Everyone must stop shouting, start listening to save KDNA

This editorial appears in the Dec. 23, 2009, Yakima Herald-Republic.

One thing seems almost certain: If the controversy that has embroiled KDNA, the nation's first Spanish-language public radio station created by and for farm workers, doesn't quiet down soon, its survival is in doubt.

That means both sides need to stop the inflammatory accusations, the name-calling, the sit-in protests, the walk-off-the-job strikes, the finger-pointing, and get down to the job of keeping this station on the air. It's time to turn down the heat and chill out.

The crisis at the Granger-based KDNA began innocently enough when the station's director and one of its founders, Ricardo Garcia, retired last year. The board of directors hired Maria Fernandez to succeed him. It's clear Fernandez, with the board's blessing, wanted to change the direction of the station and aim its programming toward a younger audience. She also brought a different style of leadership that hasn't pleased some employees and former board members.

Several station workers lost their jobs. Fernandez says it was due to poor work performance; critics say it was due to the employees' unionizing efforts. Former board members and ex-station workers got into the fray and argued that they would settle for nothing less than Fernandez's dismissal. The current board has, so far, held firm and has kept her on the job.

Then earlier this month, as the station reached its 30th anniversary, the Granger police chief had to step in and arrest four protesters who had refused to leave the station for two days. That came on the heels of an ill-advised complaint filed in court by Fernandez, claiming the police chief was slow in clearing out the protesters. Not a pretty scene.

We are not taking sides in this fracas. No one should. The station's current management team along with the board of directors need to open lines of communication with the protesters. It's also incumbent that these protesters agree to listen as well, and that means no ultimatums, no walkouts, no overnight sit-ins.

Seeking an unbiased, outside arbitrator may seem like a fruitless strategy at this point, but it's worth a try. Something has to be done. If not, KDNA will become a mere footnote in the history books. We trust neither side wants to see this happen.

So stop yelling and start listening. The future of KDNA is at stake.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.