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I'm most shocked that this matter isn't a constant background issue; it
would be a good sign of health of our shared editorial journey if it
were.<br>
<br>
Context and respect are the watchwords and a station's own ability to
separate 'fruity' language from offensive hate is like a muscle; you
have to use it every day.<br>
<br>
Aside from the letter of the Broadcast Code, in its interpretation you
obviously cannot risk a community's faith in your service in allowing
content which gives not much more than thrill to a DJ/producer who
recognises not fully the spheres within which they are operating...but
actually offends many others by its meaning.<br>
<br>
And by that content I mean only words, phrases and lyrics which mean to
harm individuals and groups.<br>
<br>
Which is why you ALWAYS have to drill down into the meaning and intent
behind the words used and never jerk thine knee.<br>
<br>
I remember very clearly the mass workshop given to the first wave of
CRO applicants by Ofcom at Southwark; it gave me an early respect for
their interpretation of the rules and principles of the code and that
has been born out in practice too, in our experience- Ofcom themselves
gave me the confidence to NOT turn to 'bookburning' as a means of risk
management.<br>
<br>
<b>SMs & support staff</b>- find out why they want to play that
before you say no or go ballistic after the event, write yourself a
style book on top of the Code in consultation with all active programme
makers, train them 'til they're sick of hearing it and never be afraid
to invoke the disciplinary procedures when you have good evidence to <i>have
</i>to use them (have you got a policy?)<br>
<b>Teams</b>- ask yourself why you want to play it, give adequate
warning to your listener, arm yourself with water-tight reasons as to
why.<br>
<b>Schedulers</b>- schedule it properly.<br>
<br>
How much 'adult content' is on 209radio? A fair bit actually but it's
properly scheduled and carefully chosen for context.<br>
How broad is our audience? VERY.<br>
How many complaints lodged with Ofcom against 209radio since 2007? 3<br>
How many upheld? None.<br>
How many to do with an adult content choice/context by a team/producer?
None.<br>
<br>
The Code is there to protect young people, not the sensibilities of
hand-wringers. </flinches and ducks><br>
<br>
Dialogue...adding to the plurality...all that Lol said...<br>
<br>
<b>"The children were startled!" (c) The Now Show.</b><br>
<br>
K<br>
<br>
LOL GELLOR wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:935839.13073.qm@web27901.mail.ukl.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
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style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit;"
valign="top">For what it's worth - a plea to the better part of
humanity and intellect - I'm irritated rather than offended - which is
what you may be.<br>
<br>
Did I spend all that time and money for all those years lobbying,
running, encouraging (& still assisting others) to do community
radio so that the excluded could remain excluded. Censoring culture,
language, art, faith, differing views, differing perspectives, human
rights, notions of free speech, democracy, LANGUAGE that does not tally
with ones own view or sensibility is best left to others please
(mainstream media, BBC etc.). Though I guess the offensive moral high
ground that seems to be innocently but arrogantly on offer in some of
these contributions to the list would also be something I would
ultimately have to defend. I seem to recall disagreeing with about
eighty per cent of station output in my own case.<br>
<br>
Gosh don't we always know what's best for everyone else. But are you
prepared to accept that your position may have more to with your own
limitations rather than the limitations of others. Not easy is it!<br>
<br>
The greatest gift community radio has given me amongst all the
blood,sweat and tears is the opportunity to have my own view of the
world challenged so that I might just have a fuller comprehension of
what the reality of others lives might involve. This is the tremendous
opportunity community radio/media presents. By all means create content
that is imbued with a particular sensibility but don't automatically
exclude anything that authentically challenges it. Perhaps you might
more intelligently approach the issue with an open world interrogation
rather than simplistic judgement, who knows you may be better informed
for the experience. There's no requirement that you change your
language, become a hip hop artist or even attempt street dance. (I
tried it but put my back out). Whilst you may feel you are invoking an
almost Reithian sense of the past - you might just consider Community
radio as one of the few opportunities to offer a genuine window on the
world - a three dimensional view not mediated by the inherited, rather
tired somewhat two dimensional view offered by the mainstream media
platforms.<br>
<br>
Please don't miss what much of the journey is about - you will be
missing a great opportunity - and for XXXX's sake lighten up a bit.<br>
<br>
all the very best <br>
Lolx<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
--- On <b>Sun, 16/8/09, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk">Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk</a> <i><a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk"><Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk></a></i></b>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote
style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><br>
From: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk">Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk</a> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk"><Julie@radiowestsuffolk.co.uk></a><br>
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Offensive Lyrics<br>
To: "Ian Hickling" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:transplanfm@hotmail.com"><transplanfm@hotmail.com></a><br>
Cc: "cma-l" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk"><cma-l@commedia.org.uk></a>,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:paradigm.productions@ntlworld.com">paradigm.productions@ntlworld.com</a><br>
Date: Sunday, 16 August, 2009, 6:14 PM<br>
<br>
<div class="plainMail">Gentlemen please!<br>
<br>
Having come from a "working" class East End family, father a builder, <br>
so I know all the expletives under the sun, rubbish school etc. <br>
However, whilst I could turn the "air blue" as good as any, I know <br>
when it is and isn't appropriate. I find songs with swearing in <br>
offensive and I would hope that so would my presenters, regardless of <br>
age, class etc.<br>
<br>
Surely, if you can't sing a song without effing and blinding in it, <br>
don't sing a song.<br>
<br>
<br>
Julie MacLeod<br>
Station Manager - My father called me Margo because he thought I was
posh!<br>
<br>
Listen to me every Friday night at 8pm for the Request Show or every
other<br>
Wednesday at 6pm for "What's Going On". <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.radiowestsuffolk.co.uk">www.radiowestsuffolk.co.uk</a><br>
RWSfm is coming to Bury Soon!<br>
<br>
<br>
Quoting Ian Hickling <<a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:transplanfm@hotmail.com"
href="/mc/compose?to=transplanfm@hotmail.com">transplanfm@hotmail.com</a>>:<br>
<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Well that's where we'll have to disagree Mark.<br>
><br>
> It seems fashionable to denegrate the idea of having standards -
and <br>
> look where it's got us.<br>
><br>
> If you like to align the concept of right and wrong to "so
called <br>
> respectable, white, middle class, daily mail readers" then so be
it <br>
> - but I'd remind you that the people we've democratically elected
to <br>
> represent and govern us fall loosely into that general catergory.<br>
><br>
> Of course the use of expletives is everyday conversation is <br>
> widespread and generally tolerated - but I suggest that the
lower <br>
> down the social, financial and responsibility scale you look,
the <br>
> greater is the usage.<br>
><br>
> Do we need to set a tolerance level across all frontiers and <br>
> universally enforce it?<br>
> No, of course not.<br>
><br>
> But I do profoundly object to offensiveness for offensiveness'
sake, <br>
> and offence is what obscene lyrics in songs appear solely to seek.<br>
><br>
> If we're going to say that music should reflect the language used
by <br>
> a section of the community, then why restrict it to that?
Shouldn't <br>
> we to be consistent then encourage the use of that medium to <br>
> advocate drugs, violence, child abuse, teenage pregnancy and all
the <br>
> other characteristics of modern society?<br>
><br>
> I don't think that most of us would like that.<br>
><br>
> And, by the way, I don't recall ever having knowingly read the
Daily <br>
> Mail in the whole of my life.<br>
><br>
> Ian<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> CC: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk"
href="/mc/compose?to=cma-l@commedia.org.uk">cma-l@commedia.org.uk</a><br>
> From: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:paradigm.productions@ntlworld.com"
href="/mc/compose?to=paradigm.productions@ntlworld.com">paradigm.productions@ntlworld.com</a><br>
> To: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:transplanfm@hotmail.com"
href="/mc/compose?to=transplanfm@hotmail.com">transplanfm@hotmail.com</a><br>
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Offensive lyrics<br>
> Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:56:19 +0100<br>
><br>
> I have to disagree with you Ian. A provocative lyric that
includes <br>
> say the F word is merely reflecting the language used by a
section <br>
> of the community and it's occasional use can certainly have
impact. <br>
> If community radio is to genuinely reflect all sections of the <br>
> community there is a need for programming that to some would be <br>
> regarded as offensive. Racist or homophobic language is of
course <br>
> not acceptable anywhere as it is illegal.<br>
><br>
><br>
> To make the judgement you have about what is "conventional
means" <br>
> when it comes to communication is perhaps not helpful as it
suggests <br>
> that so called respectable, white, middle class, daily mail <br>
> reader's are the arbiter of right and wrong. I would suggest
this <br>
> is far from the truth. Just because someone chooses to
communicate <br>
> in different way to me does not make either of us conventional
or <br>
> right or wrong. We all just use the language and means that we
find <br>
> comfortable and accessible to us.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Mark Harris<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> On 16 Aug 2009, at 07:58, Ian Hickling wrote:<br>
><br>
><br>
> Whilst wholeheartedly agreeing with Richard's suggestions, I have
to <br>
> question the reasoning behind the need to play material which has
a <br>
> lyric which is intended to be provocative or offensive.<br>
> What is the artist trying to achieve other than to offend?<br>
> It's often defended by protagonists as portraying modern culture
- <br>
> but is this something that we as responsible broadcasters want
to <br>
> highlight or promote?<br>
> My own view is that an artist who feels the need to use an
offensive <br>
> lyric is merely betraying his own inadequacy for communicating <br>
> effectively by conventional means and as such is not worthy of <br>
> exposure on radio or anywhere else.<br>
> Ian Hickling<br>
> Partner<br>
> transplan UK<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> From: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:richard.berry@sunderland.ac.uk"
href="/mc/compose?to=richard.berry@sunderland.ac.uk">richard.berry@sunderland.ac.uk</a><br>
> To: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:Stevensuttie@aol.com"
href="/mc/compose?to=Stevensuttie@aol.com">Stevensuttie@aol.com</a><br>
> Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:40:56 +0100<br>
> CC: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk"
href="/mc/compose?to=cma-l@commedia.org.uk">cma-l@commedia.org.uk</a><br>
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Hip Hop - offensive lyrics?<br>
><br>
> ofcom are right to advise you as they have done, a 'health
warning' <br>
> would merely be a mitigating factor if a complaint was made. The <br>
> first thing you can do is to take care when scheduling the <br>
> programme. For example, if you put it after the big band show
then <br>
> 67 year old Agnes is likely to hear it and be offended, whereas <br>
> putting it after the rock show at 10pm you'd be less likely to
find <br>
> people offended by the content - especially given the content of <br>
> some rock songs!! Don't rule out recording the show and playing
out <br>
> in the wee small hours if you have the kit to do it.<br>
><br>
><br>
> You could try and make some edits yourself or talking to the
labels <br>
> to see if they can send you the clean versions. Some will, some <br>
> won't. If you have legal copies of the rude versions then a
digital <br>
> copy via email will do just fine for broadcast. You may also
want <br>
> him to record the show so you can clear it before it goes out.
The <br>
> more you can the more you can show you've been in control of the <br>
> content. If someone complains and you've not taken any steps to <br>
> ensure compliance then they will kick you more for that than any <br>
> actual breach of the rules!<br>
><br>
><br>
> Regards<br>
> Rich<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Richard Berry<br>
> Senior Lecturer in Radio Studies<br>
> Admissions Tutor<br>
> Programme Leader: FdA Community Radio & BA Radio<br>
> The David Puttnam Media Centre, St Peters Campus<br>
> Sunderland, SR6 0DD<br>
> Tel: 0191 515 2239<br>
> Skype, Facebook & Twitter: richardberryuk<br>
> Web: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/radio">www.sunderland.ac.uk/radio</a><br>
> Tags: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.delicious.com/richardberry">www.delicious.com/richardberry</a><br>
> Blog:myblogs.sunderland.ac.uk/blogs/radio/<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> On 12 Aug 2009, at 14:11, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:Stevensuttie@aol.com"
href="/mc/compose?to=Stevensuttie@aol.com">Stevensuttie@aol.com</a>
wrote:<br>
><br>
><br>
> Dear CMA colleagues,<br>
><br>
> I have a very enthusiastic young chap who wishes to do a Hip Hop <br>
> show. I have zero knowledge of this particular genre, other than
the <br>
> music often talks about rascist, violent and sexual matters.<br>
><br>
> Unfortunately, this volunteer cannot get hold of radio edits for
all <br>
> songs, so occasionally, lyrics that may cause offence may be <br>
> broadcast. I called OFCOM this morning to ask if this was <br>
> acceptable, if we put out disclaimers along the lines of
"Warning: <br>
> The following music contains lyrics that may cause offence - if
you <br>
> are easily offended this programme isn't for you." The answer
was <br>
> unclear from OFCOM - but put bluntly - that disclaimer would not <br>
> serve as a protection should a listener complain.<br>
><br>
> So I wondered what everybody else does? Any help or guidance on
this <br>
> matter will be gratefully received.<br>
><br>
> Thanks in advance<br>
><br>
> Kindest Regards<br>
> Steve Suttie<br>
> Station Manager, 94.4FM Salford City Radio<br>
> office 0161 793 2939<br>
> mobile 07772 355 852<br>
> WINNERS - Community Award - Salford Business Awards 2009<br>
> Visit our Website <br>
>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.salfordcityradio.org_______________________________________________">www.salfordcityradio.org_______________________________________________</a><br>
><br>
> cma-l mailing list - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
ymailto="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk"
href="/mc/compose?to=cma-l@commedia.org.uk">cma-l@commedia.org.uk</a><br>
><br>
> Community Media Association - <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.commedia.org.uk">www.commedia.org.uk</a><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
><br>
> To manage your mailing list subscription please visit:<br>
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><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
><br>
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><br>
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<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Karl Hartland
209radio Station Manager
105 FM in the Cambridge City Area
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://209radio.co.uk">http://209radio.co.uk</a> everywhere else!
Citylife House
Sturton Street
Cambridge
CB1 2QF
01223 488418
07968 898254
209radio is a Registered Charity in England, No. 1124610,
and a Company Limited by Guarantee, No. 5585527
This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of 209radio Ltd.
If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone.
Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error.</pre>
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