Community Media Association

Ofcom has published some guidelines about community radio broadcasting in the run-up to the European elections and a number of local council elections on Thursday 4th June.

During election periods special impartiality rules apply. They are set out in Section Six of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code which can be accessed via the following link:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/elections/

Ofcom also provides Guidance Notes to explain the requirements:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/bguidance/guidance6.pdf

At all times there are rules which apply to broadcasters concerning ‘due impartiality’ and ‘due accuracy’ and ‘undue prominence of views and opinions on matters of political or industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy’. These rules are included in Section Five of the Broadcasting Code available via this link:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/undue/

Guidance Notes to help explain the Section Five requirements may be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/guidance/bguidance/guidance5.pdf