Dirty Laundry
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry - Don Henley
Thanks to Andy Parx and Rob Zelkovsky for this video published on YouTube which provides a historical perspective of KKCR. After watching the video I posted comments including the one below.
Ed Coll: Continued dialogue is the answer but with censorship in place at KKCR we must use uncensored channels to dialogue. Mahalo to Andy and Rob for the historical perspective because it reminds everyone that past history is today "living history" As Chomsky says "All authority must be challenged for legitimacy and if found illegitimate be removed." There is a hole in KKCRs dirty laundry policy as it does not prevent talk show hosts from objecting to this censorship in other media. Unfortunately they are silent on this issue.
Here is how KKCR Talk show host Jimmy Trujillo replied:
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The ill-informed misinforming
the uninformed
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James Trujillo: bullshit Ed you were invited on the air by Felicia Alongi Cowden and you never took her up on it. you're welcome to join me on air as well to share your perspective but your nonsense blog posts about demongods [sic] is all hooey.'jonathan 'jay might not welcome you but anytime you want to open up the dialog on air 826 7771 will get you (or jim kelly) on line to grumble with the best of'em. andy joins the conversation when it suits his schedule but he can attest that he's been invited a number of times and i always welcome his commentary as well.
What a lovely invitation. Who wouldn't love to go on the air with such a friendly, unbiased moderator? I wouldn't. Not with a moderator with his finger on the mute button and a board directive to use it. Rest assured that Trujillo would cut me off the air in a Rush Limbaugh minute. I have proof. Here is the relevant part of KKCR’s dirty laundry policy:
A DJ or guest may never air “dirty laundry.” DJs may not use their shows to ask listeners to rally against station policies or procedures. Do not broadcast complaints about the radio station, other volunteers, staff, board members, underwriters, PSAs, program content, specific community members, or other radio stations. Please discuss all grievances with staff. Violation of this policy can result in suspension of DJ or termination of program.
This is the KKCR censorship I was talking about. This dirty laundry policy is not a FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulation. This policy was created by the KKCR board of directors (post bloodless coup) to immunize itself from criticism or analysis. Censorship plain and simple. If a talk show host “broadcasts complaints” about KKCR, the talk show host can be suspended and the program can be terminated. It protects KKCR itself from any criticism, while allowing talk show hosts (and their guests) to attack other entities, corporations, and non-profit corporations without any negative consequences. Trujillo is well aware of this policy and again I have proof.
In 2008 KKCR’s “Dirty Laundry” policy was challenged by several self-described "activists" programmers. Here is what happened next:
The situation escalated when two fellow deejays, Jimmy Trujillo and Katy Rose, discussed Edens-Huff's suspension and allegations of institutional racism at KKCR on their "Out of the Box" radio show in late December. They, too, were suspended. http://goo.gl/3OHrlX
Yep. Trujillo was suspended for violating the KKCR dirty laundry policy. When Rose and Trujillo still tried to do their talk show after airing KKCR's dirty laundry this happened:
When push came to shove Trujillo caved and decided his voice was more important to the community than removing the KKCR dirty laundry censorship policy that he intentionally violated. Trujillo's ego overrode his principles and he resumed his talk show despite the fact that no changes were made to KKCR’s dirty laundry policy.
For the record Jonathan Jay, Felicia Cowden and now Jimmy Trujillo have all invited me to be a guest on their talk shows knowing they have already agreed to not broadcast me (i.e. cut my mic) if I "complain" about KKCR's dirty laundry policy. If they broadcast my complaint they can face "suspension" and the program can be "terminated".
The only explanation I can offer for such insincerity is self-promotion. Of course they want call-ins to "their" radio programs and they are not above calling each others' shows for a good 'ole back-patting sessions. Increasingly there are many calls from fewer people, but few calls from many people. Their talk show "community" is a shrinking echo chamber where the ill-informed misinform the uninformed.
Like KKCR's dirty laundry policy itself, KKCR's talk shows have become foul tasting self-licking ice cream cones existing primarily to justify and perpetuate their own existence. These three talk show hosts have not accepted my invitation to dialogue about KKCR on my YouTube Live Internet Channel.
Thanks Ed. I had forgotten the Star-Bulletin story and didn't know that video was still posted.
ReplyDeleteThis is Felicia. Ed, this is the first I have been aware that you have invited me to anything. I was not with the station through the rough patch that informs your outlook. I am sorry for whatever way you have been hurt. My invitation to have you on the show with me was centered around your public comments of my inadequacies or whatever way I was disappointing you. My interpretation of your slams was regarding my own incompetency and apparently missed that you were really angry at KKCR. I have read all of the policy statements when I first became a volunteer. I had not really processed the "dirty laundry" policy until you called it to my attention. I actually asked you on really nicely even though you make personal attacks against me. Apparently I am too naive to the bad policies that you speak of. As volunteers we go in, do our best to give voice to the portion of the community that is asking for representation. I have yet to experience this difficult side of the station. I don't understand what you are asking even now. It seems you point out that there is a rule that kkcr has, and then publicly demand that we should break it so we will be terminated from the programming. Do I have that right?
ReplyDeleteAloha Felica, I asked you when you approached me outside the Kapaa Library after an Alliance for Peace and Social Justice event. I assumed you understood the dirty laundry policy. You are correct you asked me on KKCR not specifically about dirty laundry but democratic practices (or lack of them) at KKCR. No I am not advocating you violate this dirty laundry policy (unless you care to). I was saying if I did go on your show and you let me criticize "complain" about KKCR you could be terminated. Again this is not specifically about you but censorship and the anti democratic practices of KKCR. whereby people get talk show programs. You are still welcome to come on my program where you may discuss KKCR dirty Laundry without being suspended or have your program terminated.
DeleteUmmm ya can't talk to the staff if they aren't THERE!!!
ReplyDeleteand it appears the program director is the decider on who gets a talk show from a careful reading of the volunteer handbook!
DeleteNailed it again Ed. Especially like the part about the ill informed misinforming the uninformed. Would be funny if it weren't so damn sad.
ReplyDeleteMahalo Joan. High praise coming from an astute observer and master carpenter that knows how to hit nails right on the head herself. Speaking of hitting nails and turning phrases I try to remember Mark Twain's dictum "The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightening and a lightening bug."
DeleteFelicia you know damn well you cut me off when I expressed my dislike for too much Jazz on KKCR. You also blocked or unfriended me on Facebook for calling you Princess.. I also would state that you use your program to run your personal agenda's.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I am with my wife listening to KKCR and you come on the air.. she has me turn it off. Her name is Alexandra Kamoku Worell and her bloodline goes back several generations here on Kauai.. Good Job!
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ReplyDeletereposted below..
DeleteKKCR Kauaʻi Community Radio = Pseudo community medium. KKCR seems to meet a market nitch - as most of the board member and show producers see this product and blow horn.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1990s both KKCR and Earth Day activities were new on Kauaʻi. In seven years I coordinated the Earth Day program there I can affirm I had more support every year from the County of Kaua`i, Bernard Carvalho (at the time in county parks), the state Department of Education, Big Save, Ron Wiley/KONG, individually, than KKCR.
Where I expected a symbiotic relationship with the community station, their was none - our partnership or promotional proposals at various times were left unanswered and ignored. The talk-show, Kauai Soapbox took our call-in event plugs But host Karlos Detreaux was short and hostile at times.
The manager at the station (was her name Maggie?) did not accept my original artwork I tried to donate to an auction fund drive. It wasnʻt a bad artwork. I walked the painting over Hanalei River (wading through) and up the hill to the Princeville studio. I had to return home with it. The loud message I get with any encounter Iʻve had with the KKCR power core is “You’re Not Welcome”.
I have admiration for the volunteers and many donors. I acknowledge show hosts: Ka`iulani Edens, Mahelani Sylva, Willy Judah, Michael Vandaveer (some past, some still volunteering).
I realize Iʻve gone back a ways but recent encounters with Kauai Soapbox hosts and Felicia Alongi Cowden where I meet with resistance or unfounded animosity tells me that the dna of kkcr has not changed.
KKCR comes across as being arts and activist open and indeed it delivers music and hashes out topics other media skimp over or ignore. But nonetheless their is a gentry holding of the station that protects that Martha Steward property-style of vanity, exclusion, garden tranquility and business as usual. KKCR carries Democracy Now! which parallels the cozy-comfort/informative-tool for activism, yes, but which adheres to a strict zone of safety. For example they constantly report (and complain) about current wars, the US Patriot Act, US surveillance, the US corporate/government order, Globalization but one core issue of relevance here is taboo.
I refer to the 9/11 Commission Report which is a cover-up or a far cry from adequate by any beltway standard - but can anyone remember when Amy Goodman did the last report on 9/11?
The core issues of asserting Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian Kingdom independence and cleansing of local corruption are not promoted to the place of urgency and fairness on KKCR whereby the many other fully circularized issues such as over development, traffic snarls, GMOs, James Pflueger rampages and the Hawaii Superferry represent umbrellaed agendas or symptoms of occupation: the very theft of independence and human and national sovereignty.
The community has had some good “wins” like Superferry - but shocking losses. For example, the Citizens Communications swindle of the sale of Kauai Electric to the contrived KIUC. This breezed along seemingly with or without the community radio forum. It sailed through under its shepherds: PUC, County, Consumer Advocate and PMRF, AND, the noted absence of Hermina Morita, Chair of the House Energy & Environmental Protection Committee at the time and now, Chair Commissioner of the PUC.
Many KKCR personalities, and so many others, are engaged in the exhaustive and permanent war of sub-issue battles. They are USA settlers and patriots who remain yoked to their kindergarten flag verses and would rather point the finger at the stupid small-town local conservatives and crooks, and indulge in liberal popularity (albeit good fights for pono causes) than to move their primary allegiance to the ʻaina and solidarity with humanity in law and truth. We could start with international law.
In a military occupation the military run the occupation - In the most fundamental ways Kaua`i is driven to the wants of PMRF Pacific Missile Range Facility under US Unified Combatant Command.
Actually Michel Due to citizen action the Citizens Utility/ KIUC deal was rejected after a group of citizens protested to the Ombudsman, and the PU rejected it. Gregg Gardner who said the rejected price was the "Last, best, and final offer proffered another price $50 million dollars less. So citizen action saved KIUC members $50 million and IMHO we still paid to much.
DeleteKIUC is off-torpic but just to clarify Ed, if I remember correctly the first offer (which was scrapped by all concerned, but showing the real interest of Greg Gardner and co) was some $240m. A year later they started over at some $120m which was approved. I left at that time and never returned. Are you telling me the final price was $70m.?
Delete