Michael Woodson (Staff Candidate)
Candidate Questionnaire
Candidate Statement
I am running for the KPFT Listener Sponsor
Board as a non-paid staff member. I am the programmer of the LivingArt
show. From the arts’ perspective, KPFT is a vital resource
for giving voice to community non-mainstream artists and their issues
and events so vital to peace and justice.
Alternative artists, especially local artists
that are not well funded by endowments, tax dollars and public funds,
need support because we are foundational members of a Pacifica community
as envisioned by Lou Hill, and we need support because capitalistic
and corporate media interests do not find a way to afford the general
artists. Arts of all kinds, and art can be very broadly defined
here, empowers us with a constructive, rewarding, and peaceful expression
of self. KPFT is a medium by which our basic human art experiences
serve and are served.
In addition to LivingArt, I have worked
on a Cultural Narrative Art Speaker’s Series, bringing in
political writers and artists to Houston for presentations regarding
important political issues. I have helped organize a dozen events
in over a year. This Speaker Series profits KPFT both financially
and communally. More than raise money, because fundraising is not
the main goal of these events, such a series builds an active base
of KPFT support through a get-together atmosphere in a space of
comfort, friendship, and common interest.
I believe organizational, communication,
and reasoning skills are my strengths as a prospective board member
for the LSB in Houston.
I look to improve the LSB board by insisting
on total transparency and accountability in station operations,
inclusiveness and demographic proportionality in outreach, and,
finally, weighing the constructive and expeditious nature of measures
and issues taken up by the LSB. Channeling peace in personal interaction
is a priority we should all embrace on the LSB.
The station must work on its solvency,
and related to that, its programming “sound”. The station’s
voices are generally okay, but much is too erratic. What KPFT “sounds”
like should be set out in a process examined by the LSB and the
community at large. Is there a vision for programming? Can we set
ourselves up as hypothetical listeners who listen to all of the
programming, and ask ourselves, what does our radio day sound like?
Who are invited into our listening lives?
KPFT must better gear itself to serve the
activist peace and justice community. As per its mission, it must
not relegate the issues of social, cultural, and economic conflicts,
contradictions, and criticisms to a secondary status.
I am currently working my own skills as
a listener, in the broadest sense of the word listener, and hope
for personal growth in that area as I serve on the LSB.
Candidate Questionnaire
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Why do you want to be on the Local Station
Board ?
I want to be on the station board because I want to see the
success of KPFT and Pacifica as we relate to creativity in art,
understanding the sources of cultural conflict, and alternative
news.
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How do you envision the Local Station
Board working with the Pacifica Foundation,KPFT and the community?
The Board should take a leadership role in working with the
Pacifica foundation, KPFT, and the community. The LSB should
honor the legalities of Pacifica as a foundation to procure
its future, and it should strive to best fulfill the local interests
in the measures of the democratic spirit that it recently has
visited.
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How could the station better serve its'
listeners?
The station needs to evaluate the general “listenability” of
the radio day, and act to smooth over erratic programming. It
should not relegate art, activism, and peace and justice issues
to a secondary status.
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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?
I would draw from the art community in which I find myself.
LivingArt does a pretty good job with diversity. I would bring
in diverse speakers to the Cultural Narrative Art speakers series,
as I have done in the past. I would ask the activist communities
of people of color how we might serve them.
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What sources of funding, other than listener
donations, do you feel KPFT should solicit?
No corporate dollars, no underwriting. KPFT, in the best of
all possible worlds, might even work to reduce or eliminate
on air fund drives by organizing automatic donation drives via
the internet, and consistency pledge schedules. That may be
pie in the sky. But adding more air time fund drives cannot
bode well for the station. Organize the active community. Be
efficient with the funds we have.
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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 am a college professor, a PhD in literature from Houston with
a background in organizing events. I have some extensive experience
in construction, both budgeting and hands on work, and I have
had jobs as a writer and campaign organizer. I have some technical
expertise with sound recording through my experience as an arts
programmer. I am employed by San Jacinto College South as an
instructor of English, am a current board member of Voices Breaking
Boundaries and the Children's Prison Art Project. I volunteer
extensively in various and independent justice actions in Houston.
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Do you anticipate missing any Local Station
Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate
transportation?
I anticipate no LSB meeting absentee problems..
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On which Local Station Board committees
are you interested in actively serving?
I want to especially work with bringing speakers into the community,
outreach and programming.
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