Editorial Guidelines
The purpose of Mercer Radio is to provide a source for music not generally heard on other radio stations and to be an organization that healthily promotes music listener-ship. Primary emphasis will be placed on showcasing good, primarily independent bands and their music. Mercer Radio will also serve as a secondary distribution point for news of the world and of Mercer University.
Since radio incorporates so much of culture, news, and entertainment, Mercer Radio will cooperate with all student organizations and, especially, other sources of campus news and entertainment, most notably Mercer 99. Mercer Radio will also work to insure that it reports truly and with no bias on the news.
Libelous and malicious comments and/or music and personal controversy will not be tolerated on the air.
Every show on Mercer Radio will begin with a disclaimer: "The views and language heard in the following program are not necessarily those of Mercer Radio, Mercer University, or its administrators, and may be offensive to some listeners."
Profanity is to be keep to a reasonable and prudent level, as per Section II of the "Mercer University Guidelines for the Media Board." In any accepted usage, it may not be used only to entertain people and/or inflame their emotions. Mercer Radio will also adhere to the FCC regulations and the three pong obscenity test.
From
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/broadcast/obscind.html:
"Obscene speech is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time. To be obscene, material must meet a three-prong test: (1) an average person, applying contemporary community standards, must find that the material, as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; (2) the material must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable law; and (3) the material, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. See Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973)."
Taken from Miller v. California:
"Under a National Constitution, fundamental First Amendment limitations on the powers of the States do not vary from community to community, but this does not mean that there are, or should or can be, fixed, uniform national standards of precisely what appeals to the "prurient interest" or is "patently offensive." (From the Opinion of the court, delivered by Chief Justice Burger, Section III)
Music played during a show shall be at the discretion of the DJ for that show, although the Music Director and General Manager may impose restrictions on certain music and/or artists.
The shows should be original and not have multiple songs from the same artist in one show.
Mercer Radio shall remain within all FCC requirements relating to the type of broadcasting it is currently using.
All content of Mercer Radio will not promote the violation of the law, regulation, or ordinance.
Advertising Guidelines
Since Mercer Radio is non-profit, it will try to stay away from advertisements, but it recognizes the fact that it may find advertising necessary at some point in time. The preferred mode of advertising for Mercer Radio shall be underwriting of shows.
Advertisements are not to exceed 45 seconds in length.
Advertising may not compose more than 5% of content from Mercer Radio.
All advertisements are to be paid for in advance.
Mercer Radio will not accept advertisements not in line with the policies and traditions of Mercer University.
Mercer Radio will not accept political advertisements.
Personel Guidelines
Mercer Radio shall be operated by a student staff with guidance from a faculty advisor. Each position shall be responsible for their functions described. All positions listed below are members of the Executive Staff. DJs may be barred from participation in Mercer Radio for failing to abide by any guidelines. Every member of Mercer Radio must be on file with the Personnel Director.
Mercer Radio is a volunteer organization and its members may not accept monetary compensation from either Mercer Radio or any other body for their work given to the organization. Mercer Radio’s members may accept compensation if the funds are to be given to Mercer Radio’s funds immediately after receiving such compensation.
