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Earl McDonald (Listener Candidate)

Candidate Questionnaire
Video
Video 2
Candidate Forum
Candidate Forum 2

Candidate Statement

My name is Earl McDonald and I’m running for the Local Station Board. I’m running because I believe that KPFT has a great deal of potential. I think that KFPT can change this small corner of the world for the better. KPFT is a democratic organization, and I think that this gives us a tremendous advantage over commercial radio stations. KPFT has the ability to accurately reflect the community that it lives in (and everybody likes to look in the mirror).

KPFT can actualize this potential through outreach to the surrounding community; it’s artists as well as it’s activists. We can strengthen our ties with other types of organizations in the community like the Urban League. We can strengthen relations with small businesses in the city, who have more in common with individuals than they do with conglomerates.

I think that KPFT can also serve as a conduit for the ideals of the Pacifica Foundation to the Houston community. Pacifica stands for and promotes peace and justice, and the right to dissent against the status quo. KPFT can continue to contribute to these worthy objectives through continued participation in national Pacifica committees and initiatives.

Candidate Questionnaire

1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?
   I think that KPFT has been, and has the potential to be, a tremendous community resource. I think that this potential can actualize itself in several forms, including: Public affairs programming, locally-based news and analysis of current events, stronger relations with community organizations, and strong relations with artists and activists in the community.
   
2. How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, KPFT and the community?
   I see KPFT as a conduit for the ideas of the pacifica foundation in the Houston area. Since KPFT is a democratic organization, I don't expect this to be one way communication. I think that through participation in national Pacifica committees and initiatives, KPFT can influence the evolution of the Pacifica mission, and vice versa.
   
3. How could the station better serve it's listeners?
   By promoting more listener involvement.
   
4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
   Target local events happening in under-represented communities, dispatch local news staff to objectively cover the event, make time for programming talent to give the 'insider' perspective of the event.
   
5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFT should solicit?
   I don't have a comprehensive plan formulated; however, I think that we can approach many small businesses. Small locally-owned businesses are an important feature of the Houston community. I think they feel the economic crunch of the prevailing business model just like individuals do. We'll have to stress issues that affect their livelihood as well (think Wal-Mart). I'm not suggesting direct advertising, but I am suggesting mutually beneficial partnerships.
   
6. Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.
   I've been involved in community outreach for most of my adult life. I was a member of several student organizations in college. As an officer in these organizations I always pushed for involvement in our surroundings (e.g., tutoring, contests, etc). Since moving to Houston, I've been a member of Young Blacks Making A Difference, or YBMAD, the Urban League Young Professionals, the National Society of Black Engineers Alumni Section, and the Houston Area Urban League. I served as an officer in all of these organizations except the Urban League, where served on the Board of Directors.
   
7. Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate transportation?
   Occasionally, I travel for my job. I don't anticipate this happening often, but it will happen.
   
8. On which Local Station Board committees* are you interested in actively serving?
   Definitely Outreach and possibly Governance.