RESOLUTION FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WFCR

WHEREAS, WFCR 88.5 FM is a public radio station broadcasting from and licensed to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

WHEREAS, in January 2007 WFCR

1. Eliminated 2 hours of ¡Tertulia! (a locally produced program on Latin American culture).

2. Canceled Afropop Worldwide (a program presenting music and culture of the African Diaspora).

3. Canceled Valley Folk (a locally produced folk music program running for more than 25 years that actively promoted local performers and venues).

4. Canceled Thistle and Shamrock (a Celtic music program).

WHEREAS, WFCR’s programming changes have reduced the diversity of genres and cultural representation, diminished local content, and were made without inviting review or input by the WFCR listening area.

WHEREAS, WFCR has acted inconsistently with its mission “… to provide the area with diverse news, information, music and cultural programs ...”

WHEREAS, WFCR receives a portion of its funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

BE IT RESOLVED that SHUTESBURY Open Town Meeting hereby implores the University of Massachusetts to actively

1. Transform the existing WFCR Advisory Committee into a Community Advisory Board that

a. Represents the ethnic, cultural and geographic diversity of the listening area.

b. Has an open application process for board members.

c. Is empowered to review and influence WFCR programming decisions.

d. Holds well-publicized open meetings and allows public access to meeting minutes.

2. Restore 2007 WFCR programming cuts until such time as they can be reviewed by the new Community Advisory Board.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor Deval Patrick, Federal Communications Commission Chair Kevin J. Martin, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Chair Cheryl Halpern, U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, U.S. Representative John Olver, Massachusetts State Senator Stanley Rosenberg, Massachusetts State Representative Ellen Story, University of Massachusetts President Jack M. Wilson, University of Massachusetts Chancellor John Lombardi, Vice Provost for University Outreach Sharon Fross, and WFCR General Manager Martin Miller.