Aileen Alfandary of KPFA radio came to discuss media coverage and the recent BART strikes with students in the introduction to journalism class on Oct. 31.

Alfandary is a co-director and newscaster for KPFA, which provides alternative news coverage through shows like “Democracy Now.” KPFA is a part of the Pacifica Radio Foundation, which has stations based in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New York, and Houston as well as Berkeley.

In her visit to the Introduction to Journalism class Alfandary asked students to examine the Bart strike that took place last month and talk about “How the media covered the labor dispute. What it covered well and where it fell short.”

The discussion first addressed the changing face of the media, as most of the students reported following the strike through online sources or word of mouth rather than newspapers or other more traditional media outlets. The class then explored what information they thought was key in understanding the dispute.

Alfandary explained that at KPFA they “want to hear what all sides have to say,” and that the radio station aimed to recognize the role “the decrease in middle-class jobs” had on the strike.

“In this labor dispute you look at people trying to hold on to these good middle class jobs in the face of a backslide,” Alfandary said adding, “These other issues inform our coverage.”

She then encouraged the students to think about what they as aspiring reporters would ask the major players in the dispute, if given a chance. The class raised questions about BART salaries, work rules and past practices, as well as what kinds of alternatives are available to striking.

The discussion helped the journalism students better understand what they expect from the news and how they could address media shortcomings in the future.

You can listen to KPFA radio online via their website at KPFA.org, or by tuning in to 94.1FM.