WSCA Station Handbook and Training Manual - Prometheus Radio ...

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3. Criticism, Ridicule, Humor Concerning Persons, Groups, and Institutions.
The First Amendmentʹs guarantee of freedom of speech protects programming that ʺstereotypesʺ
or otherwise offends people with regard to their religion, race, national background, gender or
other characteristics. It also protects broadcasts that criticize or ridicule established customs and i
nstitutions, including the government and its officials. As the Commission has observed, ʺ[i]f
there is to be free speech, it must be free for speech that we abhor and hate as well as for speech
that we find tolerable or congenial.ʺ Consequently, the Commission cannot prohibit such
programming. However, use of such language may leave the station open to charges of
defamation (libel, slander) via civil suit. Such a suit would jeopardize the station’s ability to
continue broadcasting.
Defamation: ʺLibelʺ, ʺslanderʺ, and ʺdefamationʺ are commonly used as synonyms in ordinary
language. However, defamatory communication in writing is termed ʺlibelʺ while one made via
the spoken word is termed ʺslanderʺ. However, because the underlying distinction is between
permanent and transient communications, some jurisdictions regard all defamatory
communications (even spoken statements) broadcast on radio or television as ʺlibelʺ.
According to the American and English Encyclopedia of Law, a libel is a malicious defamation
tending to blacken the memory of one who is dead, or to impeach the honesty, integrity, virtue or
reputation, or to publish the natural or alleged defects of one who is alive, thereby exposing him
to public hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy; or to cause him to be avoided or shunned or to
injure him in his office, business or occupation.Statements presented as fact must be false to be
defamatory. Proving to be true is often the best defense against a prosecution for libel. Truth
alone may not be a complete defense. It may be necessary to show that there is a well‐founded
public interest in the specific information being widely known, and this may be the case even for
public figures.
III. PROGRAMMING DEPARTMENT
A. Overview
1. Program logs – The program log tells you when to read announcements, and helps the
programming department track what has been read and who is on at what time. The log
also tells about any special events and contain any special information from the FCC. The
log is always in the studio near the board. DJs must sign in whenever they go on the air,
noting the time and listing any guests. New Program Logs are located in the folder on the
far wall.
2. Community Calendar – The Community calendar is a listing of local events to be
announced on the air. It is located in a binder above the mixing board. Events are to be
read at the top of the hour. You are free to choose whatever you’d like to read.
3. Cardfile – The cardfile contains all of the underwriting copy, ticklers, public service
announcements and station announcements to be read on the air.
4. Ticklers ‐ Each programmer will be asked to provide a scripted “tickler” for his/her own
show. Other programmers will read this throughout the week (as scheduled by the
Program Director or designee) in an effort at cross‐promotion. Additionally, this script
will be used on the website, and possibly in more of the station’s publicity efforts. The
Program Log will tell you which card is to be read at what hour.