Some great inside advice on dealing with regulators in this RadioShow competition entry.
If you are in the radio business long enough, sooner or later you will get some attention (usually unwanted) from the government.
Are you prepared or will they blindside you when they turn up on your doorstep?
Here are some points to consider before they arrive:
1. Complaint handling. Do you have a form letter to respond to members of the public with? Will it still happen if you are away from the station (who is then responsible?).
2. Logging: do you have it and does it actually work?(complaints frequently name the wrong station) Being able to replay the complained about broadcast and check what actually happened is your first line of defense.
3. Documents. Are Licenses (including STLs, ENG/OB gear and two way radios), info about the owners, ACN/ABN, registered address, directors etc kept in a compliance folder? Minutes of meetings may help show community stations are bona fide non-profit and involve a diverse range of people in their operations. Financial records need to be kept for commercial radio license fees and tax.
4. Staff inductions. Are your on air and programming staff actually familiar with the codes of practice? Do you have a record that they have actually read the codes? What about OHS inductions etc to comply with Workcover?
5. Classification. Does your talent know what is acceptable in their time-slot? Do they have a way of contacting management outside office hours if they are unsure about some material?
6. Business continuity (dead air does bring attention): Do you have arrangements in place to cover floods, cyclones and fires? Are you able to run your station from another location and do you have working backups for your transmitters, STL’s and playout servers? Are your emergency power plants serviced regularly? Are your server backup tapes kept off site?
7. Don’t deal with the issue solo: Get a senior staff member to sit in with you (government staffers usually don’t turn up on their own so why should you). If they turn up unannounced ask them to come back when your support person is available.
8. Attitude: The best way to handle government people is to be cooperative and polite, but if there is any allegation of wrongdoing on your part be firm with them that your operation is compliant (even if you’re not sure it is). Don’t be afraid to ask them to leave so you can contact your directors or legal adviser. Under no circumstances make any admissions – keep the conversation brief and to the point.
The best approach is to play the game straight but don’t be afraid to call their bluff if you think they are being vindictive or petty – just get some legal advice first!
Warren Hull is a former ACMA Field Officer, See Faces for Radio.
This is another entry in our USA RadioShow Trip competition.
If you like it, email, tweet and facebook the link to your friends so they read it too and increase Elissa’s chances of winning the competition. Comments welcome below.