Community Media Editorial Policies

Editorial policies within

Community media are

often as diverse as the

models themselves.

However there are common guiding principals as well as unique operational challenges that community media makers continue to develop and “refine”

Community Media Models

Community Radio PEG Access Print Media Digital Community

Editorial Policy

What is your mission? How are you funded? Who or What makes the decisions? What is the impact on programming? What is the impact on your audience? Why do we care?

Community Radio

Revenue and Grant Funding play a large role in the design of an editorial policy.

In some cases, low power FM and other low frequency stations must adhere to FCC Guidelines in addition to the interests of the programming staff and audience

Community Advisory Board

PEG Access

PEG channels serve a wide variety of programming to a diverse audience; Including: community groups, religious groups, schools, and government sponsored programs.

Diverse programming goals need strong editorial policies in place to guarantee access for all.

This is not easy!

PEG Access—Editorial Policies

Funding Requirements Organizational Status? 501 ( c ) (3) status? Bylaws—Mission Statement Board of Directors Boston Neighborhood Network

Print Media

Newspapers Zines Newsletters Informational

Literature

Print Journalism

Code of ethics Volunteers Integrity?

Digital Media

Online-journalism Blogs Vlogs Message Boards

Digital Media Editorial Policy

The Web Master Open Publishing Government Control? Free Speech? Users

Major Public Broadcasting Funder

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Created by the U.S. Congress in 1967—Public

Broadcasting Act of 1967 First meeting April 26, 1968 The Law requires 95% of CPB’s appropriation

from federal government dollars support local radio & TV stations as well as fund improvements in programming and the public broadcasting system

CPB

Annual “Objectivity & Balance” Reports to Congress

Reports are available to the public.

National Federation of Community Broadcasters

Important Tidbits… NFCB is a national

membership organization of community-oriented, non-commercial radio stations

40% of the members serve rural communities, and 46% are minority radio services.

http://www.nfcb.org/