the new KPFT station manager who should be on the job in days truly appalling. The note below from the "PNN strikers" is misleading in that it mentions none of the things I have just outlined....and seems largely to be an attempt at damage control by Mr. Glantz once his plan has become public. I would encourage FSRN to back-off Mr Glantz's ambitious plan for control and work a little more closely with the new folks at KPFT and interested volunteers at KPFT to cooperate on producing news that is of and for the community. Dan -------------------------------- Dear Dan, You will be happy to know that starting February 1, FSRN will establish a Houston Bureau with regular reports in the newscast. The newscast will be staffed initially by Monica Lopez who is moving from San Francisco to set things up (if its alright I will put you in touch). Then, a month later, Joe Gardner Wesselly will come to Houston from Alburquque, NM. Both are amazing reporters. It is a real scandal the Houston has not been better served by national news in the past. But that is about to change! (at least with regard to FSRN). Best, Aaron Glantz -------------------------- >From: Vanessa Tait >Reply-To: vanessa@u... >To: Aaron Glantz >Subject: [Fwd: Fwd: Re: kpft and fsrn] >Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 14:51:30 -0800 > >from dan jones...i've been chatting with him about getting us on the air >and about passing a resolution for us. i think you should try to make >contact with the reporters in TX and get them on the FSRN crew... ><< message3.txt >> ------------------------------------- --- PNN strikers wrote: > Dear Houston activists, > > Free Speech Radio News has been talking with some of > you who wanted to build > a closer relationship and reestablish critical, > grassroots news reporting > from Houston. In consultation with you, Aaron Glantz > (FSRN producer) asked > two of our best reporters to plan to travel to > Houston to help in whatever > capacity they were needed. We are heartened to hear > you already have some 15 > people signed up to work with our reporter when she > arrives. However, we > have just now learned that there seems to be some > disagreement in your ranks > about this plan, and we certainly do not want to > come to Houston if we are > not wanted there. We ask that you please discuss > this collectively as soon > as possible and then let us know if and how you want > us to be involved. > > In solidarity, > > The Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship strike > committee, > producers of Free Speech Radio News, the newscast of > freelance reporters on > strike against Pacifica Network News > http://www.fsrn.org | pnnstrikers@i... __________________________________________________   Message 496 of 1767  |