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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>There is of course a fine line to tread to
stay within the law on these things.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>It is illegal for a UK radio station to seek to
influence the decisions of statutory bodies on any matters other than those
that have a direct effect on the interests of the
station.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>It is also illegal to promote (eg accept
advertsing or sponsorship from) bodies seeking to do the same. All you can
legally do is report the activities of those bodies in an 'impartial and
balanced' manner.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>In other words, political campaignign by radio
stations is not permitted and, I know from experience, that the regulators
define 'political' in the broadest possible sense. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>For example, we were prohibited from advertising a
meeting being held locally by a group seeking to influence the decisions of a
national conservation charity. The regulators ruled that as the body was
established by statute, its decisions were those of a 'statutory body', and so
we couldn't promote the activities of someone seeking to influence
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>This means, for example, it is illegal for you to
promote or endorse, say, a campaign against proposed cuts in council services in
your area (eg swimming pool closures), unless the cuts would specifically and
directly affect the business interests of the radio station (eg a cut in grants
to community groups).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Just worth bearing in mind!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>Alex</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=lockwood@btinternet.com href="mailto:lockwood@btinternet.com">Trevor
Lockwood</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=ian@transplan.uk.com
href="mailto:ian@transplan.uk.com">ian@transplan.uk.com</A> ; <A
title=roger@coalway.f9.co.uk
href="mailto:roger@coalway.f9.co.uk">roger@coalway.f9.co.uk</A> ; <A
title=cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk
href="mailto:cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk">cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=meccsa@jiscmail.ac.uk
href="mailto:meccsa@jiscmail.ac.uk">meccsa@jiscmail.ac.uk</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 15, 2011 2:18
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [cma-l] Making Media
Matter?</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV><SPAN>I disagree with the suggestion that we should pussyfoot around to
accommodate present government policies. After all government's are
transitory, and will change tack like the Vicar of Bray - and that's no
criticism of politicians. It is their job to reflect the wishes of the people
- and it would appear there is a growing recognition of the separation between
rich and the rest of us, let alone the poor.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma></FONT><BR><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN>That movement needs expression, as does the views of anyone else.
Our job as community broadcasters is to provide a platform that allows anyone
to broadcast. All we have to do is ensure that we abide by the broadcast code
and regulations.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma></FONT><BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN>To suggest that anyone should be prevented from using our services
is a very dangerous road to travel. <BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>