It has been about eighteen months since Pacifica listener supported station KPFA (Berkeley, CA) dumped its Morning Show for a volunteer lineup called the “Morning Mix.” The move was very controversial and personally disappointing. Thus I was happy to see this press release (below) announcing a new show for the station’s seven AM slot, “Up Front,” produced by the KPFA News Department, and hosted by Brian Edwards-Tiekert and KPFK’s Sonali Kolhatkar. KPFK is KPFA’s sister station, which broadcasts to the greater Los Angeles area.
“Given recent blows to local journalism in our signal area, we have to revive one of Pacifica Radio’s proudest traditions: hard-hitting journalism that addresses local issues,” says KPFA Interim General Manager Andrew Phillips in the statement. Edwards-Tiekert hosted the old Morning Show along with Aimee Allison—until it was eliminated in late 2010. The release describes Edwards-Tiekert as “former co-host of The Morning Show, at the time KPFA’s top-rated local program.”
“Up Front” will launch this Thursday, and will feature “hard-hitting interviews, debates, and in-depth reporting from journalists working everywhere from Los Angeles to Oakland to Sacramento,” according to the release. Democracy Now! will broadcast at 6 AM. The Morning Mix will run at eight AM.
For Immediate Release
Big Changes at KPFA:
Newsmagazine launches at 7:AM; strong focus on state and local issues
Contact:
Andrew Phillips, Interim General Manager
510.848.6767 x203
Aileen Alfandary, News Co-Director
510.848.6767×699
[Berkeley, CA] At a time when newspapers and commercial broadcasters are slashing news coverage, Pacifica Radio flagship KPFA is launching a daily, hour-long newsmagazine with a strong focus on state and local issues.
On Thursday, May 17th, KPFA will start broadcasting a statewide collaboration, featuring hard-hitting interviews, debates, and in-depth reporting from journalists working everywhere from Los Angeles to Oakland to Sacramento.
“Given recent blows to local journalism in our signal area, we have to revive one of Pacifica Radio’s proudest traditions: hard-hitting journalism that addresses local issues,” said KPFA Interim General Manager Andrew Phillips.
“Up Front” will be produced by KPFA’s award-winning News Department. Listeners can look forward to challenging interviews with political and community leaders, civil but heated debates, and frequent breaking news updates.
“I’m excited to return to the mornings at KPFA,” said Brian Edwards-Tiekert, who will be co-hosting the new program. “We’re going to be working full tilt to get this off the ground.”
The new program launches this Thursday from 7-8:AM. Other changes include moving KPFA’s first broadcast of Democracy Now! to its original timeslot of 6:AM.
About the hosts:
Brian Edwards-Tiekert is a radio journalist who has won multiple awards for his feature reporting and radio documentary work on environmental issues. He’s the former co-host of The Morning Show, at the time KPFA’s top-rated local program.
Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and producer of Uprising, a daily morning program at KPFK-FM in Los Angeles. She’s also the co-director of the nonprofit Afghan Women’s Mission, and is the co-author of Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence.
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