This document discusses community radio (CR) self-regulation and codes of ethics. It argues that self-regulation is the best system to promote high standards in community media by building self-regulatory mechanisms to ensure unbiased coverage and accountability. Self-regulation establishes principles for ethics, accuracy, and personal rights while preserving editorial freedom. It helps maintain CR credibility with the public by convincing them the CR is responsible, and it protects editorial independence by allowing professional mistakes to be judged by colleagues rather than authorities. Self-regulation also benefits the community by providing low-cost complaint mechanisms and quality assurance.

1. CR Self-Regulation & Code of
ethics
N.A.Shah Ansari
(Community Broadcaster)
Chairperson, Radio Namaskar
Vice President, Community Radio Association
…..balancing rights and
responsibilities
Compilation Date: 2/10/2013

2. Self Regulation?
• Self Regulation is the best system for promoting
high standards in the community media fora.
• SR will be vital to build on self-regulatory
mechanisms in enhancing CR professionals’
unbiased coverage, honesty, accuracy and
reliability.
• It will establish a mechanism to hold CRs
accountable to play a greater role as a
watchdog. Self-regulation is a function that lies
at the very the centre of this, fostering the
media’s responsibility towards the public and
enhancing the quality of CRs.

3. Is it censorship?
Never.
Self-regulation is not censorship and not
even self-censorship. It is about
establishing minimum principles on ethics,
accuracy, personal rights and so on, while
fully preserving editorial freedom on what
to broadcast and what opinions to
express.

4. Is self-regulation good for CR ?
• By promoting standards, self-regulation helps
maintain the CR’s credibility with the public.
• CR self-regulation helps convince the public that
the CR is not irresponsible.
• At the same time, self-regulation protects the
right of team to be independent, and to be
judged for professional mistakes not by those in
power but by their colleagues / community.

5. self-regulation good for the community?
• It is quite natural for listeners to seek guarantees
about the value of radio information.
• Codes of ethics provide guidance on content
standards, while complaint mechanisms offer a
kind of “quality insurance”.
• Complaints launched with self-regulatory bodies
come at no cost, unlike court proceedings. This
is a considerable advantage for the average
community.

6. 5 reasons for CR self-regulation
• It preserves broadcasting freedom.
• It helps to minimize state interference.
• It promotes media quality.
• It is evidence of media accountability.
• It helps readers access the media.

7. …connecting village
and villagers to
knowledge,
experiences and
resources…

8. NAMASKAR