[cma-l] Climate Radio programmes available!

[Alan Coote]

I haven’t listen to the Climate Radio programmes yet so this is a general comment. 

 

There is bias of one form or another in all media – even broadcasting. Take the disproportionate airtime given to Nigel Farage – (I make not political point here). For a while last year UKIP managed to make sure he was available for comment on practically every subject going.   

 

As long as one doesn’t fall outside the Ofcom broadcast codes then, the acid test I think is to be content that there isn’t “undue bias” given to a single point of view across the programme. That goes for politics as much as it does for local campaign groups or climate change.

 

 

Kind Regards

Alan

 

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From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of tlr at gairloch.co.uk
Sent: 29 January 2015 21:37
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Climate Radio programmes available!

 

Even though it would be hard to regard climate change as controversial in itself any more, the question of what to do about it, which is what I think the programmes (sensibly) focus on, is still well within the very broad definition of public controversy. Indeed a recurrent theme in Phil England's curren tpodcasts is that "this is a political issue". Even without that, it would definitely contravene the legal ban on radio stations seeking to influence the decisions of statutory bodies (the only exception being where those decisions directly affect the radio station's interests). 

  

We ran across the breadth of the definition of 'political ends' when asked to advertise a public meeting taking place that was seeking to persuade the National Trust for Scotland to modify some local policies. We referred the question to the RAB who said it could definitely not be advertised. 

  

I am no fan of the general concept of 'balance', but presenting them as authored pieces that are debated after might be a solution. However, it would probably also reduce the number of stations able/willin gto give them airing. 

  

I think the public as a whole is relatively unaware of the fact that newspapers are free to be as politically partisan as they wish, and under no general duty to publich the truth and 'blanced opinions', when radio stations are very strictly constrained to do so. 

  

Alex 

On 29 January 2015 at 20:42 Phil Korbel <phil at radioregen.org> wrote: 

very interesting point Alex 

I dont know the programmes, but it is my understanding that climate change and the role of humankind in causing it is not deemed to be controversial with Ofcom demanding 'balance' on the issue (such is the overwhelming scientific consensus on the issue) 

That said there is ample room for such controversy in what to do about it. If Phil England's pieces, on their own, might be seen as biased and thus not Ofcom compliant, could a station remedy it by presenting them as 'authored pieces' that are debated afterwards? 

None of this is intended to dissuade you from covering this vital topic... 

bests 

Phil 




Phil Korbel FRSA - Director, Radio Regen, charity no. 1077763 

  

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