No, we don't deal with what's on the air
The "Justice and Unity" LSB's rejection of its programming oversight responsibilities has been complete. There is a total lack of acknowledgment that radio is what WBAI does.
It shouldn't be this way. The bylaws clearly outlines the role for the LSB regarding programming:
Each LSB, acting as a standing committee of the Foundation's Board of Directors, shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities related to its specific radio station, under the direction and supervision of the Foundation's Board of Directors:G. To work with station management to ensure that station programming fulfills the purposes of the Foundation and is responsive to the diverse needs of the listeners (demographic) and communities (geographic) served by the station, and that station policies and procedures for making programming decisions and for program evaluation are working in a fair, collaborative and respectful manner to provide quality programming.
That's pretty clear. The LSB has an oversight responsibility with regard to programming.
But under "Justice and Unity" control, the LSB has ignored the question entirely. We never discuss programming in LSB meetings. We have a programming committee that has never made any reports to the LSB in its entire existence. In my time on the LSB (since summer 2006) I have heard the chair of this committee mention only one sentence on the subject. (She said that the program council - a body made up of programmers and staff - has not been functioning recently.)
This is crazy. You would think that, with the station in crisis, the LSB would do the job outlined in the bylaws. Specifically, learn how programming decision-making and evaluation happens, who does it, decide whether the process works well to "provide quality programming," and propose alternatives if necessary. After all, listeners contribute to support our programs. A responsible LSB would consider programming weakness as a possible reason for our insolvency.
We badly need an LSB that will take seriously its responsibilities regarding programming.