The crisis at community radio station KKFI

Star Magazine: Stormy weather at KKFI

> In 2002 I set out to write a story about the political controversy that broke out at the listener-supported radio station in town, KKFI. I never wrote it, though, because I felt the issues involved were more complex than I had space to cover in a simple news story.

> In 2009, using my experience covering that earlier crisis and 50 new interviews — including leaders of other community stations around the country — I was able to put together a magazine-length story that identified the real ailment that was slowly crippling KKFI and the strong medicine that would be required to turn its fortunes around.

> (Let me know if that link expires ... I will move the content over to TVB.)

Money woes threaten KKFI

> This was my news article from April, triggered by an urgent memo sent out from KKFI to donors, that led to my decision to write a longer magazine piece.

Amy Goodman keeps up the good fight on "Democracy Now!"

> I wrote this in 1999. Amy's show remains one of the most listened-to offerings on KKFI and other community radio stations across the country.

On the air at KKFI

Mark Manning, host of the Wednesday edition of KKFI's Midday Medley program, was good enough to have me on his Aug. 12 show to discuss my magazine story about the troubles at KKFI along with former KKFI manager Donna Ross and Rob Lorei of WMNF Radio in Tampa. The discussion was a wide-ranging one, covering the history of community radio, why community radio stations across the country had to change to be more responsive to audiences, why I think KKFI needs to change, and what the future holds for community radio when people have more entertainment and information options than ever. It's a half hour and I've tightened it in a couple of key places because I know 30 minutes is a long time to have to listen to anything. (d/l)

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One of KKFI's longest-running radio shows has been a Q-and-A hosted by Barbara Crist. I appeared several times on it. Here in 2007 we discussed the Ken Burns PBS series "The War."

The KKFI transmitter is housed in a gravel lot owned by a construction company.