[Imc-radio] Radio-URGEN business tonight

[Sandra Ahten]

Well it may be time for the Radio Group of the IMC to come to a haitus after 
almost five years of producing IMC radio news.

We need to have more than one person - as part of the working group in order 
to make consensual decisions. Currently this lack of meetings and 
opportunity for consensus has resulted in a misunderstanding. The person who 
has been consistantly producing, but not holding meetings (for lack of 
attendance) has approached several IMC members with the proposition that he 
be paid for past production of shows.

I put a call out several weeks ago, asking anyone who was interested in 
producing IMCRN to email me. I did receive one email -- from a person who 
was interested in occasionally producing. Recently Kim Kranich has said she 
wanted to produce a story also. However I did not get any response from 
anyone saying they wanted to be part of the working group and would be 
willing to come to occasional meetings. (I specifically asked for times when 
they would be available -- so inconvenience would not be a barrier).

The money that we have been paid from WEFT -- can not go to one person for 
past production of shows in any fair way. It was not decided on in advance, 
and no producers of IMC radio news have ever been paid. We have been paid 
for producing for Free Speech Radio News and we did hire a Coordinator at 
one time. (This coordinator was a granted position that was posted and 
applied for before hiring). The current producer believes this has set 
precendent to pay him, and even mentioned small claims court in his 
converstaion with me.

WEFT needs to have an answer tonight as to what direction we are taking in 
order to decide about CPB money. I propose that we give them notice that IMC 
radio news is taking a hiatus. Here is my reasoning.
1) The show has been of inconsistant quality -- due to responsbility falling 
to one person who has no feedback. -- Yet it has the IMC name associated 
with it. News has been incorrectly reported.

2) The person who is producing has expressed that he wants paid for past 
shows. I don't think we should let this build up any further.

3) The person who is producing is using his own equipment. Equipment 
available through the IMC for others to produce is very inadequate. We need 
to possibly use the money we have available for new equipment -- so that we 
can produce any kind of radio in the future.

4) There is energy for WRFU right now... and anyone interested in radio 
production seems to be aligning with WRFU.

5) We are at a good time to take a hiatus from WEFT as we are paid up on our 
agreement with them and it is time to renew or decide not to renew. We would 
not be leaving them in the middle of the budget year.

6) Anyone who wants to produce specific stories can still ask for a time at 
WEFT directly. (Our slot maybe open for one-time show proposals as the hour 
after our show is (Monday 5:30 and 6pm)

Please email me as soon as you read this if you have any problem with any of 
this. I have tried unsuccessfully to reach the current producer of the show 
by email or his cell phone. Further, I don't think he is responsive to posts 
through radio at ucimc.org.
Sandra






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