A New Beginning for Pacifica
After four long years of legal strife, Pacifica Foundation and New Day Pacifica have reached a settlement in the case that has dominated the organization’s attention and resources since 2021. This lawsuit, filed by Pacifica itself, aimed to halt the implementation of the New Day Proposed Bylaws Revision, a reform package definitively endorsed by 55% of Pacifica members. More than 6,800 listeners and staff members from across the nation voted for these changes, hoping to guide the network out of the financial and structural crisis that had threatened to unravel it.
In a court-ordered mediation, the two sides — New Day Pacifica, a group of current and former board members, staff, and listeners, and Pacifica itself — found common ground. This hard-won settlement, finalized in April 2025, will now update the Pacifica Bylaws, incorporating many of the provisions that had been passed by the membership in the 2021 referendum. A referendum that was, let’s not forget, the result of a year of debates, discussions, and contentious votes.
The settlement has been ratified by the Pacifica National Board (PNB) and approved by the court, which ordered that the new set of Updated, Consolidated 2025 Pacifica Bylaws take effect immediately.
The court order, signed by the judge, and which contains all of the revised Bylaws, is at newdaypacifica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pacifica-Bylaws-Final-Stipulated-Judgment-Signed-by-Judge-2025-04-10.pdf
Read the press release on the Bylaws settlement from the Pacifica Executive Director.
A Settlement That Matters — And Will Begin to Make a Difference Right Away
The promise of this settlement is not just in the legal documents or the bylines. Its real impact will be felt immediately.
With the adoption of the revised Bylaws, Pacifica will now have a clearer, more nimble management structure. The Executive Director will have the flexibility to hire permanent General Managers and staff at each station based on qualifications and experience, rather than being mired in the personal and often divisive politics that have plagued the network for years. This means that General Managers, with fewer distractions, can focus on what really matters — high-quality, mission-driven programming that attracts more listeners, increases community engagement, and, ultimately, raises much-needed donations.
For years, the network’s governance structure was seen as unwieldy and inefficient, a barrier to progress. Now, the number of members on the Pacifica National Board (PNB) will be reduced from 22 to 15, a move that has long been advocated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Pacifica’s auditors, The large, governing board structure — which included 120 members (24 members on each of five Local Station Boards (20 of whom were elected to the PNB) was simply too cumbersome and, often, a source of dysfunction and internal strife.
By cutting down the size of the National Board and refocusing Local Station Boards on fundraising, outreach, and member engagement, Pacifica will be in a better position to rebuild its relevance and financial stability. It’s a start, not an end, but a start that many believe has been long overdue.
Financial Relief and Strategic Direction: A Vision for the Future
One of the most immediate effects of this settlement is financial. By avoiding a prolonged legal battle, which would have drained precious resources, Pacifica is saving tens of thousands of dollars that can now be redirected toward operations and programming — the lifeblood of any listener-sponsored network. These savings are not just a reprieve; they represent an opportunity to invest in Pacifica’s future, ensuring that it can continue to serve the communities that depend on it.
PNB Director Zack Kaldveer aptly put it, saying, “I support these long-overdue reforms that will bring efficiency, accountability, and real democracy to Pacifica’s governance. This settlement is a major step forward, ensuring key decisions are made by people who understand broadcasting, making the Board more effective, and finally delivering the changes members have demanded for years and conclusively voted to enact but were denied.”
This, after all, is what democracy at its best looks like. It is about responding to the will of the people — in this case, the members who voted decisively for change in 2021, but whose wishes had been delayed and obstructed. This settlement acknowledges that their voices have finally been heard.
A Renewed Pacifica: A Vital Force for Democracy and Justice
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this settlement is the potential it unleashes. Pacifica, with its five stations in major metropolitan areas and approximately 200 affiliates nationwide, has always had the potential to be a major force for truth and justice in American media. In an era where corporate consolidation and media monopolies dominate the landscape, Pacifica’s mission — to provide independent, truth-to-power journalism — has never been more essential.
Now, with a smaller, more focused board and a renewed commitment to serving its listeners and communities, Pacifica is poised to reclaim its place as a beacon of democratic engagement and critical inquiry. In the midst of deepening political and social divides, Pacifica has the tools to be part of the solution: a diverse network of voices, united by a common purpose, speaking truth to power and bringing the news that matters to those who need it most.
This is the promise of the settlement, and this is the vision for Pacifica’s future.
The road ahead for Pacifica is still challenging, but this settlement represents a pivotal moment — a turning point in the life of the network. There is work yet to be done, but at least now the path is clearer, and the hope of a renewed Pacifica, ready to fulfill its mission in a time of crisis, is within reach.
In the end, this settlement isn’t just about legal compromises or procedural changes. It is about the future of independent media and its role in a democracy that desperately needs voices that are not beholden to the corporate elite, but instead to the people.