Governance

1
Governance Operationsfor New Stations

• Carol Pierson Andalusia Knoll Ursula
  Ruedenberg
• President and CEO Station Support
  Organizer Affiliate Coordinator
• NFCB Prometheus Radio Project Pacifica
  Network
• carol_at_nfcb.org andalusia_at_prometheusradio.org ursu
  la_at_pacifica.org

2
Definitions

• Governance Identifying your initial leadership
  and the mechanisms your organization will use to
  ensure that everyone among you follows an
  established set of policies.
• Operations The day-to-day functions around your
  radio station, from running the business office
  to addressing issues of personnel, space, on-air
  talent and content, and a myriad other things.

3
Getting Started

• Outreach for Finding Core Participants
• Starting Your Steering Committee
• Community Support
• Events

4
Culture and Communication

• Create a culture of change
• Communicate with each other
• Why this is important
• How to make this happen

5
Being Clear on the Mission

• Have everyone clear on the mission of the
  station
• Staff
• Board
• Volunteers
• Why this is important
• How to make this happen

6
TraditionalGovernance Structure

• President or Chair
• Vice President or Vice Chair
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Additional Members

The purpose of the board is to adopt
policies, hire station manager, and raise funds.
7
Written Policies

• Have written policies in place before you go on
  the air
• Personnel
• Grievance Procedure
• Programming
• Financial
• Board Manual

8
Strategic Planning Policy Making

• Define Mission
• Develop Bylaws
• Define roles of Board Members
• Develop organizational chart
• Hiring practices and salaries
• Job descriptions

• Conflict resolution
• Programming policy
• Define roles of Advisory Board
• Develop strategic plan
• Board/Staff relationship

9
Roles, Job Descriptions,and Written Procedures

• Clearly define roles, have written job
  descriptions for everyone (staff, board,
  volunteers), and establish written procedures
• Staff structure How it will evolve
• Bookkeeping system Who will keep it up and who
  will review
• Designate Chief Operator
• Review procedures for staff, Board, and on-air
  staff
• Training Program
• Develop Programming Schedule

10
TraditionalOrganizational Chart
11
CollectiveOrganizational Chart
12
Job Descriptions / Roles

• Station Manager or General Manager?
• Program Director?
• Music Director?
• News/Public Affairs Director?
• Operations Director?
• Chief Operator FCC requires designating and
  posting!
• Development Director?
• Business Manager?
• Volunteer Coordinator?
• Volunteers?

13
Rules and Regulations

• Post all FCC required documents
• State Employment Regulations
• Operations Manual Policies
• Personnel Policies
• (paid staff/volunteers)
• Underwriting policies
• Grievance Procedures

14
Protecting Your Assets

• Get Insurance
• Property insurance
• Broadcast insurance
• Directors Officers insurance
• Know the Rules
• NFCB Legal Handbook

15
Outside Resources

• Ask for Help Use outside resources (models,
  advice, group buys etc.)
• Join
• NFCB
• Any state broadcaster associations there are in
  your state
• Any Regional networks there are in your state
• Communicate with other stations

16
Resources fromNFCB
These sample documents can be found in the Member
Area of the NFCB website

• Grievance Procedures
• Evaluation Forms
• Policies (programming, payola/plugola, etc.)
• Logs
• Training materials
• Fundraising Materials

• Board Member Assessment
• Board Handbooks
• Board Contracts
• Bylaws
• Job Descriptions
• Personnel Policies

Additional sample documents and templates are
being added all the time.
17
Resources fromPrometheus Radio Project

• Prometheus Resources Collaborative Station
  Handbooks on
• Station Governance
• Automation
• Fundraising
• Station Document Archive including documents on
• Budgets and Station Finances
• FCC Compliance
• Mission Statements
• Personnel, Programming, Rules, Discipline, and
  Conflict Resolution Policies
• Journalism/Reporting Guides
• Networking Resources
• Connections with experts and novices, Staff and
  Volunteers all in the field of Community Radio.
• Technical Services
• Microphone to Antenna Station and Studio
  Construction Technical Trainings and Workshops
• Participatory Workshops
• Radio Journalism
• History of LPFM
• How does Radio Work
• Station Operations

18
Resources fromPacific Radio Network

• On-going collaborative support groups bringing
  together start-up and functioning stations via
  conference call and listservs
• Large menu of Grassroots radio content for
  broadcast via satellite and internet distribution
• Live coverage of events of national and
  international importance
• Breaking news and cultural content from Pacifica
  Radio, including Democracy Now and Free Speech
  Radio News
• Radio content exchange program between grassroots
  radio stations
• Services and assistance for bringing your local
  content to national and international platform
• Assistance with day-to-day operations and
  fundraising