[Kzyxtalk] Policy Considerations re New General Manager, Program Director

[dennisobrien at sharejerusalem.com]

To the Board of Directors of MCPB/KZYX:

The departure of both the General Manager and the Program Director offer an opportunity for a fresh start and a new direction at KZYX&Z.  Above all, the new GM and PD must be willing to abide by state and federal law, engage with the public, and implement the policies that are adopted by the Board of Directors.

The failure of the most recent GM and PD to do so, and the failure of past boards to properly oversee them, has led to the current conflicts and deficiencies at the station, including the following:

1. The refusal to share information has resulted in a legal demand by members to inspect financial and membership records;

2. Programmers have been dismissed without good cause and without the opportunity for review by the Personnel Committee;

3. Policy decisions concerning programming have been made by the GM and PD instead of the Board; the Program Advisory Committee, part of the Programming Policy adopted by the Board, is "defunct".

Each of these matters is on the verge of being litigated, although all involved wish to avoid such an extreme measure.  It would be much better if the Board hired a GM, and the GM hired a PD, who respected the law, our policies, and the public.

The General Manager of KZYX&Z is also the executive director, i.e., he or she will have the primary responsibility of executing the policies and procedures adopted by the board and ensuring compliance with any applicable laws.  This is the primary responsibility of the general manager of any organization.  If a candidate cannot commit to doing so, then they must be disqualified.  The recent statement by the current interim GM that ending our Safe Harbor for free speech is not a policy decision is an example of a GM and PD overstepping their authority.

Although the Program Director is currently hired by the General Manager, not the Board, the Board must insist that any new GM must hire a new PD who is likewise willing to implement board policy, engage with the public, and abide by state and federal law.  The current PD has been insulated from feedback and accountability, an institutional flaw which has led to the perception that programming decisions are arbitrary and capricious, and are made without any input from the community.

The Hiring Committee, and the the full Board, will soon be considering several candidates for the General Manager position.  This is not the time for making decisions based on personal loyalty.  Each director has a duty to place the interests of the organization ahead of any personal interests or loyalties.  The decision on who will be the next General Manager will likely have a greater impact on future operations than any other made by this board.  It must make sure that the person it chooses will abide by the law, engage with the public, and enthusiastically implement any policies adopted by the board, regardless of his or her personal opinion.

"The primary purpose of MCPB is to engage in providing high-quality, independent, community and public radio and other media products and services."  This is our purpose, as stated at the beginning of our Bylaws.  The only way we can achieve this goal is to follow the laws and policies that require us to engage with the community as a public radio station.  The next General Manager and Program Director must be committed to that process.  Please do everything you can to make sure they are.

Sincerely,
Dennis O'Brien
Member