Strike Against Pacifica Network News Ends, But Future of News at Progressive Network Uncertain

Interview by Between the Lines' Denise Manzari

On Jan. 31, 2000, over 40 freelance reporters launched a strike against Pacifica Network News to protest the network's censorship of coverage of its own internal disputes. The strike marked a turning point in the national battle to save the progressive character of the Pacifica Radio network, which critics charge was under assault from within by a corporate clique on its national board.

Over the last two years, the global picket-line of freelancers grew to over 150, as progressive reporters around the world refused to work for Pacifica News. The strikers joined together to produce Free Speech Radio News as an alternative to Pacifica's nightly newscast. Last December, an out of court settlement ended several lawsuits filed by dissidents at Pacifica and created an interim board representing all factions.

At its March meeting, the new Pacifica board unanimously passed a resolution it negotiated with the strikers to end the 26-month-old strike that rocked the nation's oldest progressive news service. Randi Zimmerman is headlines editor for Free Speech Radio News, as well as a programmer at WMNF in Tampa, Fla. She was part of the negotiating team and spoke with Between the Lines' Denise Manzari about the settlement and the future of news at Pacifica(A RealAudio Version of this interview may be found at www.btlonline.org).

For more information Free Speech Radio News visit their Web site at www.fsrn.org
Related links

www.pacificacampaign.org

www.savepacifica.net

www.pacifica.org

www.wpkn.org/wpkn/news/btl040502.html

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© 2002 Between the Lines C/O WPKN Radio, Bridgeport, Connecticut USA.