On January 20th,
1998, the UM*FM Board of Directors and Management Board finalized
the station's mission statement. The final version was adopted unanimously
by the two groups which have been working closely for the past month.
Here is the official transcript:
"CJUM 101.5 FM is commited to reflect and represent the University,
the community, and the local entertainment industry.
CJUM will provide its listeners with a distinct alternative to other
radio services through a wide range of informative, innovative and
entertaining music and spoken word programming.
CJUM is a team oriented organization that is commited to providing
its volunteers with a positive and creative atmosphere in which
to grow and excel."
GENERAL
STATION POLICIES
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY
The station as part of its license requirements must
have an employment equity plan. The station's employment equity
plan will serve as a yardstick in an annual review conducted by
the station's directors. This review will deal with how the diversity
of the university's student body is being reflected through the
station.
PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL
All promotional items sent to the station will be officially
accounted for when received. As well, how the items are distributed
and to whom they are distributed will be recorded. This will be
done so that distribution of promotional items can be reviewed periodically
as to the fairness and effectiveness of the items' use.
COMPACT DISCS
New CD's will be filed in the UMFM music library. Volunteers
may only sign CD's out in order to listen to them at the station.
The station cannot afford to lose CD's or to chase down those people
who have not returned CD's. When volunteers bring their own CD's
into the station they must sign them in, so there is no confusion
as to ownership of the CD.
MUSIC LIAISONS
The music directors will co-ordinate all networking
with record companies.
ON-AIR COMPLAINTS
Complaints by phone must be handled immediately.
You must document the conversation.
- Name:
- Date:
- Time:
- Nature of Complaint:
- Your Name:
GENERAL RULES
No smoking is allowed anywhere at UMFM. Federal regulations
stipulate individual fines of up to $5000 and the station $100,000.
UMFM is a federally regulated broadcaster.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
The station will require its volunteers to attain a
minimal level of competence before they become fully involved in
the station. To help the volunteers meet these requirements; the
station will provide a complete and adequate training program. The
adequacy and completeness will be assessed through evaluations
of the training program completed by volunteers and periodically
the station's directors. These evaluations will give the station
valuable feedback to help improve it's ability to teach new volunteers
the skills they need. Well-trained volunteers, who are confident
of their skills, will be able to concentrate on producing the content
of their programs, rather then wasting time in doubt and confusion
over technical issues.
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
The station will provide all of its volunteers with
an orientation to the station. Along with the orientation, volunteers
will be provided with a volunteer handbook/quality manual containing
the station's policies and work rules. The objective of the orientation
and workbook is to help familiarise new volunteers with the UMFM
organizational culture as quickly as possible. The volunteers' motivation
for joining and staying with the station will lie entirely with
how they perceive the station and how they perceive what they are
getting out of their time with the station (or eventually will get
out). Even if it is not possible to train new volunteers all they
need to know in one month, the station can go a long way towards
maintaining volunteer motivation by making the station's workings
(mainly the organisation's culture) understandable and accessible.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The station must have a work environment that all volunteers
are comfortable with. Volunteers must see specifically the work
environment as being non-sexist, non-threatening and non-racist.
This will in part help the station achieve its objective of representing
the diversity of the student body. Volunteers should be
asked on a regular basis (as part of an overall station evaluation
conducted once per term) what they think about the station's work
environment. It will be particularly important for the station
to get feedback from volunteers once they leave the station.
SECURITY LOG
The station will have a security related incidents log,
for volunteers at the station to report things such as crank/prank
phone calls or suspicious looking people who are hanging around
the station. With such a large audience (potentially) and so many
different views and opinions (hopefully!) being broadcast it would
be wise for the station to take precautions. Precautions that not
only protect volunteers but discourage any sort of threatening behaviours
in the first place. The maintenance of the security log should
be co-ordinated with the University Centre Security department.
VOLUNTEER TURNOVER
The station should aim to have a turnover rate in volunteers
no greater than 25% per year. An amount greater than this should
be cause for concern. It should be a priority of the station to
be able to explain the reason for an exceptionally high turnover
rate in any given year. If the cause is widespread dissatisfaction
among volunteers, the station must work to define the causes of
the dissatisfaction and work to correct them. Again asking volunteers
to fill out evaluations of their experience whether a long term
volunteer or short term, will provide the director's with
insight into what volunteers are looking for when they volunteer
for the station. Conversely, in the event that disciplinary action
is required, the policies and procedures as outlined in the Manitoba
Labour code will be followed (i.e. progressive discipline). Related
to the issue of volunteer rights and responsibilities at UMFM a
copy of the draft document "Student Rights and Responsibilities/Charter"
is attached to these policies.
CJUM is the legal call sign for the campus radio station known
as UMFM (nickname). Please note that all references to UMFM contained
herein are in fact, referring to CJUM.
UMFM PROGRAMMING POLICIES
GETTING ON AIR
- Volunteers will be fully and completely trained in the use
of equipment.
- Volunteers will be fully and completely conversant with the
policies of the station, its CRTC promise of performance, and
general CRTC policies. Volunteers will need to abide by these
policies in order to participate at UMFM.
- Volunteers will respect the rights and privileges of other
volunteers associated with UMFM.
ON AIR
Getting a show to air requires the following steps.
- A detailed outline of the content of the show.
- A statement of how inclusion of the show will enhance the overall
programming of UMFM.
- Approval of the program by the station programmers and music
or spoken word directors.
- Complete training on the equipment and familiarity with station
and CRTC policies.
- Production of a trial show.
Generally, UMFM will produce and broadcast programs that provide
an alternative in nature and content from that which is broadcast
by commercial or public broadcast media.
UMFM aims to maximize the diversity of programming, not for the
sake of being different, but to enhance what is available from commercial
or Public broadcast media and to provide a complete service to the
university and surrounding community.
UMFM will encourage the participation of individuals, groups and
organizations not represented, under represented or misrepresented
in commercial or public broadcast media.
The students of the University of Manitoba are the primary funding
source of UMFM and the operations of UMFM are campus based. In acknowledgement
of these two facts, the station's programming will reflect the diversity
of its student/university community.
UMFM aims to provide an informational and cultural bridge between
the university and surrounding community of Winnipeg. Towards this
end, UMFM will encourage community members to participate in its
programming activities.
UMFM will not broadcast any material where its sole purpose is to
promote the policies of a political party without providing the
opportunity for equal airtime for all other parties, paid or otherwise.
UMFM will accept paid political announcements from political parties
as per regulations outlined in the Broadcast Act:
- Example: No candidate shall be interviewed prior (48-hrs.)
to an election; airtime must be made available on an equitable
(not necessarily equal) basis. No station personnel who are political
candidates can do a show during the time period of the election.
UMFM will adhere to the election rules as established by UMSU Council
to govern UMSU elections. Faculty student council election guidelines
will also be followed.
In recognition of the diversity of the university community, UMFM
will not exclusively promote any specific belief or political ideology.
UMFM will not allow any religious or specialty program to independently
solicit for funds over the air.
- UMFM retains the right to organize on-air fundraising campaigns
for its own causes.
To reflect our respect for the diversity of our community, UMFM will
not broadcast any material that subjects any group or person to hatred,
abuse or contempt on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin,
mental or physical challenge, sexual orientation, or source of income.
- Such material will be aired only within the context of discussing
the issue itself, or in the context of a larger issue, and only when
it is necessary to insure the listening public's understanding of
the issues being discussed.
UMFM supports the principle of broadcasting any and all music,
information, and other material if such broadcasting is done fairly,
responsibly, and with respect for our listeners and the community
as a whole.
- UMFM will not broadcast any material that contravenes its CRTC
promise of performance or conditions of license.
- UMFM does not, under any circumstances, arbitrarily censor
any recording or material.
- As responsible broadcasters, programmers will exercise caution
when airing material they feel may be construed as obscene or
indecent or offensive, especially during the daytime or early
evening hours or at times when children may reasonably be expected
to be listening. In these instances, programmers will always
indicate that the language, content or topic they are about to hear
may be offensive to some listeners, whether or not the material
is, in fact, obscene or indecent.
- Material which may be construed as obscene includes, but is
not limited to, any use of obscene language, or anything which
is sexually explicit. Current CRTC regulations make it an offense
to broadcast "any obscene, indecent, or profane language".
MUSIC
UMFM promotes Canadian talent with particular influence
on Manitoba and Winnipeg artists through the broadcast of their
music and the support and promotion of their activities.
UMFM aims to broadcast genres of music styles that are under-represented,
or not represented on commercial or public broadcast media.
UMFM broadcasting will emphasize music by artists on both independent
and major recording labels. Preference is given to musical selections
that have not achieved hit status and to music from cultural groups
that are otherwise not given, or receive limited airtime, in this
area.
NEWS AND SPOKEN WORD
- UMFM will provide fair, objective and balanced news coverage.
Both sides of a contentious issue will be given fair coverage
and equal access to express their views [except in cases where
expression of a view violates the policy forbidding hatred, contempt
or abuse and/or where the view is ridiculous e.g. anyone who wants
to claim the earth is flat does not get equal access].
Further on diversity, UMFM will allow those segments of the community
who are under-represented, misrepresented, and/or marginalized
by commercial and public broadcast media a forum to express their
views.
- The goal of such programming is to convey views and philosophies
not commonly or accurately presented in commercial or public broadcast
media.
- UMFM will inform listeners of local artistic, cultural, political,
educational, and recreational happenings.
- UMFM will not broadcast defamatory opinions. Spoken word programming
will follow the guidelines set out in the CRTC regulations regarding
libel.
- "Slander" is intentional oral defamation of an individual, group
or organization/business, and is a serious offense. Volunteers
are allowed to make on-the-air criticisms of an artistic nature
on their own initiative.
- The host shall clearly state that the opinions expressed are
their own and do not represent the views of UMFM. Should the expression
of an opinion involve an accusation of illegal action, unethical
activity or other serious reputation-damaging acts, then the
volunteer is directed to request that the news department cover
the issue as a news story.
- As a news story UMFM will apply principals of journalistic
fairness and accuracy, get both/all sides of the dispute, procure
documented evidence, and if necessary, consult a lawyer before
the story is broadcast.
SHOW CANCELLATION
Getting a show to air is not a guarantee of keeping it
on the air. Shows can and will be cancelled for the following reasons.
- Poor quality: One of the objectives of UMFM is to constantly raise
the standards of performance of its volunteers and the station's
programs. Towards this end the station will require volunteers to
monitor and evaluate their own programs. As well the appropriate
director will also do program evaluations on a regular basis and
give feedback to the programs volunteers. UMFM maintains the right
to cancel a show due to poor quality. Prior to any cancellation
for this reason the volunteer will be notified their show is of
substandard quality and given support in raising the quality. If
quality does not improve then the cancellation will be referred
to a committee comprising the music/spoken word directors, program
director, volunteer coordinator and station manager. Decisions reached
by this committee can be appealed to the station manager. Decisions
by the station manager are final. UMFM maintains the right to monitor
content of broadcast material and insure that the station's promise
of performance to the CRTC is being met.
- A show may be cancelled
for being gratuitously offensive.
- A show may be cancelled if it
no longer meets the st ated programming mandate.
- A show will be
cancelled for not following station and CRTC policies and regulations.
- UMFM is committed to providing diversity in broadcasting. To maintain
this principal a show may be cancelled if it is redundant (i.e.
similar to other shows).
- A show may be cancelled in order to provide
broadcast time for a new show, which will add diversity to the
overall programming. UMFM maintains the right to pre-empt any show
if there are scheduling conflicts. Existing shows may be pre-empted
for sports, special programming etc. Such an occurrence is generally
not a permanent cancellation.
CRTC APRIL 14/94 From the Radio Broadcasting Regulations (1986)
Section 3(c): a licensee shall not broadcast any obscene or profane
language. The broadcast of sexually explicit material or material
containing strong language that is likely to offend some listeners
is generally prohibited by the broadcast regulations.
- However, music and spoken word material of this type may be
aired with the following considerations:
- potentially offensive material, particularly that which
is most difficult to justify as socially relevant, should
be broadcast at times when younger listeners are less likely
to be tuned-in: between 9pm and 6am
- listener warning messages should accompany the broadcasting
of all potentially offensive material. The frequency of these
advisories would be dictated by how much potentially offensive
material is aired on a show. For individual selections a simple
note by the programmer that the upcoming song may contain
strong language would be sufficient. However programs (such
as some rap music, safe sex/AIDS awareness, etc.) that are
of longer duration would need warnings on a regular basis
at the beginning and throughout the program. Between two to
four messages per hour are suggested.
- The airing of potentially offensive material must be
justified by the socially relevant expression contained within
the piece.
- BY IMPLICATION
- Between 6am and 10pm the airing of potentially explicit
material will be limited to isolated obscenities and subject
matter that is socially relevant. Also, disclaimer carts must
be aired before the song or spoken word material is broadcast
and the DJ should attempt to justify why they are airing
this material.
- Any shows that regularly feature material containing
explicit subject matter and/or language will only be aired
between 9pm and 6am. Also, disclaimer carts must be aired
regularly during the show in question.
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