The KDHX Media Bringdown – I: Documentation

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In Spring 2007, St. Louis Independent Media Center (StL-IMC) set out to foster skills for grassroots journalism -- to develop new media training options, draw upon talents in the community, teach people to BE independent journalists – and build local capabilities to make good stories.
To these ends, it made sense to ally with ongoing media education programs at KDHX-TV, with video classes offered in conjunction with its public access role in local cable programming.

        On 5/9/07, a Proposal was presented to KDHX as instructed, and approved by Executive Director Beverly Hacker at a staff meeting that day. Upon acceptance, it became a working agreement, and she agreed to sign the final deal when it was dropped off::

            • KDHX_Proposal-IMCtraining_07509.doc **(document links below)
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        By the next day (5/10) a public news flyer was ready, announcing the joint education project of KDHX and St. Louis IMC: "Multi-Media Training for IndyJournalists". As agreed, this publicity was specifically approved by Hacker before it went out at the KDHX "Midwest Mayhem" event that evening, and as public information on-line and around town::

            • Annt_Jt-MediaTraining_my07c.pdf

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        From this hopeful beginning, things went south fast: Efforts to start up the project and work with KDHX Education staff hit the wall right away... calls & emails were unreturned, and nothing got done for weeks. The Class Coordinator designated as the contact person for applicants was out of contact; the Education Director responsible for implementing the project did not 'direct' anything. Hacker did not induce them to do their jobs, but intervened twice by email – first misconstruing the plan as if she had never read it (5/25), then making accusations and breaking the agreement (6/12).

        StL-IMC volunteers discussed it, and a letter went out to the KDHX Board President, to engage oversight and try to resolve the problem – but he ducked the issues and deferred to Hacker. Within 6 weeks, the joint Media Training project was flat-lined... these are the key emails::

            • IMC-KDHX_eCorr_may-jun07.rtf

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        Among IMC applicants, only this author got into KDHX's introductory video class by July. It went fine, relations were friendly, a good video project got produced, and the 8-week curriculum was completed in good standing. I was also invited to volunteer on two regular studio programs, worked well with producers & crew, and made the most of the learning opportunity.         But in early October Hacker created a physical confrontation over a trivial request. Then in ensuing incidents staff pointlessly stepped on gestures to share resource info and help on software issues – changing the rules, creating conflicts, and breaking promises again to restrict my access to KDHX facilities.

Here are the emails from these episodes, for the record::

• sca-KDHX_eCorr_sep-oct07.rtf

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        With retributions in the air at KDHX, promising volunteer work and prospects for further training seemed in peril. Late in October I signed up for the next-available intermediate 'Studio' and 'Production' classes in January; this confirmed my eligibility and intent to continue as a student. And to be protected from further 'incidents', it was necessary to bring a formal appeal for Board oversight and remedies, making a record of staff misconduct since Spring.

        In early November '07 a Protest went to the Board President, seeking proper internal review and making simple requests: Restore the media training agreement with StL-IMC, open class opportunities to applicants neglected in its breach, assure personal access without harassment, and raise standards of staff performance. The package included this summary Letter and full statement of "Facts and Observations", with the above documents attached in support::

            • KDHX_Protest_Ltr-5no07.doc

• KDHX_Protest_Facts-Obsv.doc

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        In the weeks thereafter, again I heard nothing back – no call to discuss things reasonably, no opportunity to meet with the Board, as asked. It seemed a stonewall standoff, for awhile, until rumors of a bad payback came around in late December. Then buried in the mail pile, a letter appeared from KDHX Board President Paul Dever: The staff had deemed me "disruptive"... therefore I was to be barred from KDHX facilities, and revoked as a paid member::

            • DeverLtr_14de07.pdf

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        A 'Response' was on the way in a few days, rejecting Dever's conclusions, his deference to Hacker's hyperbole, and her obvious heavy hand. The facts were ignored, and the Protest was flipped into a personal attack upon no grounds, imposing exile in obvious retaliation::

• KDHX_sca-inResponse_5ja08.doc

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At the monthly public Board meeting on 1/16/08, several studio volunteers appeared to contest the Board's actions against this author, each given 3 minutes to speak. Dever reaffirmed the Board's position and declared the matter closed – then they went to "Executive Session" and forced 'the public' to leave. A 'Public Records Request' under the MO Sunshine Act was presented in-person to the Board Secretary, calling for certified minutes from Board meetings where these matters were purportedly discussed::

            • KDHX_DocRequest_11ja08.doc

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        Beverly Hacker (not the Secretary) responded by the end of January, denying documents requested on the grounds that KDHX is a non-profit organization, and not required to comply with the Sunshine Act. This position was then disputed in turn, showing KDHX to be a "quasi-public governmental body" under the Act, and giving notice that they are in violation::

• bh_RefuseDocs-08127.pdf

            • KDHX_DocDispute-s610_7fe08.rtf

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        **SEE LINKS BELOW TO DOCUMENTS ABOVE...

These items will be referenced in 'Part II: The Story", forthcoming soon.

The 'KDHX Media Bringdown' is still a live situation... further documentation will be released, and broader public interests will be explored as it unfolds.

                in fair witness,

                        _sca__