Thursday, February 21, 2002

MORNING REPORT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS
FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION'S PRESS.

By ELAINE DUTKA

RADIO

Two Staffers Suspended in Latest KPFK Tussle

Marc Cooper, host of "Marc Cooper's Daily Review," and Jeff Kaufman, a public affairs producer and occasional on-air host, have been relieved of their duties after refusing to participate in the winter fund-raising drive at KPFK-FM (90.7).

Cooper said his reluctance stems from his "deep and abiding concerns about the direction and future of the [Pacifica] network" under its new management.

Pacifica has been in a protracted fight with critics who accused the network of straying from its left-of-center roots in an attempt to broaden its audience. The situation was temporarily resolved when a new interim national board took the reins in December. KPFK general manager Mark Schubb was let go in January.

Steven Starr, the interim general manager at KPFK, said Cooper and Kaufman were suspended, not fired. He's waiting to hear from the pair, who received his letter on Tuesday.

"They refused to perform assigned tasks, which is a violation of a union agreement," Starr said Wednesday. "My principal objective is to raise funding for the station at this critical time, and I require the cooperation of all on-air talent to do so."

No decision has been made as to replacing Cooper's show, which airs weekdays at 4 p.m.