Article WBAI’s new team

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http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/democracy-duo-gonzalez-goodman-blast-new-wbai-team-article-1.376774

‘Democracy Now!’ duo, Gonzalez and Goodman, blast new WBAI team

Sunday, June 14, 2009, 9:17 PM
Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez.DABIN FOR NEWS

Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez.

Under normal circumstances,Amy Goodman and Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez say, they’d be happy their daily “Democracy Now” show has moved from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. on WBAI (99.5 FM).

But with WBAI having another of its periodic civil wars, they aren’t so sure.

Before the shift last week, co-hosts Goodman and Gonzalez sent a letter to acting general manager LaVarn Williamssaying that while the station has the right to air the program whenever it wishes, “This decision disturbs us deeply and we urge that it be reconsidered.”

Their concern, they say, involves the fact that moving “Democracy Now” is only one part of larger changes at WBAI, including the dismissal of station manager Anthony Riddle and program director Bernard White.

Critics of Riddle and White charged they had narrowed the station’s appeal, costing it listenership and revenue. White disputes those assertions, and his supporters have launched a campaign to “take back WBAI.”

Goodman and Gonzalez’s letter says firing White “lacked basic human consideration” and expresses concern that the new team is using “Democracy Now” as “a weapon against its opponents.” . . . .

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