NYC Radio: Pacifica Fires Executive Director For WBAI-FM

Summer Reese

The Pacifica Foundation, a community radio network that includes WBAI-FM in New York, has dismissed its executive director, the latest tumultuous step for an organization that has been plagued by financial problems and acrimonious turnover among its management, according to The NY Times.

Summer Reese, who was named executive director in November after doing the job on an interim basis for more than a year, was fired by Pacifica’s national board on Thursday. In a brief statement on Friday, the board confirmed the move and thanked Ms. Reese “for her service to date,” but gave no explanation.

Reese’s dismissal is the latest in a series of changes in recent years that have destabilized Pacifica and its five stations. In August, WBAI, which operates a powerful signal at 99.5 FM but is millions of dollars in debt, laid off 19 of its 29 employees, including the entire news staff. The station, which is supported almost entirely by listener donations, has since been through two program directors and struggled publicly with its fund-raising.

WBAI 99.5 FM (4.6Kw) 54dBu Coverage

Last fall Pacifica solicited proposals from other broadcasters to lease WBAI’s frequency. It received 10 proposals, according to Tracy Rosenberg, the board’s treasurer. A decision has not been made, but with the arrival of new board members this year the matter of a lease or sale of assets is expected to be taken up again.

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