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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Agreed, insurance can make you worth suing. Tale a look at all
the complaints Ofcom handle for any commercial radio indiscretions… these
things are very rarely resolved through litigation. Public on-air apology
will suffice for the most egregious transgressions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Tom Donnelly<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>CCR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Richard
Berry<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 18 August 2007 18:49<br>
<b>Cc:</b> cma-l@commedia.org.uk<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [cma-l] Libel insurance for radio stations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>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>
<br>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<pre>Richard Berry<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Senior Lecturer in Radio and Community Radio Manager<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Admissions Tutor: Media Production (TV/Radio) and Broadcast Journalism<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>The Media Centre, University of Sunderland, SR6 0DD. Call:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>+44 (0)191 515 2239 Text: "studyradio" to 83252 (costs 25p)<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>My Web: <a
href="http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/radio">http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/radio</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Join: <a
href="http://www.radiostudiesnetwork.org.uk">http://www.radiostudiesnetwork.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>I've read: <a
href="http://del.icio.us/richardberry">http://del.icio.us/richardberry</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>My Music: <a
href="http://www.last.fm/user/richard-berry">http://www.last.fm/user/richard-berry</a><o:p></o:p></pre>
<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<br>
Olly Benson wrote: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>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 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>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=gmailquote>On 17/08/07, <b>Julian Mellor</b> <<a
href="mailto:julian@10radio.org">julian@10radio.org</a>> wrote:</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre style='text-align:center'>
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