As host of the political talk show Background Briefing on the Los Angeles listener-funded radio station KPFK, Ian Masters is used to delving into controversial, polarizing issues. Pacifica board member William G. CrosierAdvertisement“They can’t stand it,” Masters told me, adding that he senses the downside personally. Pacifica was founded by pacifists in 1946 and launched its first station, KPFA in Berkeley, in 1949. By contrast, public radio powerhouses KPCC and KCRW, with signals about one-tenth KPFK’s power, have as much as 10 times the audience. WBAI was also the source of the most pressing challenge then — and still: a $3.25-million emergency loan Pacifica received in 2018.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 07, 2020 14:02 UTC