Introduction

Radio Control exists to broadcast. It is how we as a community of staff, volunteers, listeners and fans talk to each other, build an identity, and satisfy our need for information and entertainment. Our media outlets in all their forms are both assets and opportunities for all those participating. Radio Control is committed to a free and independent media, a strong youth and student voice, and to representing the under-represented in art, media and entertainment. In everything we do, we must consider how the arts or student community are benefitted. Radio Control broadcasts so as to strengthen the arts community and engage the student population. A strong and active arts community will help to engage students, and an engaged student body will help to keep the arts community strong.

Vision

Radio Control broadcasts so as to ensure:

• A free, varied and independent media with strong youth and student voices, which contributes to our society’s social and cultural wellbeing and strength.

• All aspects of the broadcast are 100% accessible, and that participation in diverse media, as well as community-based arts and cultural initiatives, are actively supported.

• Broadcasting is undertaken in a balanced manner, where a communities right to broadcast is fulfilled with an obligation to use its voice responsibly

Key Principals

Supporting an independent, honest and diverse media as a pillar in a free society

• Setting and maintaining policies of a high standard of content in accordance to the conventions of fairness, balance and honesty.

• Providing guidance to hosts and volunteers to allow them to express their opinions without being discriminatory or offensive.

• Providing a diverse range of voices on air to represent the wider community.

• Supporting the broadcast of student voices with a focus on students being a large proportion of our on air schedule.

• Endeavouring to deliver all content free from individual, political, corporate or cultural bias.

Supporting the development of local culture and maintaining a continual presence in the community

• Playing a minimum of 40% New Zealand Music.

• Striving to introduce listeners to new artists.

• Providing community activity guides with discounted rates for local and grassroots music, theatre and arts advertising.

• Sponsoring and assisting in the promotion of various community events.

• Having a physical presence at local community arts events and initiatives.

• Emphasising student engagement in the arts community to reduce the cultural differences between the university and the arts sectors.

Appreciating that our community has individual and cultural differences

• Allowing a minimum of 20% DJ choice in their music selections.

• Providing various special interest shows to cater to the various tastes of our wider community.

• Representing the interests of the wider community while maintaining programming that is cutting edge and embraces our ethos of new and interesting content that exists beyond the mainstream.

Providing both an innovative and reflective platform for progressive communities to express themselves

• Providing free promotion for community-driven activities appropriate to our audience.

• Delivering community arts events that encourage artistic participation and expose listeners and event attendees to new and progressive arts.

• Recognising the plural nature of communities and advocating for the inclusion of minority groups based on culture, nationality, sexuality and political identity.

• Ensuring that all listeners are able to listen without the feeling of being discriminated against.

• Responding promptly to any complaints or grievances.

Supporting the future of broadcasting with accessible training and support for volunteers and staff

• Actively encouraging volunteer engagement in all parts of the broadcast delivery process.

• Welcoming and encouraging participation by all regardless of age, sexuality, ethnicity or social outlook.

• Removing all barriers possible to involving a diverse volunteer and staff base.

• Providing training in the processes of radio broadcast to prepare volunteers and staff for a future career in the industry in New Zealand.

• Providing valuable life skills and experience to volunteers to help create better community citizens

Standing aside commercial radio structures as a unique and strong voice that exists beyond the mainstream

• Producing commercial messages in house where possible.

• Emphasising Manawatu and New Zealand music content, as well as new and underrepresented music and programming.

• Committing to 100% New Zealand ownership.

• Operating as a not for profit organisation with the view to maximize opportunities for communities to listen and be heard, rather than to maximize profit.

Providing timely and accurate information, that is educational and entertaining

• Striving to offer completely live shows produced by DJs, over pre-programmed or automated content.

• Providing news, interview content and current affairs, as well as social commentary that is unbiased and as accurate as the source allows.

• Broadcasting 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Understanding the responsibility and significant social and cultural power that we have as a broadcaster

• Supporting and offering critical analysis of social issues in New Zealand.

• Supporting content that is acceptable across society with the aim to challenge but not offend.

• Aiming to stimulate debate in cultural and social issues within the communities it reaches.