KPFK fails to meet pledge goal

While critics have blamed recent programming changes for a drop in fund-raising at KPFK-FM (90.7), management at the politically progressive station attributes the shortfall in last week’s fund drive to myriad factors, ranging from local union strikes to the poor national economy.

The station had been shooting for $900,000 in pledges from the drive, which ended Friday, but reached only $750,000, with about $10,000 more promised by online donors, said station general manager Eva Georgia.

Even though some of KPFK’s recent changes were controversial -- such as adding blocks of Spanish-language news and public affairs programs, and shifting or canceling longtime shows -- program director Armado Gudino said the changes are meant to help the station diversify its audience.

He added that the fund-raising dip isn’t solely tied to changes at KPFK and said that other stations in the Pacifica network, which also owns outlets in Berkeley, Washington, New York and Houston, have seen declines.

Georgia, looking on the bright side, noted that KPFK has added 15,000 new subscribers.

-- Steve Carney