Pacifica Radio Appoints Indra Hardat Interim Manager of WBAI 99.5 FM

"I am humbled to serve as the manager of this great institution," said Hardat. "I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues to strengthen the core values of WBAI and at the same time to do my very best to deepen Pacifica's peace and social justice mission."

Ms. Hardat assumes the position effective immediately, said Pacifica Radio Executive Director Dan Coughlin.

Outoing GM Don Rojas welcomed the new appointment.

"Indra brings a proven track record of strong financial management and will continue to ensure stability, transparency and accountability during this transition period," he said.

During his two and half year tenure, Don Rojas pioneered a variety of multi-media initiatives both at the station and the network. They included creating and launching a new web site, rolling-out an Internet Radio stream, and reinitiating the station's membership newspaper, "The WBAI Folio."

The station's audience continued to grow dramatically under Rojas's leadership.

In 2001, the station's average weekly audience totaled about 200,000 listeners. Three years later, in 2004, the station averaged more than 260,000 listeners a week, according to Arbitron estimates.

At the same time, WBAI continues to be one of the most diverse radio stations in the country. Half the audience is Black and Latino, according to Arbitron estimates.

WBAI also maintains a strong gender balance among listeners, equally divided between men and women.

Founded in 1949, Pacifica Radio is the nation's first listener-supported, community-based radio network. Along with KPFA in Berkeley, it includes WBAI 99.5 FM in New York, KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston, WPFW 89.3 FM in Washington DC and more than 70 affiliates in 27 states.