Cfxu Dj Manual

[email protected] Bottom Floor SUB (902) 867-2321

CFXU Training Manual

CFXU 93.3 FM is the campus community radio station of St. Francis Xavier University and the town of Antigonish, NS, and a member of the National Campus/Community Radio Association of Canada. Being both a campus and community radio station means our programming is directed to, and created by, the STFX student populace, as well as the community of Antigonish.

This manual is here to help you figure out how things work and as a reference if you forget anything during the year. However, don’t ever hesitate to ask questions and try to learn new things. There are lots of opportunities to get involved with CRTC besides your weekly show however. Get involved! ______

1. Punctuality We understand that it is difficult to balance school and work. If you will have to miss a show, let us know ahead of time. If possible contact another DJ to take your place for the week. If you have to miss your show please email the Program Manager. Failure to do your show regularly will result in loss of a timeslot.

2. Program Logs Each week you are required to fill out a show log. This details when you did your show, what you played, what was Canadian, what was new, and when you played it. This is incredibly important as logs will need to be provided to the CRTC in case of an audit. The blank program log will be on the desktop, there will be weekly folders for you. Save your log as the name of your show, followed by the date.

3. Be Prepared Do not walk in cold and have nothing to talk about and no playlist. Take at least a half hour before your show and decide on some songs you know you want to include, and figure out things to discuss between songs. This will make the process smoother and your show more professional.

4. The Broadcast Booth i) Please keep the booth as clean as possible, throw out your garbage and put CDs where you found them. ii) Please make use of the CDs on the wall, rip them to your computer, play them on your show, but do not take them with you without permission from the CFXU staff. iii) We have a digital music library to which you have full reign to listen to. iv) We currently have a large collection of CDs and Vinyl Records. These may be available to be borrowed on a case-by-case basis run by CFXU’s Archivist. Staff members will grant you full access; you can borrow CDs with the expressed permission of a staff member.

1 5. Respect NEW CFXU property i) Vandalism and any theft will result in the immediate cancellation of your show, and further action taken by the St. Francis Xavier administration. ii) Drinking and smoking in the booth is against the law. It is also against the law to broadcast while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. iii) Drinking and eating should be relegated to the couch; our equipment is expensive and vital to our operation, please don’t break it. iv) If you experience any problems with the equipment, you should immediately tell a staff member in person, by email, or phone. Leave a note behind for any other DJ’s. v) You are responsible for the action of any and all guests you have into the booth. Please notify the Program Manager if you are having a guest on your show. Use your own discretion to determine who is too sketchy to trust with our equipment.

6. Program Review Meetings The Program Manager and/or other CFXU staff or senior DJs will be listening to your show and providing feedback. Also expect the PM to sit in on your show a few times a semester to ensure the quality of your show. Take advantage of meetings with the PM to ask questions and suggest ideas. Also feel free to stop by the station to chat with the staff, the Program Manager and the Station Manager will have office ours posted on radiocfxu.ca.

Content Requirements

1. Canadian Content (35 %). As a Canadian Campus-Community station, we are required to have, at the very least, 35 % of music played per week to be Canadian. Failure to fill these requirements could cause us to lose our broadcast license. There is a playlist on our digital archive dedicated to CanCon, please use this to fill any holes in your requirements. Some Canadian CDs also have a sticker that says MAPL, this is a surefire way to tell if it’s Canadian. The CRTC uses this guideline to determine whether or not it is Canadian or not: M (music): the music is composed entirely by a Canadian. A (artist): the music is, or the lyrics are, performed principally by a Canadian. P (production): the musical selection consists of a live performance that is i) recorded wholly in Canada, or ii) performed wholly in Canada and broadcast live in Canada. L (lyrics): the lyrics are written entirely by a Canadian.

1. New Rips (30%) As an alternative radio station (alternative that is, from the mainstream stations around, not necessarily alternative genre) it is imperative that we play new content in order to stay competitive. New Rips are anything that has been released in the last six months. CFXU always gets new music in, feel free to browse our digital archive, or bring it in yourself.

2. Do not play Top 40 Being an alternative station, hits are not congruous with the format we have chosen. If it has been a Canadian hit within the last year, do not play it. If it has been an American hit in the last 20 years, don’t play it! This includes to Billboard top 100 and singles chart, as well as the country charts, and the Canadian Billboard 100. Playing hits is easy to avoid: don’t play singles. If

2 you want to play music by hit artist, play a B-side or an album track instead. For example, if you want to play Nirvana, play “Something in the Way” instead of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Remixes and samples are fine however.

3. Advertisements Advertisements bring in money for the station, and support local businesses that help out us out. These are 30 second spots that you can find on our booth computer (PC1). Please play one of each spot per show.

4. Station IDs The CRTC requires that station IDs are played at least twice every hour. One of these must be within the first five minutes of the starting of your show. This lets new listeners know what they are listening to. Our Production Manager has created a number of ID’s of various styles and sounds. However, you may announce our call letters and name yourself if you would prefer.

5. No Profanities or offensive language. Our station mantra programming should be inclusive of everyone, not only students, but also everyone who might be listening in Antigonish or around the world on our livestream. Our programming is aimed at enriching our community and therefore our programmers are not permitted to use profane or offensive language. Use your common sense, if you wouldn’t say it to your grandmother, don’t say it on air. If it is in context however, this is permitted, for example, announcing the next song is by “Holy Fuck”. Musical content deserves special consideration, as some recordings with clear artistic merit sometimes also contain offensive language. Use your own judgment but CFXU staff has the authority to make the call on what is and what is not appropriate.

What You Can/Cannot Say

1. Decrying Station programming and policy: Never speak negatively about a station promotion, program, or policy. People listening do no not want to hear your complaints about the station, your problems with it, or its rules. Instead, take them up with the staff so that we can try to resolve the issue.

2. Legal Stipulations Though Canada’s Broadcast Act does hold the value of freedom of expression over the air, there are still many laws that restrict certain things from being said. If an individual makes remarks on- air that are against the law, they can be subject to legal action, and put us at risk of losing our lisence. You do not have the right to say what you want.

3. Politics: The Broadcast Act makes certain guarantees to ensure candidates for public office can get access to the airwaves. However, there are restrictions. Nothing can be said concerning a referendum or election either on the day of the election OR on the day immediately preceding the election.

4. Soliciting Money Over the Air:

3 You cannot ask for money or sell anything on air, direct people elsewhere but do not ask for money to be given directly to you.

5. Defamation (Libel and Slander): The Criminal Code of Canada covers defamation. Not only is the party who made the remark likely to be sued, the radio station itself will generally be named in the legal suit. Any defamatory word constitutes “libel”.

def·a·ma·tion n an attack on somebody’s good name, character, or reputation

6. Anti-Government Remarks: It is illegal to broadcast any remark that advocates or teaches the use of force to change the government of Canada (Criminal Code, section 60-4). This does not apply for any sort of criticism whatsoever of the existing system of law, courts, constitution or whatever as long as violent overthrow is not mentioned.

7. Vulgar actions are not permitted on-air: On-air actions construed as vulgar or offensive that cannot be justified by the DJs as useful for the show, necessary, or with merit are not permitted. The individual action in question must be able to be sufficiently justified by the DJ to the program manager. If the DJ challenges this, it may be brought before the Station Manager.

On Air Professionalism

1. Attitudes: Your emotional state, physical condition and entire attitude are reflected in your voice. Anxiety, fear, tension, fatigue, depression, and boredom all find their way into the voice. When on air your voice is what represents you. Your speech should be modulated and full of variety. Don’t speak in a monotonous tone or yell at your audience.

2. Collective Voice: Avoid using the word “I”, unless you’re telling a personal anecdote, “We heard…” is much better than I “I played…”. Use “We’re going to hear” instead of “I’m going play…” These little semantic tricks make the listener feel less like eavesdroppers and more like a part of the show. It also helps to call your guests by their names and elaborate on things alluded to. Inside jokes are not funny to the listeners.

3. Back-Announcing: Unlike most radio stations, though, most of our listeners will not be familiar with a lot of what you play. Therefore, it is extremely important that you announce the music that you are playing, both as a favor to the artist, and the listener. This should include, at the bare minimum, the name of the artist and the song. Try also to give a bit more information. Try back-announce every four or five songs.

4 4. Mentioning Other Stations: You should never even mention the call letters or frequency of other stations. No matter where you are getting your music from, we do not want listeners to turn elsewhere.

5. Talking too long: Try not to get too anecdotal or insular on your show, keep the talk between songs under 10 minutes

6. Radio Jargon: Avoid using radio jargon on the air such as “psa”, “promo”, “cue”, “cart”, etc. It puts listeners off because they don’t know what you’re talking about.

7. Clicks, pops, and squeaks: Our microphones pick up paper shuffling, pens tapping, chairs squeaking, computer noises, and other noise in the booth. Try to minimize these, because they distract the listener from the music and what you’re saying, and can make you sound like an amateur. Remember, if you are playing music off of your laptop, while music is playing, all sounds you make on your laptop are also aired. Log out of Facebook chat, Skype, Facetime etc. before you start your show. (if you are using a laptop, please remember to turn up your volume all the way BEFORE you get on air).

8. Off-mic Conversation: Make sure everyone is aware when you turn on the mic. If someone in the background is swearing or saying something against the rules while you are on air, you will be held responsible. Try to avoid talking to people not on mic as well as it is isolating for the audience, like hearing half of a phone conversation.

9. Requests 867-2321 or 2321 on campus to call in to the booth. Make sure to screen callers during a song break. You are not obligated to play anything they request (top 40 music). Do not beg for requests also, if people do not call in, it is because they do not want to.

10. Archives: A good way to improve your on air programming is to listen to your own show archive critically on a regular basis. Archives go back 10 days in hi-fi and 90 in lo-fi. Feel free to use the MP3 of your show as a portfolio piece or add it to your website or Facebook page.

11. Free Form Radio: CFXU is a free format radio station because DJs pick the music on their shows, though the Program Manager and Music Directors exert some control. Our primary goal is to entertain and challenge the listening audience with alternative music and topics chosen by the DJs. As such, we hope for DJs who can both build and challenge an audience.

12. Mix it up: CFXU offers an alternative to commercial radio by providing listeners with a diverse range of programming that is unavailable from any other station in the area. We encourage you to expand your programming horizons.

13. Repetition:

5 Try not to play the same artists (or especially songs) every show. There is plenty of opportunity to find new music in our physical and digital archives as well as the internet.

Complaints

While on air, 867-2321 is the only phone line the DJ is responsible for answering. It has been designated as a request line and 867-2321 should be the ONLY number given out to the public for them to phone in. Do not give out the business line (867-2410 or 867-3941). The only exception is if a caller complains. Complaints from listeners are a serious matter and need to be treated as such.

Invite them to make their complaint to the Program Manager and pass on his/her phone number and email address (867-2410, [email protected]) or take a message and pass it to the PM. Be as polite as possible, no matter how ridiculous they are.

Do not take the complaint on air, and especially do not insult the complainant on the air. It might mean that they complain straight to the CRTC, which is not something we want to happen. Conduct yourself in a professional manner.

CFXU Staff Contact List

John Sloat Station Manager [email protected] Conor Donaldson Music Director [email protected] Kieran Luchkow Music Director Liam Prost Program Manager [email protected] Michael Richmond Production Manager [email protected] Brendan Morley Spoken Word Director [email protected] Dexter Nyuuribe Events and Promotions [email protected] Laura O’Brien Archive Manager [email protected]

Appendices

6 Appendix A

NCRA (http://www.ncra.ca)

 The National Campus and Community Radio Association is the non-profit national association of organizations and individuals committed to volunteer-based, community-oriented radio broadcasting.  The NCRA is dedicated to advancing the role and increasing the effectiveness of campus and community radio in Canada. It works closely with other regional and international community- oriented radio organizations to provide developmental materials and networking services to its members, representing interests of the sector to government and other agencies and to promote public awareness and appreciation for community-oriented radio in Canada.  NCRA membership is open to: campus/community stations; community-based English, French and native stations; community-oriented stations affiliated with broadcasting schools; and other supportive businesses and individuals.  The NCRA guidelines can be found in the broadcast booth and the production booth.

Appendix B

CRTC (http://crtc.gc.ca/welcome_e.htm)

. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was established by Parliament in 1968. It is an independent public authority constituted under the Canadian Radio- television and Telecommunications Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-22, as amended) and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

. The CRTC is vested with the authority to regulate and supervise all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system, as well as to regulate telecommunications service providers and common carriers that fall under federal jurisdiction. The CRTC derived its regulatory authority over broadcasting from the Broadcasting Act (S.C. 1991, c. 11, as amended). Its telecommunications regulatory powers are derived from the Telecommunications Act (S.C. 1993, c. 38, as amended) and various “special” acts of Parliament related to specific telecommunications companies.

Appendix C The MAPL System  The MAPL system was designed by the CRTC to easily denote whether a piece of music is considered in the category of Canadian content.

7 Objectives of the MAPL System

 The primary objective—a cultural one—is to encourage increased exposure of Canadian musical performers, lyricists and composers to Canadian audiences.  The second objective—an industrial one—is to strengthen the Canadian music industry, including both the creative and production components.

The qualify as “Canadian content” a musical selection must generally fulfill at least two of the following conditions:

M (music): the music is composed entirely by a Canadian. A (artist): the music is, or the lyrics are, performed principally by a Canadian. P (production): the musical selection consists of a live performance that is i) recorded wholly in Canada, or ii) performed wholly in Canada and broadcast live in Canada. L (lyrics): the lyrics are written entirely by a Canadian.

Appendix D CFXU’s Music Policy In general:

1. It is the individual’s responsibility to take the time to familiarize themselves with CFXU’s music library and to know what they are playing. 2. DJs are required by the CRTC to play 35 % Canadian content, as defined by MAPL (please see appendix C) and a certain percentage of new releases. 3. You are expected to provide at least 3 minutes of background information for every 15-minute period of programming. So, you can’t avoid speaking on-air for a long time and make up for it by talking longer at a later time. It is therefore essential that you do not play sets much longer than 15 minutes in length. The only exceptions to this are single pieces of great length, which are acceptable. 4. Challenge your audience by stretching the boundaries of your show’s genre. Without losing touch with your category, you can mix things up quite a bit. 5. DJs in all genres are encouraged to do features on particular artists, styles, etc. 6. If you, as a programmer, play an artist one week you should not play them the following week. The exception to this is if the artist’s album is a new release. If you are playing the same new release artist on consecutive weeks please play different tracks from the album rather than the same song.