Editorial Guidelines and

Operations Manual

THIS MANUAL BELONGS TO

______

Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air. – Henry Anatole Grunwald

WBER ‘S PROGRAMMING AND OPINIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF BEREA COLLEGE

Adopted July 15, 2015 Dr. Billy Wooten Communication & Broadcast Journalism Program CONTACT US PREFACE STUDIO PHONE NUMBERS WELCOME TO WBER (All are area code 859) WBER – Berea College Broadcast Journalism and Radio WBER Radio Request Line 985-4206 Program operates under the auspices of Berea’s You are not required to play every, or even any, listener Communication Program and should NOT be considered requests. Your primary responsibility is to keep the radio station on the air. Answering the telephone is a student-run endeavor by the College. It should be always secondary. Never be abusive, inflammatory or understood that WBER is a co-curricular laboratory tied insulting in any way to a caller. directly to the Communication Program’s academic curriculum. The learning laboratory offers students the WBER Control Room 985-4212 opportunities afforded to industry professionals, This line is located in the Production Studio Control Room including journalistic reporting, video and audio and should be used to contact the WBER News Division production, lighting design, audio design, etc.; however,

creative control and oversight rests with the faculty in Dr. Wooten’s office 985-3762 Never give this number on the air. the program. It should also be noted that the faculty intentionally chose to maintain WBER as an academic Fax line 985-3906 laboratory so that it remains under the protection This is our fax line. If someone calls and wants to send a fax, afforded by academic freedom, to ensure that the press give them this number. The fax machine is in the Draper is free of censorship, as long as the guidelines and ethics Building business office, so please keep in mind you will of journalistic integrity explained later in this manual only be able to access it during regular business hours. are maintained. All parties are aware that editorial

Dr. Wooten’s cell phone 404-402-4117 freedom entails a corollary obligation under the canons Call in case of emergency and NEVER give this number out of responsible journalism and applicable regulations of on the air. the Federal Communications Commission.

MAILING ADDRESS All WBER communications and their hosting sites shall WBER explicitly state that the opinions expressed are not c/o Dr. Billy Wooten necessarily those of Berea College. 101 Chestnut Street CPO 2073 This manual is designed as: Berea, KY 40404

STUDIO LOCATION 1. A training manual for best journalism practices 110 Stephenson Building (between Stephenson and Edwards) 2. A guide on journalism ethics and values 3. A guide about what good broadcasting is and MANUAL PRODUCED BY how to do good radio Dr. Billy Wooten 4. A guide to studio policies and procedures Prof. of Communication & Broadcast Journalism 5. A guide to Federal Communications Division Chair of Communication, English, Foreign Commission (FCC) regulations. Languages, Music, and Theatre [email protected] Each studio member is responsible for being familiar Draper 208 with all information contained in this manual. 985-3762

2 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL INTRODUCTION

Classroom lectures and in-studio training, along with this manual, are designed to provide maximum free choice and self-responsibility in accomplishing your goals at WBER and preparing for post- Berea.

The goal of the WBER training

program is to prepare students to

be DJs, reporters, production Berea BJR Student Caroline Arthur reporting the news at WKYT in specialists, and anchors at WBER Lexington, KY during her Summer 2014 Internship and beyond. Your faculty (Dr. Billy Wooten and Dr. Jacob Dickerson) will provide in-class direction and exercises meant to prepare you for your work at WBER, but you will also be trained by current WBER student workers in a one-on- one Contents in-studio capacity.

While this manual contains a Intro History of WBER ...... 4 wealth of information, there is no way the training program can cover 1 Mission and Organization ...... 5 everything you need to know. If at any point you have a question or 2 WBER Staff Positions…………………………………………………. 5 need clarification, just ask. We’re happy to help. 3 WBER Student Positions……………………………………………. 6 4 WBER Programming………………………………………………... 7 5 PSA Submissions & Guidelines…………………………………… 8 6 WBER’s Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics……………. 9 7 The FCC and its Regulations ...... 11 8 WBER’s Best Practices in Broadcasting………………………. 13 9 WBER Student Code of Conduct ...... 16 10 How To Be A Good DJ ...... 19 11 Links to Archived WBER Work……………………………….. 21 12 On-Air Studio Checklist ...... 22

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 3 INTRODUCTION THE HISTORY OF WBER – Berea College News & Radio

Berea College digital news has come a long way in a very short period of time. Since 2002, Communication students have requested Berea increase its media production offerings, particularly in the area of journalism and radio. Summer 2011 brought a perfect storm for making this drea m a reality. Reflecting on the rise of digital media in American education and pop culture, Berea College President Larry Shinn announced support for faculty to go through a visioning process and brainstorm ways that we could enhance our digital media footprint. Once the call was issued, Communication and Theatre faculty met with President Shinn the next day to ask for support and funding for enhancing a budding film program and constructing a video production studio to house a new broadcast journalism program and future radio program. With overwhelming support, the President pledged the financial and logistical support to fulfill our vision. We originally had a five year timeframe, but, due to the enthusiasm and support of staff across campus, including Ber ea’s IS&S Division, we were able to construct the facility, pilot new courses, and attract an overwhelming number of interested students all within one year. Berea’s first course in broadcast journalism and entertainment was offered in spring 2012. We now offer beginning and advanced courses in broad news, radio production, graphic design, audio and lighting design, and video editing. In addition to the production studio, we have also worked closely with the College administration and IS&S to construct and offer student editing stations across campus. In fall 2015, Berea College will begin streaming not only broadcast news, radio entertainment (talk and music formats), but we will also make available all student work created since the inception of our program. The website will be launched August 2015.

Dr. Billy Wooten and Dr. Deborah Martin, faculty co-founders of Berea’s Video Production Studio

4 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL MISSION AND ORGANIZATION

WBER MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of WBER is to create a more informed community by presenting our audiences with a deeper understanding and appreciation of news and culture.

STATEMENT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACCESS TO LABOR POSITIONS berea.edu/com Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or Visit the Berea sexual orientation is in violation of federal and state law and Berea College policy and will not be tolerated. Communication WBER will follow all College, state and federal procedures, policies and laws regarding equal opportunity Program’s website for employment. information about academic offerings, WBER STAFF POSITIONS including WBER and all media production FACULTY ADVISOR possibilities. You may also link to As WBER is housed under the academic area, our studio does not have a full-time studio an archive of manager staff position; rather the faculty advisor is responsible for the overall operation student work of WBER as a media outlet and as an organization. The faculty advisor is responsible for hosted on editorial justification when needed, oversees programming content, ensures that all WBER’s Vimeo Pro and guidelines and policies are in place and followed, ensures quality programming, oversees Broadwave student labor in the studio laboratory, ensures that quality student learning outcomes are servers. tied to the studio laboratory, and ensures that the academic curriculum is in line with and servicing the student studio laboratory. In addition, other duties are to:

• Coordinate and manage all aspects of the studio in compliance with FCC regulations, the WBER training manual and all College policies • Schedule and conduct regular meetings for all student staff • Establish and evaluate semester and/or annual goals • Be available for assistance regarding any aspect of studio operation • Serve as the final authority on any decision internal to studio operations • Approve all expenditures associated with the studio’s day-to-day operations and equipment purchases and upkeep • Retain the right to alter or retract any rule, regulation, or procedure involving the studio • Supervise and hire student labor positions and take disciplinary action as needed • Coordinate all WBER recruitment and retention efforts including student organization fairs and during Summer Connections

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 5

WBER STUDENT POSITIONS

STUDENT STUDIO MANAGER POSITIONS (2) As our WBER studio laboratory synthesizes the theoretical and the applied, managing a student production studio is a highly valued pedagogical tool that will allow us to apply theories of broadcasting and journalism practices to a real-world studio setting, working toward a mastery of research, problem solving, planning, writing, presentation, and evaluation. Two grade 4 student manager positions are reponsible for supervising the talent and crew workers during the broadcasts (both radio and news). These positions will supervise audio, lighting, camerawork, and TriCaster controls. He/she will also make the studio available after hours to work on evening radio, news, and video work. To be eligible, students must be proficient with the broadcast studio equipment (lights, audio booths, cameras, microphones, TriCaster controls) and be trained on how to setup the studio for the broadcasts. They are also in charge of checking out field equipment and maintaining accurate electronic records of equipment inventory as well as needed purchases and repairs. Interviews with Dr. Billy Wooten and Dr. Jacob Dickerson are required.

RADIO PROGRAM NEEDS

ON-AIR TALENT/RADIO HOST (DJ) The on-air host strictly follows the programming format and FCC regulations. The host is also responsible for the behavior of in-studio guests and visitors.

RADIO PRODUCER & CONSOLE OPERATOR The producer screens the calls, programs music selections, and operates the console during live programming.

BROADCAST NEWS NEEDS

NEWS ANCHORS (2-3) The talent for a news broadcast consists of three anchors, two news desk anchors who report hard news, some soft news, and throw to pre-recorded packages or live field reports. Teleprompting devices are used. One anchor is a floater who covers entirely soft news, weather, sports, or special segments in-studio (live interviews, etc.). This anchor is likely in front of our virtual set backdrop.

CAMERA OPERATORS (2)

Each broadcast requires two camera operators to be on the floor in the studio during the broadcast. These persons must be reliable, quiet, and able to serve without disrupting the anchors.

AUDIO CONTROL FOR NEWS

One audio person is required during news broadcasts to wire the anchors, conduct sound checks, and control the audio board during the broadcast, including audio for the DDR packages.

TRICASTER CONTROL (2)

Each broadcast requires two master controllers on our TriCaster system. These students are responsible for live streaming, creating titles, switching camera angles, introducing DDR footage, and controlling the aesthetic of the broadcast.

6 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL WBER PROGRAMMING

WBER is not a station that caters to one particular genre of music or target audience. Rather, we aim to be diverse, and, dare say even eclectic, with our programming. Unlike most college radio stations, the goal of WBER is not to focus on a certain style of music, but rather a certain quality of music. Anyone who has listened to any commercial radio station anywhere in the country can attest that governmental deregulation and the ensuing conglomeration of the radio industry has led to a dramatic drop in the variety and quality of radio programming. College radio has been a spectator to those developments and is left with the task of serving as an alternative to the pre-packaged drivel in pop culture.

WBER also recognizes that we cannot compete with large commercial stations, run by full-time professionals with large budgets, for major shares of the listening audience as a whole. We can, however, provide an alternative for those who grow tired of listening to the same old music. We will also strive to invite guest faculty and staff DJs for special programming. Our commitment is to:

1. Play diverse music selections 2. Offer music theme shows as appropriate 3. Engage in a talk radio format, including but not limited to the following campus constituents a. film reviews b. book reviews c. THR reviews d. labor student spotlights e. College Center spotlight programming (diversity, spirituality, women’s issues, LGBT issues, etc.) f. sports highlights g. advice-column-style programming h. academic programming featuring various program-themed shows (sustainability, politics, Appalachian authors, radio plays, issue debates, etc.) i. special College events j. faculty staff student debates

PROGRAMMING STRATEGIES WBER will utilize block programming to segment our content. Music blocks will be broken up with talk blocks. For example, a typical broadcast could feature: Block A – advice call-in show Block B – top music chart Block C – sports, weather, and news Block D – music request show Block E – entertainment and politics

DMCA LIMITATIONS ON PROGRAMMING There are some limitations to what WBER can play on our Internet stream. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA) states that in any three hour period, an Internet streaming station can only play three songs from one album or compact disc, if no more than two of these are played in a row; or four songs by the same featured artist or from the same box set, if no more than three of these are played in a row. Another stipulation is that we cannot publish a complete playlist in advance.

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 7 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

WBER is a non-commercial educational radio station charged with serving the public interest, and, as such, we commit to airing public service announcements (PSAs), especially for College organizations, local non-profit organizations, and wider audiences.

PSAs are accepted for both general informational announcements about an organization and for one-time or short-run events. The 30-second pre-recorded announcements can run approximately four times per day and can be in regular rotation for 30-90 days. WBER is unable to guarantee when or if any announcement will run on our radio rundown, but we will endeavor to serve the public to the best of our ability.

Interested organizations should prepare a 90-word script and send it to our email account at [email protected] for faculty approval. Scripts should not include political endorsements, price information, product endorsements, calls to action, or inducements to buy, sell, rent or lease. Please read over the following guidelines before submitting your script. The only exceptions to these rules are if the College wants to advertise College products (the Farm Store, for example). Rules for PSA grantees are:

• The requesting organization MUST be non-profit related • Information or events should have obvious appeal and value to the Berea College community or surrounding communities • A PSA cannot be used for political purposes; if PSAs have political slants for or against a controversial issue or candidate, they will be rejected • Event PSAs should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event • Please provide pronunciation (pro-NUN-see-A-shun) for any difficult words or names.

WBER reserves the right to reject any announcement. Announcements that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, handicap, age, gender, or sexual orientation will not be accepted. Announcements that condone, glorify or encourage underage drinking, drug abuse or other illegal activities will be featured. Log onto http://vimeopro.com/user41949250/berea-college-psas to view archived WBER PSAs produced by our broadcast journalism students.

WBER students in the Video Production Studio filming for the local food bank.

8 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL WBER’S EDITORIAL VALUES & CODE OF ETHICS

Now is a good time in this operations manual to discuss the standards and guidelines WBER Faculty, the College, and the Communication Program expect each student to follow.

Student-learning, career preparation, and audience information are the core values of WBER programming and operation. We are committed to giving our audiences high-quality, original, entertaining, and, at times, challenging content. Equally, we must give our audiences content made to the highest editorial and ethical standards as established by the governing agencies of the journalism profession. Their trust and our credibility depend on this premise. We must therefore balance our freedom of expression and truth-telling with our responsibilities to respect privacy, be fair, avoid unjustifiable offenses, and to provide appropriate protection for our audiences from harm. We hold those who serve and influence our audiences (College administration, faculty, staff, community leaders, etc.) to a high standard when we report the news, so we must ask no less of ourselves. WBER students should endeavor to be worthy of the community’s trust and to protect it.

Journalism places the public’s interests ahead of commercial, political and personal interests. Journalism empowers viewers, listeners and readers to make more informed decisions for themselves; it should not tell people what to believe or how to feel. Ethical decision-making should occur at every step of the journalistic process, including story selection, news-gathering, production, presentation and delivery. Practitioners of ethical journalism seek diverse and even opposing opinions in order to reach better conclusions that can be clearly explained and effectively defended or, when appropriate, revisited and revised.

Ethical decision-making – like writing, photography, design or anchoring – requires skills that improve with study, diligence and practice. The Radio Television Digital News Association’s Code of Ethics as well as the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics do not dictate what journalists should do in every ethical predicament; rather they offers us resources to help make better ethical decisions. All constituencies of WBER must adhere to the following values and code of ethics:

Editorial Values (influenced by RTDNA, SPJ, BBC, and NPR)

A. Trust & Honesty

Trust is the foundation of WBER: we are independent, impartial and honest. We are committed to achieving the highest standards of due accuracy and impartiality and strive to avoid knowingly and materially misleading our audiences. We believe journalists must conduct themselves honestly and prove themselves worthy of trust. WBER reporters must avoid hyperbole and sensational conjecture.

B. Truth and Accuracy

As with any utilitarian journalism organization, WBER seeks to establish the truth of what has happened to minimize harm to the public, and we are committed to achieving accuracy in storytelling. Accuracy is not simply a matter of getting facts right; when necessary, we will weigh relevant facts and information to get at the truth. Our content, as appropriate to its subject and nature, will be well sourced, based on sound evidence, thoroughly tested and presented in clear, precise language. Likewise, we will strive to be honest and open about what we do not know and avoid unfounded speculation.

C. Fairness

Impartiality and bias-free reporting lies at the core of WBER’s commitment to its audiences. To tell the “truest” story possible, it is essential that we treat those we interview and report on with scrupulous fairness, guided by a spirit of professionalism. We will apply impartiality to all content and will reflect a breadth and diversity of opinions across our programming. We will be fair and open-minded when examining evidence and weighing material facts. With this said, WBER will remain an independent arm of Berea College, not necessarily reflecting the opinions and beliefs of the College, its administration, its students, or other College-related constituencies. We will operate independent of both outside and inside interests and influences that could potentially undermine our editorial integrity. Our audiences should be confident that our decisions are not influenced by outside or inside interests, political or commercial pressures, or any other biased interests. In all our stories, especially matters of controversy, we strive to consider the strongest arguments we can find on all sides, seeking to deliver both nuance and clarity. Our goal is not to please those to whom we report, those on whom we report, but to seek the truth.

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 9

D. Accountability

As any journalism organization should, WBER takes full responsibility for our work, so we must always be ready and willing to answer for it. Just as careful attention to our sources makes a story stronger, careful listening to our audiences makes our journalism more meaningful. So, we welcome questions or criticisms, and, to the best of our ability, we will respond. Mistakes are inevitable. When we make them, we correct them, reflect on what happened, and learn from them. Egregious lapses in student judgment will impact that student reporter’s classroom performance and/or labor contract. See WBER’s discipline policy later in this document.

E. Harm and Offenses

Like professional journalism standards dictate, WBER will report and reflect the world as it is, including all aspects of the human experience and the realities of the natural world. But we balance our right to broadcast innovative and challenging content with our responsibility to protect the vulnerable from harm. We will be sensitive to accepted laws and standards, particularly FERPA, Title VII, Title IX, as well as our audiences’ expectations of our content, particularly in relation to equality and social justice for disadvantaged groups of persons. One of WBER’s core mission tenets is to serve the public interest, so, we will seek to report stories of significance to our audiences. We will be rigorous in establishing the truth of the story and well informed when explaining it. We will ask questions of those who hold administrative positions, public office, and others who are in positions of power, to provide a comprehensive forum for public debate.

12 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL THE FCC AND ITS REGULATIONS

The FCC is the acronym for the Federal Communications Commission, an independent United States government agency, created, directed, and empowered by Congressional statute. Headquartered in

Washington, DC, the FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 as the successor to the Federal

Radio Commission and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. Your job as a DJ is to be familiar with the many rules for which the FCC holds stations and announcers accountable.

The Communication faculty and WBER’s faculty advisor know a great deal about specific FCC rules and regulations. If you have any questions about anything, please contact us. You will learn about some of the most important FCC rules while studying this section of the manual. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when studying these rules is that they are meant to be observed.

THE LEGAL ID The FCC requires all stations to identify themselves in a specific way called the Legal ID. Ours is WBER Berea College News and Radio, and it must be stated during a natural break as close to the top of the hour as possible. Within five minutes on either side of the hour is generally acceptable.

PAYOLA/PLUGOLA Payola and plugola are two areas where it is very easy for the untrained disc jockey to get into trouble. Payola is the unreported payment to, or acceptance by, employees of broadcast stations, program producers or program suppliers of any money, service or valuable consideration in return for airplay of any programming. In simpler language, the DJ cannot receive any form of compensation in exchange for playing music over the air. Compensation can include cash, concert tickets, vacation packages, video games, computer equipment, or even extra copies of a CD (more than you would normally need for a giveaway).

Plugola is the “plugging” (mentioning) of products, events, venues or services not paid for or underwritten by a sponsor. It occurs when someone responsible for program selection at a radio station gives on-air promotion for something in which he or she has a financial interest. Plugola is similar to payola, except that it need not involve an outside party or monetary payment of any kind and can be accomplished by a single station employee. Some examples of plugola are when a local night club provides payment to a radio announcer to spin records at his or her club and the DJ in turn announces these appearances on the air, if the program director schedules additional donor announcements for a company for which he or she also works, or when a station or DJ is provided with “gifts” such as concert tickets with an expressed or implied understanding that the DJ will hype the artist or event. DJs are free to talk about upcoming events if they so choose, but should be aware that excessively mentioning a business could be perceived as plugola even if the DJ is not receiving any direct benefit. DJs are also not allowed to play their own music on WBER, as there is the public appearance that material would otherwise not have received airplay.

CALLS TO ACTION One of the major differences between a non-commercial station like WBER and commercial stations is that we are prohibited by the FCC from issuing any calls to action. A call to action is when a DJ asks, urges, or suggests that the listener should perform some task that could result in a for-profit business making money. You should note that this rule does not apply to non-profit organizations. Calls to action include urging the listener to buy a record, urging the listener to go to a concert or performance, or urging the listener to go to a certain store.

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 11 DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER/SLANDER Defamation of character is “communication which exposes a person to hatred, ridicule, or contempt, lowers him in the esteem of his fellows, causes him to be shunned, or injured him in his business or calling.” Libel is the communication of such statements in a printed or fixed medium (including WBER social media). Slander is the communication of such statements in a transitory or non- fixed medium, usually through oral (spoken) representation, such as making defaming remarks on the radio. The “FCC Rules and Policies for Radio” (2002) provides these examples of potentially defamatory statements:

 Accusing a person of professional incompetence or unethical business dealings.  Accusing a person of a crime or past criminal record without verification.  Attacking the honesty, virtue, temperance or truthfulness of a person.  Calling someone, without verification, a liar or saying they have a drinking problem, a disease or a history of psychological problems.

The best defense against slander and libel is provable truth, so always double check your facts.

EDITORIALIZING Editorializing is when a DJ goes out of his or her way to offer an opinion about something other than the music played, such as the DJ’s views on abortion, campaign finance reform or the death penalty. WBER strives to create a clear separation between our entertainment and public affairs programming. Think of the station in terms of a newspaper, where editorials are reserved for the editorial page. Likewise, try to reserve editorials for public affairs programming. If you do offer your opinion, you need to ensure the audience what you say is your opinion only and not the opinion of WBER or Berea College.

OBSCENE, INDECENT AND PROFANE BROADCASTS It is a violation of federal law to air obscene programming at any time. It is also a violation of federal law to air indecent programming or profane language during certain hours. Congress has given the FCC the responsibility for administratively enforcing these laws. The FCC may revoke a station license, impose a monetary forfeiture, or issue a warning if a station airs obscene, indecent, or profane material.

Obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time. The Supreme Court has established that, to be obscene, material must meet a three-pronged test:

1. “The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; 2. Whether the work depicts or describes sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law; and 3. Whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value” (Miller v. California, 1973).

Obscene Broadcasts Are Prohibited at All Times The FCC has defined broadcast indecency as “language or material that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities.” Indecent programming contains patently offensive sexual or excretory material that does not rise to the level of obscenity. With respect to the broadcast of obscene, indecent and profane material, WBER will not air anything which could be construed to meet any of the above criteria. If a student is unsure or whether material is obscene or indecent, he or she should not air it.

FCC v. Pacifica Foundation (1978) identifies seven words specifically found to be actionably indecent. These words, collectively known as the “seven dirties” are shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker and tits.

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12 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL WBER BEST PRACTICES IN BROADCASTING

A. Gathering Material

WBER’s journalists should try to witness events and gather information first hand through field reporting, interviewing, etc. Where this is not possible, we should talk to primary sources and, where necessary, corroborate their evidence with at least two reputable sources. As is the industry standard, we should be reluctant to rely on a single source. If we do rely on a single source, a named on- the-record source is mandatory. We should record our research interviews with sources wherever possible. In circumstances where recording might inhibit the source, full notes should be maintained.

Particular care is required when researching on the internet or using material from websites. Even reliable sources of information on the web (CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc.) may not always be accurate. Cross-corroboration with at least two sources is required before a story will be aired.

Music Selection for Radio Programming – WBER Radio will only air music that had been deemed suitable-for-air on public radio as determined by the FCC. Music with explicit lyrics and/or sexual content, as found on satellite radio channels, will NOT be permitted on WBER Radio.

Talk Radio Content – WBER will include a talk radio format as part of its programming, but on-air talent must refrain from content that is considered inappropriate by public radio standards (no lewd or lascivious sexual content, obscene language that relates to bodily functions or secretions or derogatory to one’s religious convictions as deemed inappropriate by the FCC (see the “seven dirties” above). Content must also refrain from segments that could be considered defamatory or humiliation in regards to one’s race, class, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

B. Sources and Credibility

WBER reporters must identify sources on-air and online so that our audiences can evaluate their credibility. When quoting an anonymous source, especially a source making serious allegations in a whistleblowing capacity (as protected under College policy), we must take all appropriate steps to protect their identity. However, we should give the audience enough information to evaluate credibility. Whenever a story involves an anonymous source, the student must reveal his/her identity to the faculty advisor so a judgment call can be made as to whether the source is credible enough for the story to air.

Signed waiver forms to reproduce audio or video likeness - Anyone who appears as part of a story (either radio or broadcast news) must sign a standard consent form, as we have mandated in our past BJR courses. No content will be aired without a signed release of likeness. Copies of all signed agreements must be on file with the faculty advisor. C. Production Techniques that Alter Original Content

WBER will in no way sponsor the use of editing, lighting, or audio techniques that alter the nature of the story’s original content, including visual enhancement via Photoshop, the addition or deletion of audio, or mixed-editing of linear story content. Our reporters should avoid restaging events, juxtaposing materials that were not present in the original context of the story, or digital creation or manipulation of material.

D. Recognizing and Correcting Errors

WBER’s policy on factual errors will be to acknowledge such errors immediately and correct said errors expediently, clearly, and appropriately, within the timeframe of the next broadcast.

E. Reporting Controversial Political Content

WBER must apply impartiality to all subject matter. However, there are particular guidelines for controversial subjects, whenever they occur in any of our content, including entertainment.

As defined by the RTDNA, controversial content may include public policy, entertainment, sports, political, or cultural controversy. WBER reporters must report the facts of the story without interjecting bias and personal opinions into the content. Special consideration must be made to avoid the endorsement of political candidates at any time because of the College’s 501c3 status. We WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 13 must not ever be perceived as endorsing any political candidate over another; however, this does not mean WBER will not cover political news. We must do so but must also give every candidate his/her due diligence.

F. Reporting Entertainment and Culture News

While WBER reporters must not share a political stance on political candidates, it is our obligation to fulfill audience expectations of bias as pertaining to entertainment news (THR reviews, film reviews, book reviews, music reviews, sporting events, etc.). The RTDNA protects journalists’ individual expression in drama, entertainment and culture news.

G. Reporting Controversial Social and Cultural Content

When our content includes challenging material that risks offending some of our audience, we must always be able to demonstrate a clear editorial purpose. Utilitarian principles must be applied to determine whether the content of such news is clearly in the best interest of the mass audience, even while potentially negatively impacting one or more constituencies. Such challenging material may include, but is not limited to, reporting fraud, sexual assault or other misconduct, humiliation centered on race, class, gender, religion, and/or sexual orientation. When such stories must be covered, WBER reporters must obtain signed consent forms for anyone telling his/her personal story on air. The privacy of alleged victims must be maintained, unless such consents and waivers are one file with the faculty.

H. Standards to Maintain Regarding Perceived Offensive Material

WBER will not condone, unless the context of the story demands it, any reporter’s use of violence, obscene language, sexual degradation, violation of human dignity, and/or discriminatory treatment or language. Use of such offensive material in a gratuitous fashion without editorial justification is grounds for failure and/or dismissal.

Penalties for such offenses by reporters will be:

 1st Offense – Verbal Warning from Labor Supervisor/Faculty Member  2nd Offense – Write-Up from Labor Supervisor/Failure of Class Assignment  3rd Offense – Dismissal from Labor Position/Failure of Class and loss of WBER privileges

All callers into the radio program and guest interviews in the studio must be made aware prior to airtime that such offenses will not be tolerated. If a caller/interviewee commits such an offense, the DJ/reporter must hang up or end the interview and immediately issue an apology to the audience.

Any proposal to use strong language, explicit imagery, or other controversial content to maintain the integrity of a story/interview must be approved by the faculty advisor with editorial justification. Even if approved, there must be a disclaimer made before the story airs so that the audience can prepare.

Any form of violent imagery, nudity, cursing, sexual language or imagery, mention of alcohol use, imagery of smoking, imagery involving illegal drugs, mention of or imagery of suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm or eating disorders must be approved by the faculty advisor based on editorial justification and accuracy of the story’s underlying truth and understanding.

Reporting Death, Suffering and Distress - We must always balance the public interest in full and accurate reporting against the need to be compassionate and to avoid any unjustified infringement of privacy when we report accidents, disasters, disturbances, or violence against individuals.

I. Legitimate Expectations of Privacy

WBER reporters must recognize an individual’s legitimate expectation of privacy as dictated by location of the story, the nature of the information and behavior, and the extent to which the information is already in the public domain. People in the public eye may, in some circumstances, have a lower legitimate expectation of privacy.

Location: People in public places or in semi-public places cannot expect the same degree of privacy as in their own homes, private offices, or other sensitive locations. (A semi-public place is somewhere which, though private property, gives the public general access, such as a government building, an airport, storefront, or shopping mall.) 14 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL

Behavior: there is less entitlement to privacy where an individual’s behavior is criminal in nature.

The RTDNA establishes the bright line for violating a perceived right to privacy centers on whether the public interest is at stake. Private behavior, information, correspondence and conversation should not be brought into the public domain unless there is a public interest that outweighs the expectation of privacy. There is no single definition of public interest. It includes but is not limited to:

 Exposing criminal behavior  Exposing corruption or injustice  Disclosing significant incompetence or negligence  Protecting people’s health and safety  Preventing people from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organization  Disclosing information that assists people to better comprehend or make decisions on matters of public importance.

Social Media - Material, especially pictures and videos, on third party social media and other websites where the public have ready access is considered to have been placed in the public domain. However, we should consider the impact of our re-use, particularly when in connection with tragic or distressing events. There must be editorial justification and faculty approval prior to using such material.

Secret Recordings – While legal, WBER never condones the use of the following:

 The use of hidden cameras or microphones  Recording telephone calls for possible broadcast without asking permission  Deliberately continuing a recording when the other party thinks that it has come to an end

J. Giveaways and Competitions

WBER students may engage in College giveaways (not cash prizes), but we must ensure there is a clear editorial purpose for any competitions in any medium we use. Other guidelines for competitions and giveaways include:

 Competitions must be run properly, fairly and openly, and the rules should be published  Closing deadlines for entries must be made clear to the audience, and sufficient time allowed between closing the competition and announcing the result to ensure that it can be verified  All qualifying entries must have the same chance of winning and the winner selection process must be designed to achieve fairness  We should offer a genuine test of skill, knowledge or judgement appropriate to the audience  Where a competition is to be judged by a panel, clear criteria should be set and made readily available

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 15 WBER STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

WBER Berea College News and Radio is a multi-media online entity that streams content over Berea College’s inter and intra networks. WBER is designed as an educational, co-curricular laboratory that operates a non-commercial radio streaming station and broadcast journalism news station under the direct supervision of Berea College’s Communication Program. WBER will at all times comply with the spirit and letter of the Fairness Doctrine and section 315 of the Federal Communications Commission’s act of 1934, as amended, and will adhere to the Radio Code of Ethics of the National Associations of Broadcasters. Recognizing its position as a non-commercial licensee of a 501c3 institution, WBER will not editorialize as is mandated by section 399, title 47 of the U.S. Code.

All announcers, must pass an audition before participating “On-Air” at WBER. The final decision on all “on-air” work will be made by the Faculty Advisor (Dr. Billy Wooten) and Radio Broadcasting Professor Dr. Jacob Dickerson. Once approved, it is expected that all students of WBER Berea College News and Radio adhere to the following code of conduct to the best of their abilities.

GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT

Once our students make the commitment to joining WBER, it is expected that they will dedicate themselves to the afore- mentioned ethical guidelines. WBER students must also adhere to and be governed by all rules and regulations set forth in this document and in the Berea College Student Handbook.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD, NO BEVERAGES AND NO SMOKING IN THE WBER STUDIO!!

BEING ON TIME Being on time for your shift means arriving at least 15 minutes early. If you are not present at the time of your shift, you will be considered late. For example, if you have a 5 p.m. shift and you arrive at 5:07 p.m., you are late. It is impossible to do a good job on the air without any preparation. Plan ahead.

MISSING A SHIFT/FINDING A SUBSTITUTE ANNOUNCER As an announcer, it is important that you are responsible and reliable regarding coming to your shift punctually and regularly. WBER will not tolerate consistently missed shifts or chronic tardiness. It makes the station look bad and gives the wrong idea to listeners, guests and trainees. If you anticipate this being a problem for a certain shift, don’t sign up for it! However, there will be a few occasions when you won’t be able to cover the shift for which you are regularly scheduled for a valid reason such as having an exam at that time, sickness, or a death in the family.

It is unacceptable for a DJ to miss a shift without finding a trained substitute. Responsibility and reliability are behaviors every student is expected to maintain while at WBER. DJs are accountable for their shifts and chronic absenteeism will not be tolerated.

INTERVIEW APPROVALS All interviews must be approved by the faculty advisor one week in advance. This helps ensures all interviews are relevant to the station’s audience and the same artist or band is not being interviewed multiple times. This also allows the DJ plenty of time to compose thoughtful interview questions. WBER does not grant “on-the-spot” interviews.

PERSONAL INFORMATION DJs are strongly encouraged not to tell too much about themselves on the air. You must also never give out personal information about another staff member.

PERSONAL SAFETY Keep the front door locked at all times. Anyone who needs access to the station will have a key. Never prop open the front door. This is for your protection and the protection of others in the building. If you need assistance, call Public Safety at 859-985-3333 for non-emergency and 911 for emergency. You can also call Public Safety for an after-hours safety escort to any point on campus. 16 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL

MIS & POOR REPRESENTATION Every student of WBER represents Berea College and the faculty in Berea’s Communication Program. Students are expected to act professionally both on and off air, as your name will be associated with the above mentioned. A zero tolerance policy for poor representation is in place to protect the reputation of the faculty and the College. Students are not permitted to represent WBER to receive personal gain. For example, a DJ may not contact a record company on behalf of the station to request a CD.

GRIEVANCES If you have a complaint concerning studio policies or operations, or if you feel that you have been reprimanded unfairly, you may file a grievance. All complaints must be submitted in writing to the faculty advisor or his or her superior within two weeks of the related incident.

STATION AND SOURCE IDENTITY

All DJs must promote upcoming shows and DJ’s as well as thank previous DJ's. WBER reporters must identify sources on-air and online so that our audiences can evaluate their credibility.

MUSIC AND TALK RADIO CONTENT

WBER Radio will only air music that had been deemed suitable-for-air on public radio as determined by the FCC. Music with explicit lyrics and/or sexual content, as found on satellite radio channels, will NOT be permitted on WBER Radio.

WBER will include a talk radio format as part of its programming, but on-air talent must refrain from content that is considered inappropriate by public radio standards (no lewd or lascivious sexual content, obscene language that relates to bodily functions or secretions or derogatory to one’s religious convictions as deemed inappropriate by the FCC). Content must also refrain from segments that could be considered defamatory or humiliation in regards to one’s race, class, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Music Uploading Policy - Anyone uploading material to the WBER Radio computer must put their name in the Music ID section of the track info. While it is still the responsibility of the air DJ to make sure the content is clean, we will also hold the person who uploads the info responsible for it getting onto the air in violation of FCC guidelines.

All DJs and reporters must acknowledge factual errors immediately and correct said errors expediently, clearly, and appropriately, within the timeframe of the next broadcast.

USE OF STUDIO, STUDIO EQUIPMENT, AND FIELD EQUIPMENT

Possessing or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal controlled substances while working for WBER will not be tolerated and will result from immediate dismissal, failure, and you will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Theft or intentional and unauthorized removal of property from the studio or field kits will not be tolerated. Willful or malicious destruction of studio property, premises or remote facilities will result in repair cost reimbursement and dismissal and failure.

If damages are incurred, payment of repair or replacements costs will be assessed in an amount not in excess of damage or loss incurred

VISITORS IN STUDIO

Because of studio size limitations, no more than two visitors PER SHOW for any radio DJ. If you expect to have more than this, you must have prior approval from the faculty advisor. Students are responsible for the actions of their guests or any non-WBER individual(s) they permit to accompany them to station activities or facilities. Actions of the guest which violate the bylaws will subject the host to the disciplinary actions described above. In addition, the guest may be referred to the appropriate on or off campus authorities.

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 17 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES FOR WBER STUDENTS

Penalties for offenses outlined above include:

 1st Offense – Verbal Warning from Labor Supervisor/Faculty Member  2nd Offense – Write-Up from Labor Supervisor/Failure of Class Assignment  3rd Offense – Dismissal from Labor Position/Failure of Class and loss of WBER privileges

18 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL HOW TO BE A GOOD DJ

The National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, which maintains the employment website CareerPage.org, defines an announcer as the “radio station’s ‘voice’ … with whom the public identifies. This person introduces programs and music, reads commercial copy and public service announcements, and is involved in the overall public presentation of the station.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines some of the duties expected of an announcer as taking listener requests, interviewing guests, managing listener contests and preparing program content.

CHOOSING A DJ NAME Your DJ name is how people will come to know you during your time at WBER. You always have the option of using your real name, but we want to give you the flexibility to be creative (not obscene or vulgar). Think twice before using something too racy or suggestive. You can use your first or last name, or a variation of such like DJs Caroline, Cody, Tyler, or Nate. You could also spice up your name like Mz Kelly, May Day, Sweet Melissa, C’est La Bri, Uncle Paul, Cannibal Cory, Tommyboy, Sarahnade, Mollypop, or phlavorphil.

Or you can always play around with a random DJ name generator and see what you find. They might get you thinking in the right direction. http://www.airtalents.com/music-1.php (for the gentlemen) http://www.airtalents.com/music.php (for the ladies) http://www.publicradionamegenerator.com/ http://www.fantazia.org.uk/interactive/djname_generator.htm

PERSONALITY Personality may be the most important part of being a DJ. It would be easy to have a computer pick and play music all day, but without the voice of the DJ, the station has no personality. We cannot explain how to have personality by listing all things you should do — if we did, you would become a cliché. Instead, the best way is for us to tell you what not to do, and what is left will be your unique personality. The main point is to make sure that you sound like a real person on the radio. Do not confuse this with being unprofessional, this is not what this means. Don’t alter your voice when you go on the air; your listeners can always tell.

We recommend all students interested in becoming radio talent take THR 127: Voice and Diction with Dr. Deborah Martin.

HOW TO TALK ON THE AIR No matter how cool you think you are, remember your audience is listening to the radio to hear music, not just to hear you talk. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to do a good job on your air breaks; it just means say what you need to say and then play more music.

Identify the Radio Station Every air break should include at least one reference to our identity – WBER – Berea College News & Radio. You don’t need to identify yourself as the DJ each time, but you should do so at least once an hour.

Be Succinct Always remember: shorter is better. Listeners don’t want to hear a DJ ramble on for two minutes about nothing. Say what you have to say as quickly as you can. Eliminate useless words and don’t ramble. Always know what you plan to say before you go on the air, or the listener will know you don’t know what you are talking about. There isn’t time to think about new ideas while you are on the air. If your air breaks last longer than 40 seconds, they are probably too long. WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 19

MUSIC SELECTION A word of advice: if you came to WBER to play your favorite music, do that at home — we are in the business of pleasing our listeners. WBER serves the community, not ourselves. Being a DJ is a privilege, not a right. When you accept an air shift within one of our four formats, you are committing to represent the musical integrity of the format. As a DJ, you represent WBER to the masses. During your show, it is your JOB to make us look awesome. You should absolutely play songs that you are passionate about, but you should absolutely not rotate your favorite twenty songs from week to week. Don’t play anything during your shift that you played the week before. Incorporate new music into your sets. As a DJ, you are a musical trendsetter. Finally, when choosing music for your air shift you want to arrange songs in sets that cleanly flow from one track to the next. You want to avoid a transition between songs that is so jarring – soft instrumental to hard rock, for example – that folks in the radio industry call it a “train wreck.”

PREPARATION FOR GOING “LIVE” Never open the microphone before you have a good idea of what you plan to say. If you plan to talk about an upcoming show, make sure you know all the details you want to give. It is not uncommon for new DJs to literally write out their scripts ahead of time. While that isn’t a practice you want to keep forever, it is a great way to get used to talking on air. Preparation also means you have your headphones on and are ready in front of the audio board. Your microphone has been moved into proper position. If you are using a CD or other player, it is either in single mode or you are prepared to fade down the channel before the next song begins. Anyone in the studio with you has been notified that you are going on air and they need to keep quiet. Your cell phone has been silenced so it won’t ring in the middle of your air break. You know what you plan to say and you have the next element cued and ready to start at the conclusion of your air break. Then and only then are you prepared for your air break.

Moving the Microphone Do not move your microphone when it is on, whether you are talking into it or not. Doing so causes a low rumbling sound known as “mic handling noise.” This sounds horrible on the air and should be avoided. Planning your breaks includes positioning your microphone properly. Have on-air guests do so as well.

FOLLOW THE RUNDOWN Another form of preparation is following the Rundown, which lists all elements of scheduled blocks (including song sets in order, PSAs, College advertising, and talk blocks).

CALLERS ON THE REQUEST LINE WBER does have a phone line for talk radio and music requests. It is important to remember that you are not obligated to answer the request lines if you are busy. Also, you don’t have to play a song just because it is requested. Never promise a caller you will play their request, in case you can’t work the song in or decide you don’t want to play it. You should never play a requested song without listening to it first because it might not fall under our obscenity guidelines (we only play music that would be acceptable on public radio channels). Always be courteous and respectful to our callers. They are our most dedicated listeners. Don’t take what callers say to be representative of how all the listeners feel. Only certain personality types will actually call a radio station; some people listen all day without ever thinking of calling. If you want people to call you, make sure you announce the request line phone numbers often: (859) 985-4206

20 | WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL ARCHIVED WORK FROM WBER STUDENTS IN BROADCASTING

WBER Student Documentaries These videos are short documentaries on a wide range of issues from mountaintop removal, local nonprofits, Appalachian music, etc. You might be especially interested in President Roelof’s acting debut at Berea in the mockumentary on the “Presidential Chicken” http://vimeopro.com/user41949250/wber-student-documentaries

WBER Student PSAs These videos are public service announcements raising awareness of a wide range of issues students determine to matter to them. http://vimeopro.com/user41949250/wber-student-psas

WBER Berea College News These videos are full length news broadcasts and sample news stories that would comprise a full length news broadcast. https://vimeo.com/channels/wbernews

WBER Student Commercials These videos are short commercials for campus organizations, local community non-profits, etc. http://vimeopro.com/user41949250/wber-student-commercials

WBER OPERATIONS MANUAL | 21 WBER Radio On-Air Studio Checklist

NO. ITEM WBER Rundown and Procedures 1 Demonstrate knowing how to read a rundown for a broadcast 2 Demonstrate how to do a Legal ID at the top of the hour 5 Demonstrate how to enter music into the automation software Control Board 1 Identify functions of all channels on the control board 2 Explain headphone and monitor controls 3 Demonstrate use of cue system 4 Demonstrate appropriate meter levels 6 Demonstrate difference between air monitor and program monitor 7 Demonstrate knowledge of call screening and requests 8 Be able to move callers in que to front of the line Automation Software 1 Demonstrate switching between automation and manual mode 2 Demonstrate sorting carts by title, artist and length 3 Demonstrate pulling up carts from specific tabs 4 Demonstrate how carts can be arranged to play continuously in manual mode 5 Demonstrate starting and pausing carts 7 Explain the necessity of clicking auto segue when running in automation mode Compact Disc Players 1 Cue CD to prepare for playback 2 Demonstrate how to play a cued track on air 3 Demonstrate how to switch the time display mode and playback mode

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