[cma-l] Fw: Re: comty radio and campaigning

Mon Jan 24 23:03:03 GMT 2011

An interesting and pertinent debate to us at the moment. Here at Stroud FM I strive for all our presenters to be impartial and for our range of guests to be challenged about their views,  so that all sides of the argument are covered. I personally believe that taking a one sided stance doesn't work, but a lively debate does. It also, I think, makes better  radio. So, the opposition lib dems put out a press release stating they were opposed to the cuts at the county council level, we interview the  County council opposition lib Dem leader and ask them where they think the cuts should be made, as made they have to be. We interview the leader of the tory controlled county council, and challenged him to explain exactly why he is introducing savage cuts in the libraries, youth services, care for the elderly.  He gives a lively account and defence as to why those area's are being targeted. All should be happy eh? Nope, the tory leader of the 
 county council, it would appear, has blacklisted us because we gave him too hard a time by asking fair but tough questions.  At the moment,  he has, so we understand, decided he won't  be doing interviews with us.... which I find rather galling..., it would appear that some other councillors are backing his stance, and are therefore not coming on to talk about even minor issues that are not related to the cuts

Still, no doubt all those who oppose the plans will be more than happy to come on air and all we can do is say that immortal line.. "We tried to get someone from the ruling party on the county council to talk to us.. but no one was available..."

Hey ho... you try your best..

Claire Penketh, stroud fm station manager
Better to have given it a go than never to have tried at all

--- On Mon, 10/1/11, LOL GELLOR <lolgellor at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

From: LOL GELLOR <lolgellor at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: [cma-l] Fw: Re: comty radio and campaigning
To: "cmA" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
Date: Monday, 10 January, 2011, 17:38

--- On Mon, 10/1/11, LOL GELLOR <lolgellor at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

From: LOL GELLOR <lolgellor at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] comty radio and campaigning
To: "Marilyn Hyndman" <marilyn at northernvisions.org>
Date: Monday, 10 January, 2011, 16:18

I would say -( wouldn't I) given the context of media coverage as a whole and the role of commmunity media as part of that ecology there is a clear mandate to give a voice to those who do not have a voice. The local authority will probably have a publication and a press office to deliver their position without any obligation to give a contrary view. I know I am on record as regarding the main media players as partial, and deluded in any "belief" that they do not mediate a sense of balance within their own specific sensibilities. So perhaps its an opportunity for us- to lead with a slightly more honest approach e.g. "this may not be everyones view but I (individual broadcaster) think such and such policy is awful for the following reasons........., anyone wishing to counter this view is welcome to come forward and contribute to a programme to present their view". Sound Radio broadcast with this approach for a number of years, money may have been a problem
 but this freedom of speech was not (most of the time). 
Be brave, be honest and be smart, otherwise I would have to say what is the point?

This would be a personal view I am happy to consider any contrary responses in a sensible and balanced way (do you get me)

--- On Mon, 10/1/11, Marilyn Hyndman <marilyn at northernvisions.org> wrote:

From: Marilyn Hyndman <marilyn at northernvisions.org>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] comty radio and campaigning
To: "Julian Mellor" <julian at 10radio.org>
Cc: "CMA-L" <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
Date: Monday, 10 January, 2011, 15:31

.......you can't be expected to have 'balance' in every programme but you can achieve 'balance' across a schedule. This need not necessarily be focussed narrowly on an issue like libraries, you could consider broader approaches such as a discussion of local government priorities, residents priorities, national public spending cuts effect on locale. I suspect you will always get into diffs with single issues when those either for or against are poor communicators but you could say on air that an invitation was sent to the local county council and they did not reply, were not available etc.... if a majority of people in your community are opposed to library closures and those carrying out the closures have a poor record of communication, that is not your fault. It is the reality of what is happening in your community and you are reflecting that .....discussing positive ways forward, opening up dialogue and involving the community and its elected
 representatives should help your listeners to see that you are attempting to be impartial.... 

On 10 Jan 2011, at 14:02, Julian Mellor wrote:

A question for you hive of minds: 

Under Ofcom rules we have to show due impartiality, give air to differing opinions etc.

But how does that impact upon how we cover issues and decisions that will detrimentally impact upon the communities we serve?

To illustrate this:  our local county council wants to close 20 or its 34 libraries, including the one in our town.  Via our website we have been very vocal in our opposition to the closures, although on air we are giving coverage to both sides of the argument (although the County are pretty hopeless at coming forth to communicate!)  Some of our Directors are a little bit twitchy about this, thinking that we shouldn't come out for one side or the other, whether on air or off air.

Is there a definitive line on what we can / can't do in this multi-platform world?  And what do others do?

Many thanks

Julian

................................................................................

10Radio: community radio for the 10 parishes
105.3fm
http://www.10radio.org

West St
Wiveliscombe
Somerset
TA4 2JP

JM tel: 01984 623 104
Studio and office tel: 01984 624 137

10Radio CIC 
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