DIGC102 - Week 6 - Codes of Ethics
Australian Radio Stations
Whilst the Australian Communication and Media Authority regulate the legalities of broadcasting, they refer broadcasters to the CBAA and CRA in regards to ethics and codes of practice.
Commercial Radio Broadcasting:
The ‘CRA Codes of Practice and Guidelines’:
http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/aba/contentreg/codes/radio/documents/cra-codeofpractice.pdf
“The Codes aim to ensure that commercial radio broadcasters have regard to prevailing community standards in broadcast material, while protecting their right to responsible freedom of speech.”
A licensee must not broadcast a program which:
(a) is likely to incite, encourage or present for its own sake violence or
brutality;
(b) simulate news or events in such a way as to mislead or alarm
listeners;
(c) present as desirable:
(i) the misuse of alcoholic liquor; or
(ii) the use of illegal drugs, narcotics or tobacco.
(d) depicts suicide favourably or presents suicide as a means of
achieving a desired result; or
(e) is likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against or vilify any person or
group on the basis of age, ethnicity, nationality, race, gender,
sexual preference, religion or physical or mental disability.
1.4 Nothing in sub-clauses 1.3(c)(ii), 1.3(d) or 1.3(e) prevents a licensee from
broadcasting a program of the kind or kinds referred to in those subclauses
if the program is presented reasonably and in good faith for
academic, artistic (including comedy or satire), religious instruction,
scientific or research purposes or for other purposes in the public interest,
including discussion or debate about any act or matter.
Program Content and Language,including Sex and Sexual Behaviour
1.5 (a) All program content must meet contemporary standards of
decency, having regard to the likely characteristics of the audience
of the licensee’s service.
(b) The gratuitous use in a program of language likely to offend the
anticipated audience for that program must be avoided.
1.6 Licensees must not broadcast audio of actual sexual acts.
1.7 Licensees must not broadcast a feature program which has an explicit
sexual theme as its core component unless it is broadcast between 9.30
pm and 5.00 am and an appropriate warning is made prior to
commencement of the program and at hourly intervals during broadcast
of the program.
1.8 Nothing in clause 1.7 prevents a licensee from broadcasting a program at
any time, of the kind referred to in that clause, if the program is in the
public interest, including discussion or debate about current events.”
Community Radio Broadcasting:
- the CBAA’s ‘Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice’
http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/aba/contentreg/codes/radio/documents/community_radio_codes_of_practice-23oct08.pdf
“Community broadcasters are united by six guiding principles. We will work to:
- Promote harmony and diversity and contribute to an inclusive, cohesive and culturally-diverse Australian community
- Pursue the principles of democracy, access and equity, especially for people and issues not adequately represented in other media
- Enhance the diversity of programming choices available to the public and present programs that expand the variety of viewpoints broadcast in Australia
- Demonstrate independence in programming as well as in editorial and management decisions
- Support and develop local arts and music
- Increase community involvement in broadcasting.”
This code also refers back to the ACMA re: legal obligations, and the responsibilities of the ACMA in community broadcasting.
