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PREVIOUS MEETINGS
May,
June, & July 2001.
The chapter met during these months and have big plans for
the fall. Key contacts include Scott Sanders and Dale Lehman.
This chapter has been focused on bringing Chicago NPR station
WBEZ into compliance with FCC policy regarding maintenance
of their public inspection file. They plan to build local
coalitions around the various issues involved (e.g. candidate
free time, operating budget, etc.)
This
chapter has also addressed the station's Community Advisory
Board and General Manger Troy Malatia regarding the need
for "more diverse voices and points of view."
So far, there has not been a positive response, but they
are not giving up. In fact, members wrote and submitted
a grant application to the MacArthur Foundation to underwrite
continuing work. The chapter has its own web site and link
it with the "Public Broadcasting" page at the
FCC.
In
June, Scott Sanders attended a two-day Community Media Workshop
and spoke with Don Rose, "Chicago's best known political
media consultant," and the legendary Studs Terkel.
Scott also attended sessions with editorial board members
of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune and the
Daily Southtown as well as a presentation by representatives
of the Benton, Woods and Joyce Foundations.
May 2001.
CIPB-Chicago attended the April WBEZ-FM Board Programming
Committee meeting. The Community Advisory Board audience
survey was not very well received. Station manager Torey
Malatia no longer takes listener questions over the air.
CIPB-Chicago also attended the April WBEZ Board of Directors
meeting. WBEZ's ad rates have gone up 20%. The station may
be picking up some of the sponsors but none of the programming
aired on Chicago classical music station WNIB-FM until its
recent demise. In public comment we urged the Board must
not be a rubber stamp for the Station Manager's agenda.
We raised serious questions regarding the corporate afiliations
of Board members. Past FCC actions against commercialism
at WTTW-TV, WYCC-TV's lack of studio facilities, WBEZ's
de facto monopoly on public affairs public radio in Chicago
and the self-electing nature of the Alliance Board were
also noted by us.
WBEZ's
negative responses to our requests for policy changes favoring
candidate free time and accessible Board minutes are being
documented in writing. Possible radio venues for promoting
CIPB were discussed, including WBEZ. Our web site and promotional
ads are taking shape and our financing plans are in the
final stage.
The
next WBEZ CAB meeting will be held on May 15 at 6:00 pm.
December 2000. From Chapter
Organizer, Dale Lehman: A steering committee meeting was
held and discussion centered on focusing the efforts of
the chapter and getting new members involved. One of the
best suggestions offered was that we work up a list of demands
for each station we take on to use both as a measure of
progress and as aid to organizing. We agreed to each try
to bring two people to the next meeting from local groups
that work on community issues.
November 12. Members are gathering
information about the local stations' governance and their
public files. They have been using the CIPB
Manual for Activists as an aid. One station's public
file contained letters from the community. The group discussed
what they found and decided to contact the station manager
and inquire how public input regarding programing is accommodated.
This information will help them develop a strategy for presenting
requests to the station. Also the chapter is redesigning
their flyer and will continue posting it at local venues.
October
29. Dale Lehman started the meeting by discussing
his encounter with local station management in requesting
the public file. Then discussion moved to possible groups
that could be approached for coalition building efforts.
An action agenda was set for future meetings: 1) Chapter-coalition
actions, 2) Outreach for new members, 3) Actions around
local stations. Two members are forming a draft of a mission
statement for the chapter. Members were selected to approach
the local Independent Media Channel, pass out fliers at
two bookstores and place an announcement in the Coalition
for New Priorities newsletter. Also, everyone agreed that
the chapter should inform local independent filmmakers about
their activities and the CIPB Documentary
Competition.
October
7. Members started the meeting with introductions.
Dale Lehman was chosen as meeting chairperson, and Scott
Sanders as secretary. The Chicago section from Jerry Starr's
AIR WARS was distributed to everyone
present. The group agreed that the focus for action was
on reform of the local Chicago public radio and TV stations,
especially ensuring that local Boards elections are democratic.
Everyone agreed that CIPB national office has many great
resources that should be utilized. Members were selected
to pass out flyers for the next meeting and to gather information
on how local stations address public interest and concerns.
September
8. The Chicago chapter got its start as part
of the Chicago Media Watch conference held September 8-10.
After viewing the CIPB video "Put the Public Back into Public
Broadcasting" over twenty people signed up for further information.
A meeting date and place was immediately called to begin
an active and effective chapter on October 7th.
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