[cma-l] Offensive language on radio

Sat Oct 1 10:26:46 BST 2016

I'm afraid the real-life answer is that the Licensee is responsible for ensuring that everything broadcast by the station falls within guidelines.
We all know this when we take on a project of this nature.
If we get it wrong - and don't immediately make amends - we have to take the wrap.
If you don't like the rules of the game you should take up a different one - or run the very real risk of getting taken out.
Whilst I have every sympathy - I had to deal with a similar severe Ofcom censure with the amazing but ceased XS Wales - simply putting up the defence of "....we have too many people involved and we can't keep track of every single thing they say and play......" cuts no ice with Ofcom - and it doesn't with me.
I use offensive language when I hit my thumb with a hammer - or get cut up on the road - where I have control over who can hear me.
On radio - you don't have that.
Set out your own standards in writing of what is and what is not acceptable and make sure that everyone on the station reads it and signs as agreeing to abide by it.
I know it's awfully formal and dictatorial - but all you have to do is make sure they understand that if it's not complied with - there simply will be no radio station there for them to enjoy.

It's a hard old life - isn't it - having to play by the rules all the time?

Ian Hickling

Partner

[https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/2SkDsnIzSZgRbNnNKBSiwxiFhFQWRGV55mTjVL23fulnJpstZmYxeKrrYefY4qxiSgkMrAETld64XINLXCsujE_zI5gAsQyWeCWvHixcrNYtar3Sij4YlVBgN2NSQ-n2DsgZvrnpWZlfwCQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.transplanuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/transplan_UK_weblogo_190x60.png]<http://www.transplanuk.com/>

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h GTS)

Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

________________________________
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> on behalf of Phonic FM <info at phonic.fm>
Sent: 30 September 2016 16:22
To: Martin Steers; The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom publishes research on offensive language on TV and radio

"Do Ofcom for example have a different code for Radio than TV        what I am trying to say is if I heard the ‘f’ word on TV, I don’t particularly like it as it’s unnecessary, but I tend to just shrug my shoulders and go ‘’oh well’’    where as, if I heard the ‘f’ word on Radio, I would find it quite offensive."

As one of the stations named in the report we'd have to, in all honesty, say that the process that OFCOM went through was thorough and provided an opportunity for an input from the station. We might question whether the process is appropriate for a station with no employees since it seems to take no account of the fact that all correspondence required one of the Directors who is mainly only available outside working hours to deal with all aspects of the process which was quite time consuming. For the station which has over 80 different people a week on-air,monitoring output is difficult, and largely left to the individual presenters, as we have no playlist. All we have direct control over is the playout/sustaining service. We've been censured subsequent to this for another breach of the same rules. The findings of the report are interesting to us (if statistically fragile) and OFCOM asked permission to use the clip as an example

On 30 September 2016 at 12:21, Martin Steers <martin at martinsteers.co.uk<mailto:martin at martinsteers.co.uk>> wrote:
Ofcom has under the code "generally accepted standards" or what ever the wording is..

but your right, the general population seem to hold radio in a higher regard (it used to be considered the most trusted of all media.. not sure if thats still the case)

TV also has its "watershed" which we all know does not exist for radio.. so we have to be mindful of our audience every minute of every hours.. there is the argument that if you can justify (or attempt to.. consider italian toasted bread) use of any "language" on air then go for it..

Late at night some comedy / drama can use quite strong language on air.. and equally I am sure there are some stations that broadcast the non radio edit of urban / R&B etc songs late into the evening.. you just cant do it at 9am in the morning..

On 30 September 2016 at 09:48, Canalside's The Thread <office at thethread.org.uk<mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>> wrote:
I could be wrong here ladies and gents but I have always had a gut feeling that offensive language is for some bizarre strange unknown reason more acceptable and palatable on TV than it is on Radio. I don’t know whether I have been living in a bubble but apart from an odd hic-cup where someone hasn’t done a song edit correct etc etc    I don’t think I have ever heard a swear word on the Radio ????

Do Ofcom for example have a different code for Radio than TV        what I am trying to say is if I heard the ‘f’ word on TV, I don’t particularly like it as it’s unnecessary, but I tend to just shrug my shoulders and go ‘’oh well’’    where as, if I heard the ‘f’ word on Radio, I would find it quite offensive.

Am I off with the fairies on this one ?   catch my drift ?

Maybe it’s the late night chat shows which I generally don’t listen to apart the odd time ‘’up-all-night’’

Thoughts ?

Nick

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk>] On Behalf Of CMA-L
Sent: 30 September 2016 09:09
To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
Subject: [cma-l] Ofcom publishes research on offensive language on TV and radio

Ofcom has published research exploring the latest attitudes to offensive language on TV and radio.

This updates Ofcom’s previous studies – from 2005 and 2010 – on public attitudes to offensive language. This new work draws on a mix of focus groups, in-depth interviews, online surveys and discussions involving people from around the UK.

The report looks at words and gestures, exploring what people were likely to find unacceptable, and the reasons why they were judged to be offensive. This helps inform decisions during our investigations of TV and radio programmes that have included potentially offensive language.

The findings will be shared with broadcasters to help them better understand audience expectations about generally-accepted standards on TV and radio.

The full research and quick reference guide are available online here<http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/tv-research/offensive-language-2016/>. A news release is available here<http://media.ofcom.org.uk/news/2016/Attitudes-to-offensive-language/>.

Please note this report contains a wide range of words which may cause offence.

\\

Community Media Association
--
http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation

Canstream Internet Radio & Video
http://www.canstream.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/canstream

_______________________________________________

Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>

The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
_______________________________________________

Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
_______________________________________________

To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l

_______________________________________________

Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>

The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
_______________________________________________

Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
_______________________________________________

To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20161001/c4ecd22b/attachment.html>