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Arlington Autonomous Media Faces Uncertain Future as WERA Goes Dark, Operations in Flux

Arlington Independent Media (AIM), a local non-profit organization, is navigating a period of critically important upheaval, with its community radio station, WERA, ceasing broadcasts and its leadership in disarray. The organization’s future remains unclear as it grapples with financial challenges and a lack of operational clarity.

The ArlingtonMedia.org website has been secured by an individual who proactively registered the domain after its expiration, ensuring its continued availability. Though, the operational status of WERA, the radio station broadcasting at 96.7 FM, is currently unknown.AIM has experienced a wave of resignations, with its president, secretary, and producers’ representative all stepping down between March and April. Two board members, Don Masters and Ted Schneider, remain. Masters indicated to ARLnow that he requires further information regarding the website and was unaware of WERA’s broadcasting status. He directed inquiries about the property and operations to the County.

Conversely, county spokesperson Erika Moore stated that the County has no involvement in AIM’s day-to-day operations. “WERA is licensed to and wholly operated by AIM, and the County has no knowledge of WERA’s broadcasting status,” Moore explained. The County’s sole connection to AIM currently involves the storage of some of AIM’s property in County-owned facilities, accessible upon request.

In a recent communication to AIM producers, former Producers’ Representative Jeff Hoffman revealed that efforts were underway to find another organization to take over WERA’s FCC license. He cited AIM’s severe financial difficulties, including a lack of cash reserves, substantial debt, and limited county and community financial backing, as the driving force behind this initiative.Hoffman acknowledged that while discussions are ongoing, no immediate transfer of the license is anticipated.He also noted that if AIM could no longer sustain WERA’s broadcasts, it could formally request a six-month silent period from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).AIM has not employed any paid staff since March 2024, following a company-wide layoff amidst ongoing financial instability and internal disputes. Around the same time, WERA’s broadcasts were suspended, having previously aired a continuous loop of lo-fi music since December 2023.

In the months following the layoffs, AIM’s remaining leadership and members explored various strategies for fundraising and programme resumption. The organization intensified its appeals for county assistance in early February, facing a critical deadline to recommence WERA’s broadcasts to retain its FCC license.

AIM had urged the county to release the findings of an independent audit into its financial practices. The county complied, publishing a report that highlighted AIM’s failure to provide sufficient documentation for over $1 million in expenditures. These documented expenses included payments to numerous third-party contractors, with a significant portion, $414,763, attributed to credit and debit card transactions, checks, wire transfers, and mobile payment apps. The audit also identified $18,254 in payments to employees outside of regular payroll, and $9,030 paid to former AIM CEO Whytni Kernodle outside of payroll.

Hoffman’s departure was attributed to the lack of anticipated new content production. He expressed his gratitude for his tenure as Producers’ Representative and conveyed his hope for the future return of AIM’s programming.