[Kzyxtalk] KZYX Programming Policy

Sat Apr 30 13:48:54 PDT 2016

Has the PAC been implemented?  If so, this would be a huge leap forward for our community. 

Doug

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 30, 2016, at 1:33 PM, <dennisobrien at sharejerusalem.com> <dennisobrien at sharejerusalem.com> wrote:
> 
> Many thanks to Lorraine and Raoul for putting time and energy into implementing the Programming Policy and the Program Advisory Council (see below).  I am posting the policy itself so everyone knows what is involved.  It was difficult to reformat for this list, but it is readable.  The appendix referred to was even more difficult, so it is not included.  Perhaps the full Programming Policy could be put on the website, along with the Bylaws.  Perhaps all the policies could go there?  Would make discussions easier, more productive.
> 
> Denny
> 
> 
> Mendocino County Public Broadcasting
> 
> KYX&Z Programming Policy
> Approved by the Board of Directors December 9, 2008
> 
> Policy Mission Statement:
> 
> This policy outlines how policy decisions are made at KYX&Z and describes the role of the people involved in those decisions. The policy is designed to:
>    1. Strengthen KZYX& by facilitating communication about programming;
>    2. Describe a process and criteria for programming decisions;
>    3. Set up and define guidelines for the work of a KYX&Z Program Advisory Council.
> 
> This policy was developed by the Programming Policy Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of Mendocino County Public Broadcasting in 2004. The committee included KZYX&Z staff members, board members, a member of the Community Advisory Board (CAB), programmers and members of the listening community. A policy draft was presented first to KZYX&Z programmers in February 006 and then to the general public for feedback from March to June 006 before being presented to the board for approval. The MCPB Board of Directors approved this policy at the July 11, 2006 board meeting with the agreement to review the policy for effectiveness one year from seating of the first Program Advisory Council.
> 
> The work of the committee was guided by the following goals, which were agreed to by the committee and approved by the board at the outset of its work:
> 
> "Our goal is to propose to the Board of Directors what might work best for our station. We will endeavor to arrive at a process that:
>    - Does justice to our mission statement and long range plans;
>    - Allows the station's programming to evolve to meet the needs of our listeners and the wider
>      community and that
>    - Assures KYX&Z will continue to thrive now and in the future."
> 
>                                            Page 1 of 9
> 
> Table of Contents:
> 
> PART 1: PROGRAM ADVISORY COUNCIL                    3
> 1.1 Program Advisor Council Membership                    3
> 1.2 Guidelines for the Work of the Program Advisory Council            4
> 
> PART 2: PROGRAMMING DECISIONS                        4
> 2.1 Program Assessment                                5
> 2.2 Program Changes                                5
> 
> APPENDICES                                    6
> Appendix 1: Best Practices                                6
> Appendix 2: Desired Qualities for Program Advisory Council Members    6
> Appendix 3: Program Advisory Council Selection Process and Timelines    6
> Appendix 4: Matrix of Needs for Program Advisory Council Members        7
> Appendix 5: KZYX&Z program Advisory Council Application (2 pages)    8
> 
>                                            Page 2 of 9
> 
> Part 1: Program Advisory Council
> 
> In order to provide a continuously improving listening experience that reflects the needs of our listening audience, the Program Advisory Council shall be an advisory group that gives input to the program Director and receives input from the listening audience.
> 
> The council is the first point of contact for the Program Director when faced with significant decisions or projects related to programming and programmers.
> 
> The relationship between the Program Advisory Council and the Program Director is collaborative. The Program Director has responsibility for making program decisions.
> The Program Advisory Council works with the Program Director to:
>    1. Provide broad-based input to inform programming decisions.
>    2. Assess all programming (local and non-local) (see Appendix 1.1, Best Practices);
>    3. Invite and evaluate new program proposals.
> 
> 1.1  Program Advisory Council Membership
> 
> Anyone interested in serving on the council must complete an application. The Program Advisory Council has six (6) members selected from that common poll of applicants:
>    - 1 person selected by programmers;
>    - 1 person selected by the Community Advisory Board/Group (CAB/CAG);
>    - 1 person selected by the MCPB board of directors;
>    - the remaining three members will be selected by the above council members and the Program
>    Director. Initially, the remaining three members will be selected by the Programming Policy
>    Committee in keeping with the application and interview process outlined in Appendix 2 and 4.
>    The initial as well as the ongoing selection of Program Advisory Council members will be guided
>    by a "Matrix of Needs" (see Appendix 3) to assure diversity of council membership.
> 
> Programmers are welcome to serve as members of the Program Advisory Council, but no more than two programmers may serve on the council at any one time. A programmer is defined in the same manner as called for in the MCPB Bylaws for programmers running for board election:
> 
> Anyone who is a regularly scheduled program host, board operator or substitute program host, as determined by the program director, between July1 and December 31 of the year prior to the year in which the programmer would start their term in the council, or who will be in the first quarter (January 1 - March 31) of the following year.
> 
> In order to insure broad-based community representation, members of the MCPB board of directors and the CAB/CAG may not concurrently serve on the Program Advisory Council.
> 
> Programmers, CAB/CAG and the board will each select by ballot, by ranking their choice of the top four candidates. At least one of these has to be a non-programmer.
> 
> Members will serve a two-year term and may serve as many times as desired if selected, but with a mandatory one year off after two consecutive terms. In the event of any council member being unable to serve their full terms, the remaining council members may decide to select a replacement from existing applications or solicit new applications to fill the remainder of the term. (See appendix for initial terms and turnover).
> 
> Openings on the Program Advisory Council and invitations to apply will be announced widely to on the air (KZYX&Z), via Radio Waves, press releases, newspaper articles, on the KZYX&Z website and through personal recruitment.
> 
>                                            Page 3 of 9
> 
> In the even that the Program Advisory Council is meeting as the Community Advisory Board, programming members of the Program Advisory Council may not take part in Community Advisory Board meetings.
> 
> 1.2  Guidelines for the Work of the Program Advisory Council
> 
> The Program Advisory Council will meet quarterly. The council will:
> 
>    - Seek out, invite and consider public input in advance of Program Advisory Council meetings.
> 
>    - Seek consensus whenever possible; Consensus is achieved when everyone on the team has
>    had ample opportunity to have his or her ideas considered and can full support the team's
>    decision. Consensus decisions mean that th entire team has come to agreement on a course of
>    action, even if individuals have a different preference. If consensus cannot be reached, differing
>    opinions will be documented in the written meeting notes of each council meeting. The Program
>    Director will take all points of view into consideration.
> 
>    - Work within the framework ot the MCPB Station Handbook and Strategic Plan.
> 
>    - Provide written recommendations to the Program Director following each meeting.
> 
> If the Program Director n conjunction with the General Memager and the Board of Directors agrees that the Program Advisory Council is no longer fulfilling its function, the Board of Directors may dissolve the council and either begin the process of forming a new one or devise new policies for program decisions.
> 
> In the context of the ongoing work of Program Advisory Council and Program Director, it is anticipated that the Board of Directors as a whole, or individual directors, will have no direct input or influence on programming decisions, unless disputes are brought to the board under the procedures outlined in the KZYX&Z Station Handbook.
> 
> Part 2: Programming Decisions
> 
> Programming is our most effective audience-building tool. The purpose of programming is to serve our listeners, our mission and the directives of our strategic plan:
> 
> Our goal is to entertain, inform and contribute to the enjoyment, enrichment and wellness of our diverse community. We provide programming as a platform for expressing our common humanity.
> 
>    Balanced Programming
> 
>    - We are dedicated to excellent programming that responds to the needs of our community as
>    a compliment to other media
>    - We pledge to be a responsible, responsive and inclusive medium for news information,
>    music, performing arts, and entertainment
> 
>    We are committed to the finest in national, international and locally produced programs. We
>    proved a forum for open dialog and diverse perspectives on issues of local interests.
> 
> Programming is an evolutionary process. KZYX&Z will continuously embrace creative change and be open to new programming that serves current listeners and attracts new ones.
> 
> This policy outlines the process for assessing current programming, for making programming changes and for providing feedback to our programmers and to our community.
> 
>                                            Page 4 of 9
> 
> 2.1  Program Assessment
> 
> The Program Advisory Council works with the Program Director to assess all programming on a regular basis to further the goals of the MCPB Strategic Plan and to ensure compliance with the KZYX&Z Station Handbook.
> 
> The Program Advisory Council will define a list of criteria, questions, and standards used in the assessment process to:
>    
>    1. Recognize excellence in programming;
>    
>    2. Identify areas in need of improvement;
> 
>    3. Make recommendations for change.
> 
> 2.2  Program Changes
> 
> It is recognized that programming on KZYX&Z needs to evolve over time in order to continue to meet the needs of our listeners and remain a vital and relevant resource for our community. These changes should be proactive and based on increasing listener service as well as programming goals set forth in the strategic plan. This is true for individual programs and the program schedule as a whole.
> 
> The Program Director is responsible for programming decisions. The program Advisory Council advises the Program Director on these matters.
> 
> Program change can occur when any of the following occurs:
> 
>    - A program slot becomes available when a programmer leaves their program.
>    - A recommendation is made through the assessment and discovery process.
>    - Opportunities arise for special programming such as holidays or political events.
>    - KZYX&Z management determines that a change is needed
> 
> The Program Director will publicly invite proposals for new local programming on a regular basis and when the need for a new program arises. The Program Director and the Program Advisory Council will review all proposals at the quarterly meeting. When a proposal is accepted, the person making the proposal will be referred to the appropriate staff for training and program development.
> 
> Proposals that are not accepted may be revised and resubmitted.
> 
> New programs added to the schedule will be reviewed by the Programming Council after 90 days or during the first Program Advisory Council meeting following the third program, whichever comes first.
> 
>                                            Page 5 of 9
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> On Wed, 4/27/16, Raoul van Hall <pd at kzyx.org> wrote:
> 
> Subject: RE: [Kzyxtalk] Reasons for Challenging Programmer-Director Policy
> To: "'Tim Gregory'" <tgregory at saber.net>, dennisobrien at sharejerusalem.com
> Cc: kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org, lorraine at kzyx.org, gm at kzyx.org
> Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2016, 6:06 PM
> 
> Hi Denny,
> 
> We are well underway with putting the new PAC parameters
> together.
> We're in the writing phase right now, but expect to proceed
> with the
> recruiting fairly soon.
> 
> I'm very much looking forward to resurrecting the PAC.
> 
>      Raoul
> 
> Program Director
> KZYX & Z
> Mendocino County Public Broadcasting
> PO Box 1
> Philo, CA  95466
> (707) 895-2324
> www.kzyx.org
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tim Gregory [mailto:tgregory at saber.net]
> 
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 4:42 PM
> To: dennisobrien at sharejerusalem.com
> Cc: kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org;
> lorraine at kzyx.org;
> gm at kzyx.org;
> pd at kzyx.org
> Subject: Re: [Kzyxtalk] Reasons for Challenging
> Programmer-Director
> Policy
> 
> I just meant like, on the telephone...you have admit, you
> love your
> megaphone...
> :)
> 
> ---
> 
> 
> I was not elected last year, but that does not influence my
> thinking
> at this time.
> What I wrote below is a true and accurate reflection of my
> present
> concerns.
> 
> I have sent copies of both the formal notice and the
> explanation to
> the Board of
> Directors.  I did not send them to the new GM as it was
> not within
> her power to make
> such a decision.  However, I did add a suggestion that
> management
> fully implement
> the existing Programming Policy and the PAC, so I am sending
> that to
> her now, along
> with the new interim PD.  Thanks for the suggestion.
> 
> Denny
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> On Sat, 4/23/16, Tim Gregory <tgregory at saber.net>
> wrote:
> 
>  Subject: Re: [Kzyxtalk] Reasons for Challenging
> Programmer-Director
> Policy
>  To: dennisobrien at sharejerusalem.com,
> kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org
>  Date: Saturday, April 23, 2016, 2:45 PM
> 
>  it did enter my mind that
>  this had something to do with the members not being a big
>  fan of you gaining a board seat recently, and
>  possibly that you wished to still
>  represent
>  them whether they want you to or not.
> 
>  are you in conversation with the ceo/gm?
>  ---
> 
> 
>  I have been asked to explain what I hope to
>  accomplish by asserting the right of the
>  Members to elect all of the Directors.
> 
>  I am a big fan of membership
>  nonprofits. They are an excellent vehicle for the
>  collective efforts of a group of people who are
>  focused on a common mission.Â  The
>  choosing
>  of the Directors by the Members is an act of collective
>  consciousness, and
>  the Directors are charged
>  with making decisions on behalf of the Members.
> 
>  I am assuming that the
>  Programmers are well-informed, noble, and have the best
>  interests of the nonprofit at heart.Â 
>  Nevertheless, they do not represent the
>  collective knowledge, wisdom, and interests of
>  the Members.Â  If anything, there is
>  an
>  ongoing tendency, subconscious at least, to support the
>  continuation of the
>  status quo, as the
>  people and thinking that go into choosing a
>  Programmer-Director
>  are already present at
>  the station.Â  Some have even suggested that, since the
>  Program Director selects the Programmers, there
>  is an internal loop of support that
>  protects
>  the General Manager and Program Director.
> 
>  The power of selecting one out
>  of nine directors and having a guaranteed presence on
>  the board should not be underestimated.Â  Much
>  of our nation's politics right now is
>  focused on who will choose the ninth vote on
>  the Supreme Court.Â  Even in larger
>  bodies
>  such as Congress, the control of 11% of the vote (one out
> of
>  nine) would
>  swing almost any contested
>  decision.Â  So taking away from the Members the power to
>  choose one of their nine directors is
>  significant.
> 
>  In my life I
>  have watched the arc of history bend toward justice.Â 
> But I
>  am very
>  troubled by the rising incidents of
>  voter suppression that we have witnessed this
>  year.Â  ID's that are hard to get, tougher
>  registration rules, reduced polling
>  places,
>  reduced early voting, voting rolls purged - these are just
>  some of the
>  problems.Â  And each one of them
>  means that the collective knowledge, wisdom, and
>  concerns of those being affected by important
>  decisions are less likely to be heard,
>  to be
>  integrated into the decision-making process.
> 
>  I have reached the point where
>  I am compelled to do what I can to reverse that
>  trend.Â  In politics, as with the environment,
>  we must think globally and act
>  locally.Â 
>  The station and the nonprofit will benefit greatly by
>  restoring Member
>  selection of all
>  directors.Â  Conversely, the Programmers will not
> suffer.Â 
>  They have
>  for years been unfairly prohibited
>  from running for any of the five District seats
>  on the board, and that has kept good and
>  competent people from running the past few
>  elections.Â  I don't have a problem with
>  individual Programmers being on the board.
>  But that decision should be made by the
>  Members.
> 
>  Nor should people
>  be concerned that Programmers will be shut out of
>  programming
>  decisions.Â  They are assured of
>  input under the current Programming Policy and the
>  Program Advisory Committee (PAC).Â  The current
>  Board and Management should act
>  immediately
>  to fully implement that policy.
> 
>  So what I hope to accomplish is to restore
>  legitimacy to the Board of Directors and
>  the
>  governance of MCPB/KZYXZ.Â  I hope to make the Board a
> true
>  expression of the
>  will of the Members.Â  Our
>  bylaws state that the station is Member controlled.Â  We
>  have been told that means that the Members
>  choose the Directors.Â  As noted above, it
>  is not enough to choose eight out of nine.Â 
>  The Board must acknowledge the right of
>  the
>  Members to choose all of the Directors, and make the
>  necessary changes to our
>  Bylaws and Election
>  Policy.
> 
>  Dennis
> 
>  _______________________________________________
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>  http://lists.mcn.org/mailman/listinfo/kzyxtalk
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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