Corporate Responsibility 2007 Audiences / Staff / Business Interactions / Government and Regulators / Environment / The European Commission defines Corporate Social Responsibility as a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders, on a voluntary basis. It includes managing change at company level in a socially responsible manner. Use of the term is gradually evolving and it is now generally referred to as Corporate Responsibility. Is féidir leagan Gaeilge den Tuarascáil a íoslódáil ó www.rte.ie/about/policies.html CONTENTS Introduction 04 Foreword 05 About RTÉ Activities 2006/07 09 General Election 2007 13 Meeting the needs of our Audiences 25 Our Staff 33 Our Business Interactions 39 Government and Regulators 43 The Environment Looking forward 52 Interculturalism 55 2007/08 Objectives 56 Feedback Meeting the needs of our audiences 3 The Broadcasting Act 2001 states that Understanding and responding IntroductionRTÉ must: to our audiences “…provide a comprehensive range As the national PSB, RTÉ is of programmes in the Irish and involved in public life throughout English language that reflects the the country. We receive unique cultural diversity of the whole island involvement and views from of Ireland and include, both on radio the public - with many of our and television...programmes that programmes encouraging active entertain, inform and educate, pro- audience participation. vide coverage of sporting, religious activities and cater for the expecta- Provision of programmes tions of the community generally as The main way that we impact on well as members of the community viewers and listeners is through with special or minority interests and our programmes. Programmes which, in every case, respect human can enrich the quality of society dignity.” as a whole and can touch people’s Section 28(2) (a) lives in a way no other media can. Television, radio and our internet RTÉ in its programme output presence have the ability to com- across radio and television fulfils municate to millions of people the this obligation. RTÉ’s programmes issues and arguments surrounding reflect the interests and needs of responsible behaviour and encour- contemporary Ireland. RTÉ provides age people to take action, as well the vast majority of all television as expose unethical activities. We programming made in Ireland and also provide people with the tools that reflects the experience of living to participate, learn and become in the country today. active members of our democratic society. In this initial CR Report we ad- dress how we meet the needs of As a Public Service Broadcaster, RTÉ our audiences under the following must make programmes for minori- headings: ties as well as majorities. We must reflect the full spectrum of opinions • Understanding and responding to and values, attitudes and cultures, our audiences interests and occupations that go • Feedback from our audience to make-up the patchwork of life • Audience Council in Ireland today. RTÉ’s programme- • Safeguarding children makers and content providers have • Informing citizenship a special responsibility to reflect in • Reflecting our changing society a fair and generous manner the in- • Developing talent terests and values of all the people • Working with communities. in Ireland. This is not a comprehensive list; Children form a special part of our it is indicative of the many types audience and they are catered for of interactions with our audiences with special programming such as and it is a list that will be amended, The Den and services such as Music and added to, as our CR reporting in the Classroom. A recent develop- develops in the years to come. We ment is the e-gazette from RTÉ also present a case study on how lyric fm’s breakfast show which is we have worked with members of attached at Appendix 3. one particular sector of our Televi- sion audience who have special requirements and expectations – those who are hard of hearing and need access to subtitling for programmes. 04 FOREWORD RTÉ published its first Corporate RTÉ’s 2006 CR report provided an Responsibility (CR) report in August analysis of the diversity of the 2006. The report, a positioning Organisation’s CR activities. document, outlined RTÉ’s The following key stakeholders commitment as a Public Service were identified and focused on: Broadcaster (PSB) to providing its audiences with an unrivalled • Audiences broadcasting service. • Staff • Business interactions RTÉ is an organisation built on • Government and Regulators trust - the foundation stone of a • The Environment. PSB. Audiences can trust RTÉ to be independent, impartial and honest That Report can be downloaded in in all of its activities. They can trust English and in Irish from that RTÉ will provide an unbiased www.rte.ie/about/policies.html service based on the democratic, social and cultural values of Irish In this 2007 report an account is society – in other words, that RTÉ given of some activities undertaken will respond to their needs. by RTÉ over the past year in each of the key stakeholder areas. The list Corporate Responsibility reflects is indicative, not comprehensive. the core values of the society in Based on feedback, case studies which we live. RTÉ’s approach to are presented which give concrete CR is based on the moral case that examples of what is being done we have a responsibility to do the and a number of objectives for right thing for Irish society. Through the coming year are set as it is its CR activities, RTÉ strives to give important that CR activities be audiences an added measure of targeted, measured and sustained. assurance, which they deserve from RTÉ’s CR activity is not just an a PSB. occasional or annual occurrence; it is an investment in its future – and a commitment to its audience. ABOUT RTÉ 05 RTÉ is a Public Service Broadcaster, RTÉ is also a major contributor to the a non-profit making organisation arts in Ireland and a key example of owned by the Irish people. RTÉ that is its support of five performing is Ireland’s cross-media leader, groups - the RTÉ National Symphony providing comprehensive and cost- Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, effective free-to-air television, radio the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, the RTÉ and online services to the public Philharmonic Choir and RTÉ Cór na which are of the highest quality nÓg. and are impartial, in accordance with RTÉ’s statutory obligations. RTÉNL, a wholly owned subsidiary of RTÉ, is a communications RTÉ is comprised of six Integrated network operator with a substantial Business Divisions (IBDs) and a portfolio of developed sites and corporate centre. The six IBDs are: in-house engineering, planning and construction resources. • RTÉ News and Current Affairs • RTÉ Television RTÉ provides audiences with • RTÉ Radio unrivalled programming across all • RTÉ Publishing genres: from soap operas to sport, • RTÉ Performing Groups lifestyle activities to contemporary • RTÉ Network Limited (RTÉNL). drama. We aim to play a significant and lasting role in Irish life – RTÉ operates two complementary to make a difference. free-to-air television channels, RTÉ One and RTÉ Two and four This is an exciting and challenging radio stations, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ time for RTÉ as Irish broadcasting 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió moves into the digital age. Digital na Gaeltachta. RTÉ also produces broadcasting is a relatively new Ireland’s best-selling magazine, method of broadcasting and the RTÉ Guide; operates Ireland’s involves replacing analogue signals leading teletext service, RTÉ Aertel, with a digital format. This allows a and provides up-to-date news, better quality signal and the change current affairs and entertainment in technology also facilitates better information via Ireland’s most choice for the audience. RTÉ is popular media website, RTÉ.ie. currently supporting the Irish Government in the development of RTÉ provides one hour of Irish digital services for terrestrial radio language television programming and television as part of fulfilling per day, at no cost, to TG4. our Public Service remit and reaching all of our audiences. Activities 2006/07 RTÉ AND THE 2007 GENERAL ELECTION 09 The process by which political Planning power is changed and granted An Election Steering Committee, within any democracy is of critical responsible for the previewing importance to all. Elections must be and reviewing of all coverage of conducted fairly and it must be seen election campaigns, is chaired and understood to be fair. How a by the Director-General. The general election campaign is covered Committee is an ongoing one and is is an acid test of the health and representative of all relevant areas effectiveness of every Public Service in the Organisation; it met on six Broadcaster in every democracy. occasions during 2006. Approaching an election period, and particularly The media is central to all election once an election date has been campaigning strategies and the identified, the activity of the broadcast media is widely regarded Committee increases significantly as the most influential section and it meets as required sometimes of the media. A PSB has specific several times a week. responsibilities in relation to the democratic process. Central to RTÉ’s Election 2007 coverage was made Vision of growing the trust of the possible by painstaking preparation people of Ireland is to provide news – centered on human and technical and current affairs that is impartial and resources necessary to operate fair. At no time is this more important a newly enhanced computer than during national elections. system which collated results as they were declared in the various RTÉ determines to ensure that all count centres around the country. election coverage is interesting, The new IT system generated the imaginative and informative as information for Radio, Television well as being impartial and fair.