THE PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE

Community Radio Stations;
Promote the right to communicate, assist the free flow of information and opinions, encourage creative expression and contribute to the democratic process and a pluralist society.
Community Radio Charter for Europe, Point 1.

The Programming Committee is appointed by the Committee of Management to supervise the broadcasting schedule. The Programming Committee also includes the Station Manager as she/he is central to the Schedule. The Committee’s job is to plan the schedule, allocate time to new programmes, revise the Schedule and individual programmes on a continuous basis, and deal with problems relating to broadcasting as they arise.

New Programmes
Although the Programming Committee will come up with ideas for new programmes itself, in the main the Station relies on volunteers putting forward ideas. A programme idea form is available for this purpose and anyone with a proposal should fill in a form and give it to the Manager. The committee guarantees that it will look carefully at all proposals and discuss the idea with you. As not every programme can be broadcast you are asked to understand if a particular idea is rejected, or delayed. Please remember that the Committee members are also volunteers and are trying to act in the best interests of the station.

How to get involved in a programme
Ideally, programmes should be made by teams (e.g. 2-6 people) so that the work will be shared and the ideas multiplied. You may have joined the Station to work on a particular programme, but you can also get involved in others – approach the Committee if there is one you are interested in.

In keeping with the policy of the Station, the programming schedule will change from time to time. No one will OWN a particular time slot or programme, so if you are asked to move the time of the programme, or if the programme you are working on is dropped, please accept it in the spirit of the Station. Naturally, the Programming Committee will consult with you before taking any such decision.

Types of programmes
Programmes will include:

1. Those made by volunteers within the station itself, such as local current affairs, arts, sport, specialist music and

2. Those made by groups within the Community.
Many volunteers will be involved for the most part in type 1 programme but there is a very important role to be played in providing help and support to groups taking time in our ‘access slots’ and in the Radio Clubs.

Content
All programmes, whether music or speech-based, should focus on local issues and local talent. In planning your programme please try to bear this in mind, as it is easy to lose sight of our objectives when you are caught up in the mechanics of actually making a programme. This does not mean that national or even international issues cannot be dealt with; it just means that in dealing with them you should try to take a local or community angle – there is ALWAYS a local angle!

Even specialist music programmes should consider how they could introduce a local dimension or get interested listeners involved. When making your programme you should familiarise yourself with the Station’s other programmes so that unnecessary duplication and repetition can be avoided.

Style
This Station does not aim to have a particular "style" of broadcasting but we aim to AVOID particular styles. Commercial radio has a particular "sound" which is instantly recognisable: if you tune into a station you will know if it is a commercial one almost instantly, whether you hear a "DJ", a jingle, an advertisement, or even, sometimes, a piece of music. In fact, you could travel around Ireland listening to commercial stations and in many cases you would think you had never left Dublin. N.E.A.R. fm should sound as though it comes from North-East Dublin. In other words, people on the station should sound like themselves, speaking in their own accents, in their own language. We do NOT want to sound like a pale imitation of
Dublin commercial radio.

The question of style goes deeper than accents: it also covers such issues as our attitude to our listeners. Many Stations seem to talk "at" their listeners, treating them as targets for advertising or as raw material for programmes. Serious issues are often treated sensationally and personal stories can be used in a way that exploits the person telling them. It is useful when making a programme to ask yourself if you are treating your listeners, and indeed your guests (if any) with the respect and dignity due to all human beings.

Phone-ins
Phone-ins can be an interesting element in a programme but are also dangerous in terms of libel. Please clear any phone-ins with the Programming Committee.

Pre-recorded Promotions
Promotional inserts are a very useful way to promote and identify your programme but should always be in keeping with the Station’s overall output. Therefore, ALL ‘Promotionals’ MUST be made through the Community Relations Committee; contact any member of the Committee if you wish to have a jingle or promotional piece made.

Pre-recorded Programmes
It may be necessary for you to pre-record your programme, and if so please make a booking with the office for the recording studio. When you have recorded your programme please fill in the pre-recorded slip and place the tape in the appropriate box. This is essential to ensure that the programme is broadcast.

Sponsorship
You may feel that your programme could benefit from a link with a sponsor. ANY such links need to be discussed IN ADVANCE with the Station Manager. This is very important as our approach to Sponsorship is very specific and is part of our licence conditions.

Support
You may feel that your programme would benefit from some assistance and support. If so, it is possible that a Community Employment Scheme worker can be assigned to help you – ask the Station Manager.

Complaints Against Programmes
From time-to-time complaints about particular items can arise. If you receive a complaint from a listener about your programme, please let the Programme Committee know. If the Committee receives a complaint about your programme they will talk to you about it before taking any action.

Complaints by Programmes
From time-to-time complaints about the Programme Committee or other elements of the Station can arise. If you are unhappy about anything to do with your programme or programming in general PLEASE tell the station manager so that we can deal with the matter.

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