Public Media Policybase

Pacifica Foundation By-Laws, 1999

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These are the bylaws of the governing body of Pacifica Radio, originally adopted Sept. 30, 1961, with revisions through Feb. 28, 1999. See also Pacifica’s bylaws in 1955, early in the nonprofit’s history. ARTICLE ONE
IDENTITY
NAME: The name of this corporation shall be PACIFICA FOUNDATION, and it shall be referred to in these by-laws as “The Foundation”.

Development

We’re sending the wrong message with premiums

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No, I’m not going to preach that public TV should stop using premiums to attract and upgrade members. Premiums are too effective to give up on them. But if we misuse them, they are also quite effective at undercutting the long-term relationships we want and need with viewers and members. As a fundraiser who has worked at stations as well as at PBS, I’m concerned that the way many stations now use premiums during on-air drives will make it increasingly difficult for them to secure renewals, annual upgrades, and additional gifts from members acquired using premiums.

And I’m even more concerned about what premium-driven pledging means to our existing base of the most loyal donors. In our move to “transactional marketing,” some have ignored an obvious fact — television is a mass medium.

Children's programming

Is Tinky a gay role model for boys, or a purple toddler in full play?

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International stardom has not been easy for Tinky Winky, the Teletubby recently “outed” by the Rev. Jerry Falwell as a gay role-model for children. First there was a big flap in England, shortly after the show’s 1997 debut, over the dismissal of the actor playing Tinky Winky. Producers said he had been too rambunctious on the set. But the actor apparently endeared himself to viewers by flamboyantly waving the now-notorious red handbag, and did not go quietly. The Sun, Britain’s largest tabloid, launched a campaign to reinstate the actor, but to no avail.

Michael Nesmith wins $47 million in video suit against PBS

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Almost five years after PBS sued its former home-video distributor, the legal action
boomeranged last week, hitting the network with a $46.8 million judgment. PBS said it was shocked by the outcome. “We’re going to take aggressive steps to
appeal this,” said Bob Ottenhoff, PBS chief operating officer. “I think the jury
didn’t understand the steps PBS had been taking all along to make this a satisfactory
venture.” But after PBS had lost hope, the court found, the behavior of its executives crossed a
line.