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<font face="Tahoma">I would echo Ollys comments on this. We always
drill our students on the basics of law before they go on the air, so
they know what they can and cannot do and this really works. It should
be something that anyone involved in the output of the station has to
go through before being allowed anywhere near a microphone. Of course,
backers and funders not used to radio may ask about things like this
but proper training is one solution and for what you might spend on
insurance you could fit the flashest delay system available with a dump
button on the bosses desk.. much more reassuring!<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Rich @ Utopia<br>
</font>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Richard Berry
Senior Lecturer in Radio and Community Radio Manager
Admissions Tutor: Media Production (TV/Radio) and Broadcast Journalism
The Media Centre, University of Sunderland, SR6 0DD. Call:
+44 (0)191 515 2239 Text: "studyradio" to 83252 (costs 25p)
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<br>
<br>
Olly Benson wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:d974a4520708180603v41745b46jd749fb681d0f5613@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Hi Julian,<br>
<br>
My advice would be libel insurance is a waste of money.<br>
<br>
The main reason is that someone suing for libel would need to consider
whether taking action against the organisation would enhance their
reputation, and how much would they be likely to receive.
<br>
<br>
Suing a small-time community radio station run on a shoestring budget
would probably do more damage than the initial accusation. Much better
that they accept your apology (assuming you were at fault) and get a
nice story about how they were wronged but recognise that suing would
be a pointless exercise. Additionally, were you to lose; the amount
awarded would be dependent on your ability to pay... so as soon as you
take out insurance that goes up.
<br>
<br>
I'd also argue that libel insurance almost gives the impression to
volunteers that it doesn't matter if they libel, because you are
insured against it.<br>
<br>
It's worth noting that the six-figure sums awarded to celebrities after
litigation with the red-tops are not representative of libel
generally. Look at the teacher who sued FriendsReunited. They got
£4k, so assuming you are not going to be sued every other year, libel
insurance would not be cost-effective.
<br>
<br>
I'd far prefer spending that money on bringing in a libel lawyer /
journalist / trainer and doing proper training with your volunteers;
and ensuring that you have good compliance systems so that you never
get to the stage of defaming someone on air. Libel training isn't
about understand the ins-and-outs of the law: it's simply that every
broadcaster can recognise what could be potentially libellous, and then
either doesn't broadcast it, or flags it up so you as an organisation
can decide whether you want to broadcast it. One thing I keep
reinforcing where I work is that we shouldn't be scared of publishing
things that could be potentially libellous, if we can justify it, but
it needs to be agreed at an organisational level because of the nature
of the risk (erm, lets hope my trustees are not reading this)
<br>
<br>
The claimant decides who to sue; so you can't really get out of it by
indemnifing yourself against the volunteers.<br>
<br>
Touch wood there hasn't been a defamation case against a community
radio station; and when I was at the SRA I struggled to find any action
against student radio or newspapers. Suing volunteers doesn't make
financial sense.
<br>
<br>
More on libel at: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.rad10.com/news/so_sue_me/">http://www.rad10.com/news/so_sue_me/</a><br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Olly<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 17/08/07, <b
class="gmail_sendername">
Julian Mellor</b> <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:julian@10radio.org">julian@10radio.org</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Hi
all<br>
<br>
While budgeting and gradually working towards<br>
launching full time onto a suspecting public next<br>
January, the big issue of insurance has raised<br>
its (ugly) head.<br>
<br>
I've seen the discussion on this list from last
<br>
April, but was wondering if other stations also<br>
get cover for libel? And/or do you get<br>
presenters (all of ours will be volunteers) to<br>
indemnify you against what they might say on air?<br>
<br>
Cost indications for PLI, ELI and property cover
<br>
have come in at c.£1800 - which brought tears to<br>
my eyes. What do others pay?<br>
<br>
Thanking you in advance<br>
<br>
Julian<br>
<br>
PS And thanks to everyone who gave help in July<br>
with child protection policies. We eventually
<br>
managed to craft one that fits on one page and<br>
it proved sufficient for a youth focused funder.<br>
Let me know if you want a copy.<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
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