Author
Skidmark Bob
Interview with Tanya Brannan of Purple Beretes about the Sex Discrimination Suit Filed Against KPFA and Dennis Brenstein of Flashpoints.
Music by Keli Hanson - song: In due Time from Lullaby for an Astronaut 2005 bigger than barn records.
Community radio station KPFA was served with a lawsuit filed by
Noelle Hanrahan, former producer and co-host of Flashpoints, the station’s
drive-time public affairs broadcast. Also named in the complaint are
Pacifica Foundation, Flashpoints executive producer Dennis Bernstein, and
ex-general manager, Jim Bennett.
Among the charges in the complaint are sexual harassment and sex
discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and intentional
infliction of emotional distress.
Hanrahan, three-time winner of the Golden Reel Award, one of public radio’s
highest honors, was hired in July 2000 as a temporary producer on
Flashpoints, and elevated to co-host a year later. She alleges that in
October, 2001, Bernstein informed he! r, “I’m going to torture you until
you quit or I force you to leave.” Hanrahan informed General Manager
Bennett of the incident, stating that she believed the actions were the
result of sexual harassment and sex discrimination.
Over the next five months, Hanrahan repeatedly requested of Bennett and
others at both KPFA and Pacifica that her allegations be investigated and
that disciplinary action be taken. During that period, according to the
complaint, Hanrahan was exposed to an escalating pattern of harassment from
Bernstein, who refused to talk with her, refused to inform her of
information necessary to perform her job, and locked her out of editorial
meetings. In one incident a master tape of an interview Hanrahan was
preparing to air was erased, in an alleged attempt to sabotage her work and
force her to resign.
Throughout this period, according to the complaint, Bennett and others
conducted no investigation and took no disciplinary action against
Bernstein, despite Hanrahan’s repeated requests to management. At one
point Hanrahan allegedly was informed by Bennett that, “If you file a
grievance it will only get a lot worse.” Not long afterward management
demoted Hanrahan, allotting her only 40% of the Flashpoints program.
On November 20, 2001, Bernstein verbally attacked Hanrahan on the air,
informing listeners she had made false allegations against him and was
trying to take over the radio program, encouraging listeners to call KPFA
and call for her dismissal. Less than three months later, Hanrahan was
placed on involuntary leave and banned from the KPFA building.
Citing KPFA’s failure to implement an effective procedure for reporting,
investigating or addressing complaints of discrimination or harassment, the
complaint alleges that prior to Hanrahan’s hiring, a number of other female
employees had complained of Bernstein’s sexual harassment, discrimination
and workplace violence.! p; Those female employees resigned or were
forced out of their positions as a result.
“The fact that women’s voices are being silenced by gender-based harassment
and intimidation is cause for deep concern,” Hanrahan stated. "My every
attempt to have my grievances addressed was met with retaliation and a
wholesale cover-up. Sadly, I was left with no other option but to turn to
the courts for redress."
Also cited in the complaint are a number of incidents of workplace violence
by male KPFA employees. Unlike Hanrahan, those employees still work at
KPFA.
A week ago, another female Flashpoints producer, Solange Echeverría
resigned, citing abusive behavior by Bernstein as the cause. In an open
letter to the Local Station Board, Echeverría states:
“ . . . I was FORCED OUT. I was left with no choice - I reported unfair
treatment, favoritism, abuse and hostile working conditions on the
Flashpoints program - perpetrated by Executive Prod! ucer Dennis
Bernstein and I was met with complete disrespect, and disregard when I
reported the abuse to the [now] General Manager, Roy Campenella.”
Complaint online at
s.org>http://www.purpleberets.org/pdf/firstamendedcomplaint.pdfhttp://www.pur…
berets.org
CONTACTS
Tanya Brannan, Purple Berets
707.953.9412 www.purpleberets.org
Wendy E.. Musell, Attorney
415.445.0146
Elisa J. Stewart, Attorney
415.552.9900
E-mail
Link