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November 5, 1999/26 Cheshvan 5760, Vol. 52, No.10
JNF pulls plug on radio show
TAMI BICKLEY
Staff Writer
The Jewish National Fund this week canceled plans to broadcast its first-ever live radio program on KFNX-AM (1100) in Phoenix and WALE-AM in Providence, R.I., hours after learning that a white supremacist hosts a show that airs on the same stations.
"JNF-Israel Hour," a weekly program addressing issues in Israel and American Jewish communities and featuring prominent figures within the Jewish community as guests, was to debut Thursday, Nov. 4, with Russell Robinson, JNF executive vice president, and Craig Goldstein, JNF marketing associate, as co-hosts.
But JNF Director of Marketing Operations Suzanne Rosenblatt said Wednesday, Nov. 3, that JNF is refusing to honor its contract with the stations after discovering that the stations (both of which are owned by local businessman Francis Battaglia) air a 30-minute taped program, "American Dissident Voices," each Saturday (4:30 p.m. locally), hosted by William Pierce, leader of the National Alliance and a well-known white supremacist.
"I'd like to see (JNF) go on with the show (because) they've got an excellent cause," said John Belles, an executive producer for KFNX who was to act as such for "JNF-Israel Hour." "We are a free speech station like anyone. I think William Pierce is full of a lot of hatred ... but he has a right to say what he wants to say, as anyone does."
The incident marks the third time in the past year that Pierce's program has prompted Jewish talk show hosts to cancel shows on KFNX. In May, local Jewish psychologist Judith Engelman quit her program, "Dr. Judy Is In," and a few months earlier, another Jewish psychologist in Phoenix, Marty Keller, declined to renew his contract.
"(The Anti-Defamation League) is very upset that the station is allowing Pierce to be on," commented Marc Lieberman, chairman of the local ADL Board of Directors. "We believe (Pierce) is one of the most dangerous people in the United States, and the station doesn't have to renew his contract. Yes, he has a First Amendment right to speak, but (the stations) don't have a First Amendment obligation to put him on."
Lieberman added that he feels "bittersweet" about JNF's decision not to produce the program. He explained that Rosenblatt phoned him on Tuesday, Nov. 2, to ask his opinion on whether or not he thought "JNF-Israel Hour" should air. Lieberman said he did not advise Rosenblatt either way. Lieberman did, however, tell Rosenblatt that he felt "the station was using (JNF) to offset any criticism that on another day at another time, they were (airing) William Pierce."
Besides Phoenix and Providence, Pierce's program also airs on one station each in Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania, and on two stations in Alabama. Battaglia bought the Providence station in 1985, and KFNX in 1998. Battaglia could not be reached for comment on the JNF program cancellation, but said in an earlier interview that Pierce has a First Amendment right to express his opinions.
In April, the North American Broadcasting Company - the parent company of KFNX and WALE - first contacted JNF about the possibility of a program, Goldstein said. In early negotiations between JNF and NABC, Goldstein said JNF had asked NABC if there were any controversial programs being aired on the stations, or if the stations had experienced advertising problems. JNF was told "no" to both questions. On Wednesday, Belles said he had been unaware of Pierce's program because it "is not one of my projects."
JNF agreed to a contract to broadcast a weekly, 13-week pilot program that would have dealt with newsworthy topics. The shows would have attempted "to mirror JNF's mission ... to present ourselves as American Jews linked to Israel," Goldstein said.
JNF had booked for the program such guests as JNF President Ronald Lauder; Michael Dombeck, chief of the United States Forest Service (who was to join the program in its premiere show); Dalia Itzik, Israel's Minister of Environment; and Shlomo Gravetz and Yehiel Leket, chairmen of JNF parent organization Keren Kaye-meth LeIsrael.
On Tuesday, Jewish News contacted JNF after receiving a press release about plans to debut the program. Asked if JNF had concerns about airing a program on stations that air the Pierce program, Goldstein told Jewish News he was unaware of Pierce's radio program, and that he would "have to look into it." A few hours later, Rosenblatt called Jewish News to say that JNF had contacted Lieberman and others with the ADL, and had researched Pierce's program, and most likely would not broadcast "JNF-Israel Hour."
Rosenblatt confirmed early Wednesday that JNF would not do the program, but refused to comment otherwise. Wednesday afternoon, JNF sent out a "Media Alert" that said JNF had canceled the program "due to scheduling difficulties."
It remained unclear at press time how willing NABC would be to let JNF out of its contract. Belles indicated that there may be legal wrangling when he commented, "A contract is a contract."
Hosts on KFNX and WALE generally pay for their own air time by paying a fee upfront. The hosts are then reimbursed if and when sponsors advertise on their shows.
"It's reprehensible that the station sells time to (Pierce), who has openly advocated killing blacks and Jews and minorities of all kinds to create a white homeland. What possible excuse can there be for that?" commented Lieberman. The ADL is working on a campaign against KFNX, Lieberman said, and "intends to make it very difficult for them to do business as long as they support people like Pierce on their airwaves."
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