UNDERWRITING, JOINT VENTURES, & PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS PROCEDURES
PROCEDURE 1. Underwriter Identification Standards
A. Regarding acknowledgements of contributions from for-profit sources, FCC rules permit airing announcements which identify these entities and provide a brief, non-promotional description of their products, services and facilities.
B. Announcements must include the legal name or recognized name of the funder. In addition, WMOT may select items of information from the list below which further clarify the identity of the funder:
1. The name of the underwriter’s subsidiary or bona fide operating division, or the name of the underwriter’s parent company.
2. The underwriter’s product or service line, identified by generic name trade name. Very brief descriptive phrases are permitted to describe the product or service line only if they are clearly objective. Usually such language would be limited to describing one of the following characteristics of the product or service line:
· Origin [e.g., “French wine”];
· Intended use [e.g., “children’s clothing];
· Form of delivery to consumer or method of preparation [e.g., “bottled mineral water” “draft beer”];
· Product content [e.g., “wool suit” or “fiberglass insulation].
3. The underwriter’s corporate slogan if it identifies, but does not promote, the underwriter or its products. The slogan must be non-promotional and value-neutral, in that it must identify the underwriter in objective terms. Permissible non-promotional slogans often describe aspects of an underwriter’s business or characteristics of its product in neutral terms.
4. The location of the underwriter’s business. This may be a city or state, or specific address. In the alternatives it may be a generic reference to the area served [e.g., “serving the South,” or “with stores throughout Middle Tennessee"]
5. A telephone number and/or e-mail address if used for identification purposes. The number/address must be stated in such a way that no call to action is implied.
6. Length of time in business (e.g., “serving Nashville’s banking needs for 25 years).
7. Local underwriter identification language which clearly identifies alcohol or tobacco products or firearms, or which might create an association between WMOT and such products in the minds of listeners will not be accepted.
8. Underwriter identification language, which could result in public confusion between services offered by Middle Tennessee State University and those offered by another institution will not be accepted.
9. Specific events may not be mentioned in underwriting announcements if they are for profit. An underwriter may mention a non-profit event in lieu of any other sponsorship identification. However, all other rules, including minimum contribution, call to action, and political language, apply. A non-profit event shall be defined as an event wholly administered by a qualifying non-profit organization for its own benefit (see (1) (2) above for list of qualifying non-profit organizations).
10. Political language is not permitted in underwriting announcements. Determination of what constitutes “political language” is admittedly subjective and shall be at the sole discretion of the management of WMOT.
11. Language that creates a direct call to action is not permitted in underwriting announcements.
12. All underwriter identification announcements must observe contemporary standards of good taste. All identification announcements will be subject to editorial review by the management of WMOT.
C. In accordance with the requirements of the Communications Act, WMOT will not broadcast underwriting announcements that:
1. Promote any service, facility, or product offered by any person who is engaged in such offering for profit;
2. Express views of any person with respect to any matter of public importance or interest;
3. Support or oppose any candidate for public office.
PROCEDURE 2. Number and Length of Acknowledgments
A. Underwriters will be identified in a single crediting announcement
1. Not to exceed fifteen seconds in length.
PROCEDURE 3. Placement of Acknowledgments
A. Underwriting acknowledgments, in general, may be given near the opening and near the close of any program, at the half-hour mark of a program lasting sixty minutes, or at natural breaks.
B. Certain program elements may require variations. For example, the network hourly newscasts may be underwritten separately from the surrounding segment of jazz programming.
1. Underwriter acknowledgments will be placed only at the opening of program elements of fifteen minutes or less.
2. A system of rotation of underwriters may be developed for these special cases.
PROCEDURE 4. Wording of Acknowledgments
A. The following basic wording will be used for acknowledgment of underwriters:
1. Support is provided by ...
2. Alternative wording may approved by management, if necessary.
B. Programs which might be considered controversial should include the following phrase before the underwriting acknowledgment:
1. “This program was produced by WMOT [or NPR/AP] which is solely responsible for its content.”
C. Some programs, such as live events, may require the following:
1. “The views expressed on this program are not necessarily those of WMOT or Middle Tennessee State University.”
PROCEDURE 5. Audio Logos & Other Production Values
A. Music and other sounds that might be associated with an underwriter’s advertising, jingles or products will not be used.
1. Music or other sounds associated with WMOT’s programs may accompany underwriting acknowledgments.
B. Existing audio signatures used with a company’s name or logo are not will not be used.
1. Music or other sounds associated with a NPR National Program Service program may accompany underwriting acknowledgements.
C. A WMOT announcer will read underwriting announcements. Assignment of an announcer will be the sole discretion of the WMOT Program Director.
1. MTSU Athletic Department personnel may read announcements related to sports broadcasts.
PROCEDURE 6. In-kind Donation Announcements
A. WMOT may accept, at its discretion, donations of in-kind goods and services of significant value in return an appropriate number of on-air donor announcements in number and frequency determined by WMOT and in relation to the current rate card.
B. Donor announcements must meet the same protocol as used for cash donation acknowledgement and will be scheduled at the discretion of the WMOT and in a number related to the current rate card.
C. Compact Disks (CDs) and Ticket Giveaways
1. WMOT may, at its discretion, accept tickets and/or CDs as on-air giveaway prizes.
a. Time and frequency of giveaways is at the station's discretion;
b. CD/Ticket donor will receive on-air acknowledgement of the gift at the time of the giveaway in the form of
i. CD/Event Title, Time/Place, etc. and
ii. Meet FCC restrictions placed on for-profit underwriters.
PROCEDURE 7. Joint Venture Acknowledgements
A. WMOT may partner with for-profit entities in activities like benefit concerts and festivals.
1. Merely including an event sponsored by a for-profit in a regularly scheduled Club Calendar does not trigger special attention to the Commission’s rules against promoting a commercial activity.
2. Issuing calls to action or other wording prohibited under the Commission’s enhanced underwriter policy would be promoting a commercial activity.
3. WMOT will not enter into agreements to air informational or donor announcements in advance of an event sponsored by for-profit entities for which the sponsor offers to give the station a donation of either a percentage of the gate or outright cash sum.
a. An after-the-fact donation by a for-profit entity warrants on-air recognition under PRINCIPLE B of the WMOT Underwriting Principles.
PROCEDURE 8. Public Service Acknowledgements
A. WMOT may accept, at its discretion, announcements from community groups, individuals, businesses, or corporations, and other like sources for the sole purpose of publicizing non-profit community events or public service activities. Priority will be given to events sponsored by local non-profit groups. Due to limited air-time, we do not accept notices of church worship services for on-air use, but we do allow them on our web site's community calendar.
B. Public Service Announcements messages must conform to the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.
1. Such on-air acknowledgements may not violate the non-commercial nature of educational broadcasting or WMOT’s, own non-profit mission.
2. PSAs may not be used as forums, advocacy platforms, or statements of beliefs regarding issues, concerns, lifestyles, political or religious preferences, may not promote partisan political events or activities, etc.
3. WMOT reserves the right to refuse to air or publish on its web site PSAs if it determines that their presence on the air or the web site might have an adverse affect on its mission or on listenership, listener support or other financial support.
C. In applying its policies and practices regarding acceptability of PSA sources and PSA announcements, WMOT will exercise good faith judgment in interpreting the Communications Act and FCC rules and guidelines.
D. WMOT reserves the right to change its policies and practices regarding acceptability of PSAs and PSA announcements must comply with its interpretation of the Communications Act, FCC Rules and Regulations, and the policies of Middle Tennessee State University.
E. Production and Administrative Notices
1. Public service announcements are reserved for non-profit activities that publicize events or services and/or request volunteers.
2. Station staff reads on-air scripts of 15 seconds in length. PSAs are aired during Morning and Evening Drive Times with “What’s Happening” and at other points in the broadcast schedule as may be deemed necessary.
3. WMOT prefers prepared scripts, but will accept press releases or a brochure.
4. A telephone number for our listeners to call for more information is required.
5. U.S. Mail address is WMOT-FM, MTSU P.O. Box 3, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Fax (615) 898-2774; Wed Site address www.wmot.org
6. PSAs must be received 4 weeks prior to the event.
7. Accepted PSAs are placed in a rotation of 30-40 PSAs for approximately 2 weeks.
8. Due to the high volume of PSA requests, WMOT cannot notify you as to whether your PSA was aired.