The Book 2009

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1: Introduction

Message From The Staff of WSIA3

A Short History Of WSIA4

Mission and Goals.. 5

The FCC...6

The License Holder.6

The Student. 7

Staff Member Expectations... 7

The Board of Directors...8The On-Air Announcer... 8

CSI Staff...8

Community and Alumni Volunteers..8-9

Part 2: Policies and Procedures

Structure...10

Bylaws...... 10-12

Operating Rules......12-13

Visitor Policy........14

Security............14

Teamwork.... 15

Station Appearance....... 15

The Phone... 15

The Computers... 16

Elections...16

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Part 3: On-Air Programming Policies

Overview.. 17

Programming Policies.... 17

Obscenity, Indecency & Profanity........18

Payola & Plugola................................. 19

On-Air Phone Calls.... 19

On-Air Guests..... 19

Part 4: Departments and Directors

Overview.. 20

The Programming Department. 21

The Personnel Department...22

The News Department... 23

The Engineering Department 24

The Underwriting Department...25

The Public Service Department 26The Production Department..27

The Sports Department..28

The Music Department...29

The Promotions Department.30

The Information Technology Department31

WSIA Professional Staff.... 32

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PART 1: INTRODUCTION

MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF OF WSIA

Welcome to WSIA Staten Island 88.9FM. WSIA is the real deal! A New York City FM radio station that

broadcasts to all of Staten Island, parts of New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. We have the

potential to reach 2,500,000 people with our FM station, and an infinite number of people on the World

Wide Web, reaching anybody in the world with a computer connected to the Internet!

We at WSIA pride ourselves on our unique form of programming. The music played here transcends

many different genres appealing to many different types of listeners. It is here that a listener has the

opportunity to hear something new thats not being played anywhere else. WSIA has played a lot of

popular music before it became popular and still does to date!

The experience of working at WSIA is like none other. Here you have the opportunity to be part of

something bigger than us all, at the same time developing yourself, both professionally and personally, asa valuable member of society and as a leader. THE BOOK is your guide to becoming a part of one of the

most exciting and rewarding experiences you may ever have!

Please pay special attention to the rules regarding the use of equipment, guests in the station, and other

procedures designed to protect our equipment. Student Activities and Technology fees have spent

thousands of dollars on our studios and offices. This means we must do our best to keep the equipment in

good shape since we cannot afford to replace it.

This publication is a living document that has been around for over twenty years. It is the culmination of

all the hard work and endless sacrifices made by students over the course of the station's history. This

station is both run and governed by students.

We invite you to share your best - your thoughts and ideas, your energy and enthusiasm, your dreams and

goals. Offer yourself in support of the station, your fellow staff members, and all those who will follow

in the years ahead. Let the station support you as you create what you want for yourself. Together we

can do great things.

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A SHORT HISTORY OF WSIA

In the mid 1970's, a group of students interested in radio gathered in a broom closet in the CBuilding of The College of Staten Island. They ran some wire to the cafeteria and startedspinning records. These students worked with the College and applied for an FM license; they

were later granted a construction permit. Not much more progress was made until the late1970's when a new group of students applied to the Student Government and Association for

money to start construction. In 1980, a General Manager was hired to get the station on the air.It took a year to work out an agreement with The Archdiocese of New York for an antenna site,

install phone lines to the site for the transmitter, and to complete construction of the studios inthe basement of the E building on the Sunnyside campus.

On August 31, 1981, WSIA began regularly scheduled programming. It was the culmination of a

tremendous amount of hard work by members of the College and students. Yet, it was only thebeginning. Since that time, a great number of students have been trained to become staff

members. Some have gone on to careers in radio. Others look back on WSIA as an importantpart of their student life.

A number of changes have happened since 1981. The station's offices and studios have been

enlarged and improved. Our operating budget has increased from $8,800 to over $100,000 peryear. In 1985, the College showed its commitment by picking up the salary of the General

Manager. Previously, this had been paid out of student fees. The programming has alsoundergone a number of changes. Yet, students have always been committed to two things:

1) to be new and innovative;

2) to serve the Staten Island community.

Thanks to many years of hard work by our staff, we enjoy an excellent relationship with manycomponents of the broadcast industry--record companies, musicians, artists, independentproducers, clubs, and promoters.

In August 2006, WSIA celebrated 25 years of broadcasting on 88.9 FM. WSIA also broadcastsonline at www.wsia.fm, making our programming available anywhere in the world!

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WSIA MISSION AND GOALS

1. To serve the Staten Island community with new and interesting programming.

2. To train the next generation of radio broadcasters.

3. To work collaboratively with the College community to promote the College of StatenIsland and its programs.

4. To encourage student participation in community activities.

5. To teach students how to work collaboratively and manage a public organization.

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THE FCC

WSIA is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate as a non-commercial,educational radio station at 88.9 megahertz on the FM band from a tower atop Todt Hill. WSIA islicensed to broadcast at a power of 10 watts.

Because WSIA is a licensed radio station, it must abide by FCC rules and regulations. The rules

and procedures outlined in THE BOOK are designed to keep WSIA in compliance with thoserules.

The FCC reserves the right to inspect WSIA's operations, logs and files anytime it wishes. If

anyone calls or contacts WSIA claiming they are from the FCC, or with a complaint or questionin regard to the FCC, they must be immediately forwarded to the General Manager or Chief

Engineer.

WSIA's license must be renewed every seven years. At that time, WSIA must show that it hasoperated in the public interest and will continue to do so.

THE LICENSE HOLDER

WSIA's license is issued to and held by the College of Staten Island. As such, the Collegemaintains legal control over the radio station. The College does this through the Office of

Student Life, which employs WSIA's full-time General Manager. Actual planning and day-to-dayoperations are carried out by the student Board of Directors in cooperation with the General

Manager.

The General Manager oversees the operation on behalf of the College to ensure conformity withboth College and FCC rules and regulations.

The College community has input on radio station operations through the Radio StationAdvisory Board, which meets periodically to discuss and evaluate issues of concern for WSIA.

The Radio Station Advisory Board consists of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Directorof Student Life, the College attorney, two faculty members, a representative of the CSIAssociation, the President of Student Government, and two students elected from the WSIA

staff. The General Manager acts as a resource to the Board.

Funding for WSIA comes from the Student Activity Fee collected from every registered student.WSIA receives approximately $4.90 per full-time student and $2.65 per part-time student.

Because these funds are collected from students, all expenditures must be approved by theCollege of Staten Island Association, Inc., a non-profit corporation that serves as the legal

depository for student fees. The Association's Board of Directors consists of elected students,representatives of Student Government, faculty, and administration.

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THE STUDENT

Without students, WSIA would not exist. You are the life-blood of the station. Students do all thework at WSIA - from engineering and production to writing and announcing. The student Boardof Directors, in cooperation with the General Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day

operations of the station.

This makes WSIA a "student-run radio station," but it does not make it a place where a studentcan do or say anything he or she wants. Instead, students must abide by the rules, regulations

and attitudes of several important groups:

1. The FCC, which issues and can revoke our license.2. The College of Staten Island, which holds the license.

3. Our listeners, who will be the first to complain if we do something wrong.4. Your fellow students, who believe in this station and want it to succeed.

It is because so many groups are affected by your actions that we have the rules and guidelinescontained in The Book.

ALL STAFF MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO:

Complete the WSIA Training Program.

Have a team attitude and care about the goals of the station.

Praise others when they do a good job, no matter how small.

Not take criticism personally.

Ask questions when unsure of rules or procedures.

Be aware of the outside world and issues affecting our community.

Be on time for shows, appointments and meetings.

Understand WSIA's program schedule.

Always act in a professional manner, both on and off the air.

Follow all station, College and FCC policies and procedures.

Leave the station in clean condition.

Report equipment malfunctions to the Chief Engineer.

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WSIA is operated by a Board of Directors, elected by the student members of the station. TheBoard of Directors is the policy-making body of WSIA and is responsible for all decisions within

the station. For more on the Board of Directors, see the Bylaws (Section 2) and the section on

Departments and Directors (Section 4).

THE ON-AIR ANNOUNCER

Being an on-air announcer at WSIA is a privilege, not a right. On-air announcers are responsible

for everything that goes out over the air during their show, including the music and any pre-recorded announcements. Because of this tremendous responsibility, on-air announcers areheld to a higher standard than regular station members and are expected to complete on-goingtraining. If an on-air announcer proves incapable and/or unwilling of living up to his or her

responsibilities, the Program Director has the right to remove that announcer from the air andimpose penalties upon them up to and including a permanent suspension from on-air activities.

CSI STAFF

Member of the CSI administration, staff, or faculty are entitled to participate in station activities ifthey are able to provide a unique service to the station and are approved by a simple majority of

the Board of Directors. They may be removed if the service no longer remains unique or if astudent joins the station to offer a similar service.

COMMUNITY & ALUMNI VOLUNTEERS

WSIA allows a small number of community members and station alumni to become a part of thestation through our Community and Alumni Volunteer program. The purpose of this program is

to allow non-students to provide unique services to the radio station.

Community members and alumni must complete an application to be considered for volunteerstatus. A community volunteer oversight committee consisting of the Personnel Director, two

other directors and the General Manager will evaluate each application. The committee will thenmake recommendations to the Board of Directors, which can vote to approve or deny any

volunteer's application. The General Manager, however, has final say over the Community andAlumni Volunteer program and can remove any volunteer or terminate the program at any time.

All potential volunteers will be evaluated using the following criteria:

1. The need for their particular proposed service.

2. Their ability to help WSIA serve the local community.

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3. Willingness of the applicant to accept the role assigned by the Board of Directors.

4. Their capacity to increase the diversity and creativity of WSIA programming.

5. Their understanding of both student Board of Directors and the College of Staten Island's

roles in governing the station.

Community and alumni volunteers must be 21 years of age or older. No more than tencommunity volunteers may be members of WSIA at any one time. Alumni volunteers, defined asCSI graduates who worked for the station when they were students, do not count towards the

Community Volunteer total.

CV and AV appointments shall be made by the Board of Directors each year in June. Avolunteer may only be appointed for up to twelve months, with a term to end on June 30

regardless of their appointment date. Each volunteer must then apply for re-appointment for theperiod beginning July 1.

Community volunteers are non-voting members of WSIA and may not be station directors. They

are, however, bound by the rules and regulations contained in The Book and are expected tofollow the same policies and procedures as student members. Each volunteer will be assigned

to a department and be expected to perform station work.

Volunteers must complete all workshops and pass the WSIA test before being allowed to

participate in station activities. A $25 training fee will be charged to cover the cost of thecommunity volunteer workshops. Alumni are only required to pay the $25 training fee if theyhave been off staff for more than one year.

Community and Alumni Volunteers receive the lowest priority for on-air shows and work

assignments. Priority will continue to be given to student volunteers who meet stationrequirements.

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PART 2: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

STRUCTURE

WSIA is officially recognized by the College of Staten Island as a student organization. TheCollege, therefore, gives students right to make decisions about the day-to-day operations of the

station. However, because the College is the license holder and is ultimately responsible for thestation, the College requires that a professional staff member be ultimately responsible for

station operations. The General Manager is that staff member and represents the College inday-to-day decision-making.

It is the objective of the General Manager to teach students to make appropriate decisions, and

will work with them to achieve that goal. However, the General Manager may veto studentdecisions if he reasonably believes they endanger the station's license or are contrary to

College policy.

BYLAWS

All changes and additions to the BYLAWS must be made by a majority vote of the staff.Proposals for changes in the BYLAWS must be submitted for consideration at a full staff

meeting and then voted on at the next full staff meeting. To vote you must be on staff at leastone full semester.

To have an official full staff meeting four signs must be conspicuously posted on radio station

bulletin boards a minimum of one week before the meeting.

Quorum for a Directors meeting is a majority of the Directors or Assistant Directors of thedepartments. The Program Director or his/her assistant or designee (another Director) must bepresent.

To be on staff, you must currently be a student, have a 2.0 grade point average, havecompleted all workshops and passed the test. The workshops must be completed within the

semester of application date. The test must be taken no longer than four weeks from workshopcompletion. If you fail the test you must wait one week before retaking it. The GPA will be

checked on applying and at beginning of each semester after the last day to register. If amember's GPA drops below 2.0 they are off-staff until their average has been OFFICIALLY

changed to above 2.0 on the college database. The General Manager can check this once perweek.

The Board of Directors is the policy-making body on all station matters. The Board consists of

the director of each department (in his or her absence, the Assistant Director), and the GeneralManager. Each Director appoints their Assistant Director.

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The Board of Directors is elected by all eligible station members.

Voting will take place at the full staff meeting after the Spring break.

A Director's term will run from June 1st through May 31st of the following year.

There are 11 Directorships and NO-Co-Directors. To run for a directorship you must be on staff

for at least two semesters (e.g., if you were on staff in fall '96, you can run for director in spring(May) of '97). To run for Program Director one must have been either a Director or an Assistant

Director for one full semester. An acting director must have the same qualifications as a directorvoted on by the full staff.

Each Director has one vote. The General Manager will chair all meetings and vote only in the

case of a tie.

Decisions of the Board of Directors can be amended and/or repealed by a majority vote of atleast 2/3 of the full staff. A petition signed by one more than half of the voting staff members isnecessary to hold a vote.

Each Director must have weekly meetings with the General Manager to discuss day-to-dayoperations of their department. All policy proposals must be discussed with the General

Manager before going to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors must approve all purchases above $500. The General Manager mustauthorize all purchases. Purchases under $500 cannot total more than $200 for any one

department in any one month without the approval of the board of directors.

Each director must have posted office hours, totaling four hours per week during standardoperating business hours. During these office hours, the director will be expected to conduct

station business. After one month's experience in office, the director is subject to the following:

If a majority of the Board of Directors deems a director to be delinquent or incapable ofperforming the duties associated with that office, the Board will ask the General Manager tomeet with the director to go over the problems that exist. The General Manager and the directormust report on the situation, in person, to the Board within two weeks. If the problem persists

during the semester, a 2/3-majority vote of the Board will remove the director from office. Newelections will be held at the next full staff meeting to fill the vacant position.

Any Director absent from three (3) consecutive meetings, or six (6) total meetings, within the

Director's term from June 1 to May 31 shall be automatically removed from the Board ofDirectors. If the Director sends their Assistant Director in their stead, an absence will not be

counted. In the event of an emergency meeting being called, lack of attendance will not be

penalized. Any Director arriving 20 minutes or more after a meeting's scheduled starting time,11

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leaving before a meeting's scheduled ending time while the meeting is in progress, or leavingthereby forcing premature adjournment, will be penalized half of an absence.

Any changes to inactive status will be announced in a Board of Directors meeting after thefollowing steps have been taken:

1. Director contacts all members of his or her Department regularly

2. Director announces in Board meeting any members he or she has been unable to contact3. Other Directors state any station work members in question are doing with them

4. Any member who is determined not to be working with any Director is contacted byPersonnel Director

5. Personnel reports update in next Board meeting. If attempt to contact was unsuccessful,member is considered inactive

OPERATING RULES

Operating rules are created by the WSIA Board of Directors in its role as the station's policy-

making body. They may be modified or changed at any time by a vote of a simple majority of theBoard of Directors.

1. WSIA property may not be removed from the station without the permission of the General

Manager or Chief Engineer. All equipment must be signed out and returned immediatelyafter use. The willful abuse of any WSIA property is grounds for immediate dismissal.

2. No food or drink may be consumed in the WSIA studios.

3. WSIA telephones are for business use only. If you need to make a personal phone call, use

the pay phones in the hallway across from the bookstore.

4. WSIA staff members are responsible for the appearance and cleanliness of the station. ThePersonnel Director posts a clean-up schedule whenever needed and there will be penalties

for failure to do the job assigned to you.

5. It is the responsibility of each staff member to properly file all CDs that they have used.

6. WSIA staff members must attend all at least two full-staff meetings per semester. If youcannot make a meeting, you must give notice 24 hours beforehand to the Personnel

Director. Meeting notices will be posted at least one week prior to the meeting.

7. All WSIA staff members must attend at least one (1) station event per semester.

8. Station equipment is for station business use only.

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9. Anyone using the Production Studio must have permission, in advance, from the Production

Director or Chief Engineer.

10.No station equipment may be modified in any way without the permission of the Chief

Engineer.

11.The on-air phone interface or broadcast delay may not be used without the authorization of

the Chief Engineer or General Manager.

12.On-air announcers must abide by the station's obscenity and indecency policy.

13.The internal operations of WSIA may not be discussed over the air.

14.Station members may not knowingly falsify information on WSIA program logs.

15.Station members may not represent themselves as a representative of WSIA without priorconsent of a WSIA Director or the General Manager. Station members may not speak aboutWSIA with members of the press without the express permission of the General Manager.

16.All station members are required to work in a department and do at least two hours of stationwork per week. (Shows are not considered station work.) The Personnel Department is

responsible for enforcing this rule.

17.It is the responsibility of each station member to keep up-to-date on station activities.

18.All members inactive for two consecutive semesters or longer must complete an On-AirWorkshop and submit an off-air demo before being permitted on-air.

Failure to follow these rules will result in immediate penalties up to and including suspension

from on-air and/or station activities.

Please Note: When completing and passing the test you will be asked to sign an agreement

stating that you understand and will adhere to the above rules.

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VISITOR POLICY

Station members are welcome to bring visitors to WSIA during normal business hours, whichare 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday except College holidays. However, WSIA is not aplace for you or your friends to hang out. You are responsible for the actions of any visitor you

bring to the station. If you do not have station work to do, please allow others to make use of thecomputers and office areas.

Because of the parking situation on campus, guests may be stopped or ticketed by Public

Safety for parking on campus. Therefore, guests who are planning to drive on campus must becleared through the General Manager at least three days before their visit. That way, a parking

pass can be obtained to prevent any parking issues.

Guests are not allowed after-hours or on weekends without the prior approval of the GeneralManager or Chief Engineer. Public Safety is authorized, during nights and weekends, to remove

from the station anyone they deem not permitted to be there, and failure to notify the GeneralManager or Chief Engineer of your guest may result in that guest being removed from campus.

Policies with regards to on-air guests and interviews are discussed in the Programming section

of this handbook. (Section 3)

SECURITY

The College of Staten Island's Office of Public Safety is responsible for the safety and securityof all students, faculty and staff at the college. They are also responsible for ensuring that only

authorized personnel are given access to the radio station's studios and offices.

On a regular basis, WSIA provides the Office of Public Safety with a list of students authorizedto access the radio station. Peace Officers are instructed to deny access to anyone not on thatlist. If you feel your name should be on this list, please contact the Program Director, ChiefEngineer or General Manager.

Students are expected to carry a CSI ID with them at all times while on campus. Community

Volunteers must carry a WSIA ID. Peace Officers are authorized to enter the radio station tocheck IDs, and may remove from the station any person they deem to be unauthorized.

In the event of an emergency, Public Safety should be contacted immediately by dialing

extension 2111 from any on-campus phone.

Peace Officers are duly authorized law enforcers and have arrest powers. Even if you disagreewith their directions or instructions, you are expected to follow them. Afterwards, if you believe

you were given improper directions or treated unfairly, you may contact the General Manager,who will convey your concerns to the Director of Public Safety.

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TEAMWORK

WSIA is a family, but it is also a business. You may be forced to work with people you do notlike. As mature adults, you are expected to set personal feelings aside and work together to helpachieve the goals of the station.

STATION APPEARANCE

If WSIA is to be seen as a professional operation, it must look professional. That means keeping

the station clean, eliminating clutter, and acting as professional adults.

If you see papers lying around, straighten them up. If the garbage cans are full, empty them. Ifpeople are just standing around talking or just hanging out, politely ask them to do it outside.

Keeping the station clean is every staff member's responsibility, regardless of who is to blamefor making the mess.

THE PHONE

The telephone is often times the first point of contact between the public and WSIA. Therefore, it

is essential that the station's desk phones be treated as a business tool.

Our main station telephone, 718-982-3050, is located on the front desk. When this phone rings,it must be answered as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Even if you are not at the front desk, you can pick up that line from any extension by pressingthe "Function" button and then the number 6. Answer the phone professionally by saying "WSIA,

May I help you?".

If the call is not for you, put the caller on hold and see if the person they are asking for is in. If

the member they are asking for is in, inform them of the call and transfer it to their extension. Ifthey are not in and do not have an extension, offer to take a message and place it in the

member's mailbox. Make sure you write down the caller's full name, phone number, date andtime called, and of course, the message. The telephone transfer procedure and a list of all staff

telephone extensions is posted by the main phone.

Phones are for station use only. This means that only short, urgent phone calls to friends, lovedones, or other people not connected with station business are allowed.

The General Manager and Chief Engineer are the only station personnel with long distance

telephone access. If you need to make a long distance call, please contact the GeneralManager first. The Chief Engineer may be contacted if the General Manager is not around. Ifneither the Chief Engineer nor the General Manager is available, please call the Office of

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Student Life at x3088 to authorize the call.

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THE COMPUTERS

WSIA's computers are for station use only. That means you should not use them to surf the

Web or write papers for class. If a station member has business to conduct, please let them usethe computers.

No one is allowed to download files on the computer, change their configuration or install anysoftware without the express permission of the IT Director or Chief Engineer. Likewise, do notstore any personal files on the computer because they will be erased.

Almost all of WSIA's computers were purchased with station funds, and not by the College. Thatmeans the station is responsible for their maintenance and replacement. If you break a

computer, the money that might have gone towards replacing or repairing another piece ofequipment will be used to replace that computer instead. This impacts all station members - so

be careful. If you do not know how to use our station computers, speak with the IT Director orChief Engineer and they will be happy to show you.

ELECTIONS

WSIA holds annual elections to select directors to oversee the station's departments. Thosedirectors also make up the WSIA Board of Directors. Directors are subject to all eligibility

requirements listed in the WSIA bylaws and those adopted by the CUNY Board of Trustees:

Must be matriculated in a degree or credit-bearing program at the College of Staten Island

Full-time undergraduate students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours; part-timeundergraduates must carry a minimum of 6 credit hours; graduate students must carry a

minimum of 3 credit hours.

Must have completed and earned passing grades in at least 50% of the credits for which

they registered the prior semester, but in no event less than 3 credits

Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and

be in good academic standing; graduate students must have a minimum cumulative gradepoint average of 3.0.

Undergraduate students may not serve as a director for more than a total of five years.

The General Manager will post notices of elections at least two weeks before they are to takeplace. Any station member who meets the eligibility requirements and who wishes to be

considered as a candidate for a directorship must give a written candidate form to the GeneralManager at least 72 hours before the election. Those forms will then be posted for the staff toconsider prior to the election, and will include plans and goals for the department as well as thereasons why the member wishes to be a candidate.

In the event a Board member becomes ineligible to serve, chooses to resign, or is removed from

the Board through the procedure outlined in the WSIA Bylaws, the assistant director from thatdepartment immediately becomes acting director. In the event an assistant director is unwilling

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or unable to serve, the Board of Directors may appoint an acting director to serve until such timeas an election can be held to choose a replacement director.

PART 3: ON-AIR PROGRAMMING POLICIES

The WSIA Board of Directors is responsible for formulating WSIA's overall program format. Thisincludes the types of music and kinds of program elements played on the air. However, theProgram Director is responsible for implementing that format and ensuring that on-air DJs follow

programming policies.

If the WSIA Board of Directors wishes to make a format change, it must first vote on the changeand then submit it to the General Manager for approval. If approved, the format change goes

into effect; if not, the General Manager returns the format to the Board with comments. If theBoard and General Manager cannot agree on the new format, it can be submitted to the Radio

Station Advisory Board for its advice.

WSIA has a variety of different shows that air at different times during the week. Most on-airprograms follow a set on-air format and play similar music. Other shows are defined as

"specialty shows", which deviate from the on-air format. These shows are designed to fill aspecific niche and are given to experienced DJs at the discretion of the Program Director.

In July of 2005, the WSIA Board of Directors voted to "change the format to alternative and loudrock during most of the week, with Jazz and Blues on weekend mornings and specialty shows atthe discretion of the Program Director."

The Music Director determines which music can and cannot be played on-air, and is solely

responsible for on-air music policies.

PROGRAMMING POLICIES

1. Being an on-air DJs is not station work. You must fulfill your other station requirements. Ifyou do not perform at least two hours of station work a week on top of your on-air shift, you

will lose your air slot.

2. All DJs are required to arrive at WSIA at least 1/2 hour prior to their scheduled airtime sothey can properly prepare for their shows.

3. You are no longer a student when you go on-air. Be as professional as possible. If you have

nothing to say, don't say it - just play another song.

4. If you have to miss a scheduled air shift, you MUST notify the Program Director at least 48hours before your scheduled air time. Failure to show up for an assigned time-slot withoutproper notification will result in suspension.

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5. DJ's are required to find their own replacement if they cannot make their time-slot. Thereplacement must be authorized to go on air.

The Program Director is solely responsible for enforcing these rules.

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OBSCENITY, INDECENCY & PROFANITY

As a licensed radio station, WSIA must abide the FCC's Obscenity, Indecency and Profanityrules. These rules are designed to ensure that listeners are not presented with programmingdesigned to shock or offend and that is lacking in serious intellectual merit. These are also the

rules under which stations are routinely fined millions of dollars. [Janet Jackson, Bono andHoward Stern have all fallen victim to these rules.]

Because WSIA is a college radio station with a small operating budget, it cannot afford to

defend itself against enormous fines. Even a single slip-up could cost the station student controlor even its license. As such, WSIA must enforce a stronger rule than the FCC regulations

require.

That rule, simply put, is that you are prohibited from broadcasting, at any time, anything

that is obscene, indecent or profane.

The FCC defines profanity as anything the average person would consider a "curse word." A

broadcast is considered indecent if it contains language or material that, in context, depicts ordescribes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for

the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory activities or organs. It is obscene if it exceeds thelimits of indecency, "appeals to the prurient interests" and lacks "serious literary, artistic,

political, or scientific value."

Profanity is easy to define, but indecency and obscenity are constantly evolving. Certain wordsand phrases that may have been considered indecent or obscene several years ago no longer

are. However, words and phrases that were not considered indecent or obscene in the past maybe considered indecent or obscene today. There is no set "seven dirty words" anymore, so

anything can be considered indecent or obscene if used in the wrong context.

If you think something may be indecent or obscene, please consult with the General Manager

before playing or saying it on the air.

On-air announcers are responsible for everything they play during their shows, and therefore

should be reviewing all music before it airs. If the music contains anything obscene, indecent orprofane, the announcer alone will be held responsible - not the music coordinator or reviewer

who failed to note the profanity on the CD case.

If you broadcast anything or hear someone else broadcasting anything that might be consideredobscene, indecent or profane, you are to notify the General Manager immediately. Anyone who

broadcasts obscene, indecent or profane material is subject to suspension for a minimum of twoweeks, at the sole discretion of the General Manager.

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PAYOLA & PLUGOLA

Federal law prohibits WSIA and its DJs from engaging in payola or plugola.

Payola is the acceptance of money, gifts, promises of employment or anything else of material

value in exchange for promoting a particular record label or musical artist on the air. Plugola isthe on-air promotion of any goods or services for which you or the station has an undisclosed

financial interest.

That means you cannot promote, on our airwaves, your CD, your friend's concert or anything forwhich you might receive a benefit without the express permission of the Public Service Director,

Program Director, Promotions Director or General Manager.

Because violation of these rules may cost WSIA its license, anyone deemed to be in violation issubject to immediate penalties, up to and including suspension, at the sole discretion of the

General Manager.

ON AIR PHONE CALLS

WSIA's on-air request line is 718-982-3060. DJs can, and do, give out the phone number on the

air to solicit requests or comments from callers. However, live on-air phone calls are notpermitted without the permission of the General Manager or Chief Engineer. Instead, phone

calls can be recorded, edited and played back later in the show.

If you wish to use an on-air caller live on the air, you must submit a written request to the

Program Director. This should include the content, the subjects that will be put out to potentialcallers, and the length of time you plan to take calls.

There must be an engineer, designated by the Chief Engineer or Engineering Director, tooperate the board, run the on-air delay, and screen phone calls. The DJ may not act as theengineer. As per FCC rules, someone must also be listening from an external source.

If you need an engineer for your show, it is up to you to contact the Engineering Director andensure an engineer will be available for your proposed program BEFORE you submit your

request for airtime.

Before airing or recording any phone conversation you must have permission of all partiesinvolved. It is a violation of federal and state law to record someone without their permission.

ON AIR GUESTS

On-air guests are only permitted with the approval of the Program Director, and the ProgramDirector has sole responsibility for approving or denying all on-air guests. The Program Director,

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every semester, will set a procedure for requesting an on-air guest visit.

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present during office hours.

PROGRAMMING DEPARTMENT

The Programming Department is responsible all on-air activities at WSIA. This includes, but is

not limited to, program structure, on-air elements and features, special programming andprogram logs.

The Programming Department works with the Personnel Department to train new DJs.

Before each semester starts, DJs request on-air shifts, in writing, from the Program Director.

The director then formulates an overall on-air schedule for the semester. The factors used toformulate the final schedule are:

1. Is the DJ fulfilling the format requirements?

2. Is the DJ following FCC and Station regulations?3. Is DJ doing work at the station?4. Seniority? (Only used when two or more DJs request the same on-air shift.)

Program Director Responsibilities:

The content and quality of all programming.

Developing and maintaining an on-air schedule.

Creating a station access list so authorized personnel can use the radio station facilities.

Filling air shifts in the case of absences, lateness and emergencies.

The monitoring, evaluating and approval of all announcers.

Assistant Program Director:

Serves as Program Director in the director's absence.

Schedules and maintains program logs. (Trafficing)

Assists the director with other duties as assigned.

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PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

The Personnel Department is responsible for staff training and discipline. The Departmentoversees a series of general workshops, works with the Chief Engineer to schedule technicalworkshops, and administers the WSIA test. It also is responsible for disciplining staff members

who violate station policies and procedures, except those regulated by the Program Director orGeneral Manager.

Additionally, the Personnel Director works with other directors to promote the station and recruit

new station members.

Personnel Director Responsibilities:

All activities relating to the recruitment of new personnel.

Coordinates and conducts General Workshops for new applicants.

Oversees disciplinary action regarding station policy and procedures.

Informing the staff of all meetings.

Handling the administration of the test.

Ensuring that station members are fulfilling station requirements.

Assistant Personnel Director:

Serves as Personnel Director in the director's absence. Maintains the staff information database.


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NEWS DEPARTMENT

WSIA's News Department is responsible for all on-air programs related to the local and college

community. This includes periodic short-form and long-form news stories, overseeing weekly

interview programs and covering local news stories.

The News Director has the power to interrupt programming if he or she feels a breaking news

situation warrants.

News Director Responsibilities:

All News and Public Affairs programming.

Recruits, trains and evaluates all news personnel.

Works with the Programming Department to schedule on-air news programming.

Ensures the News Department is covering important local and college events.

The content and quality of all News and Public Affairs programming.

Assistant News Director:

Serves as News Director in the director's absence.

Trains and recruits news personnel and runs workshops.

Assigns news stories for coverage.


Reporters:

Cover and report news stories.

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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

The Engineering Department works with the Chief Engineer to ensure all of WSIA's equipmentis functioning. It also assists in the airing of live broadcasts by operating the audio console forthose broadcasts.

Engineering Director Responsibilities:

Training personnel on the proper usage of all station equipment.

Working with the Chief Engineer to maintain all station equipment.

Scheduling engineering staff to participate in live broadcasts.

Working with the General Manager and Chief Engineer to resolve technical problems.

Assistant Engineering Director:

Serves as Engineering Director in the director's absence.

Trains and recruits engineering personnel and runs workshops.

Coordinates cleaning of WSIA studios.


Engineers:

Oversees live broadcasts as assigned.

Works with Engineering Director to maintain and/or clean equipment.

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UNDERWRITING DEPARTMENT

The Underwriting Department raises money from outside sources, including businesses andindividuals, by selling on-air announcements. The Underwriting Department works closely withthe General Manager to ensure all sales are done in accordance with college and FCC rules.

Underwriting also works with the Promotions Department to create special events andfundraising opportunities.

Underwriting Director Responsibilities:

All fundraising activities, in conjunction with the General Manager.

The training of all Underwriting personnel in station underwriting procedures.

Prepares all written materials used to solicit donations,

Writes and oversees the production of all on-air underwriting announcements, in conjunction

with the Production Director and General Manager.

Ensures underwriting announcements air as scheduled, in conjunction with the Program

Director.

Working with the General Manager to ensure contributions are properly accounted for.

Assistant Underwriting Director:

Serves as Underwriting Director in the director's absence.

Trains and recruits underwriting personnel and runs workshops.

Identifies new clients and schedules department personnel to target those clients.


Account Executive:

Solicits donations from local businesses.

Works with Underwriting Director to ensure clients receive exemplary service and that their

announcements are recorded and air as scheduled.

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PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENT

The Public Service Department is responsible for all on-air announcement requests from localnon-profit agencies. Those announcements are complied into the weekly Public ServiceAnnouncements located in the on-air studio. It is also responsible, in conjunction with the

Production Department, for the recorded public service announcements.

Public Service Director Responsibilities:

Oversees the selection and creation of the weekly Public Service Announcements.

Works with local community groups to ensure their announcements air in a timely manner.

Trains department personnel in the proper writing and editing of public service

announcements.

Assistant Public Service Director:

Serves as Public Service Director in the director's absence.

Coordinates with the Production Department to ensure recorded public service

announcements are produced and updated in a timely manner.


Writer:

Reviews event listings, as assigned, and composes on-air announcements for inclusion in

the weekly on-air announcement lists.

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PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT

The Production Department is responsible for all recorded material that airs on WSIA, includingtaped public service announcements, station promotional announcements and pre-recordedinterviews. The Production Department is also responsible for recording live bands and other

users of the WSIA studios.

Production Director Responsibilities:

The technical quality of all taped material to be aired.

The scheduling of personnel using the Production Studio.

Supervising and helping staff members who wish to use the production facilities.

Keeping a log of all recorded station elements in the DigiCart.

Working with the Chief Engineer to make sure the technical operation of the ProductionStudio is in order.

Working with the Programming Department to ensure all station elements are acceptable for

air.

Assistant Production Director:

Serves as Production Director in the director's absence.

Trains and recruits production personnel and runs workshops.


Producers:

Perform production duties as assigned.

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SPORTS DEPARTMENT

The Sports Department broadcasts live and pre-recorded sports events for WSIA. Those eventsvary from CSI sports teams to the Staten Island Yankees. The Sports Department is alsoproduces a weekly talk show and other short-form sportscasts as necessary.

Sports Director Responsibilities:

Oversees all Sports programming.

Works with Sports personnel to train them on proper procedures.

Organizes live remote broadcasts, in conjunction with the Engineering department.

Assistant Sports Director:

Serves as Sports Director in the director's absence.

Trains and recruits sports personnel and runs workshops.


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MUSIC DEPARTMENT

WSIA receives thousands of albums each year from record companies. The Music Departmentis responsible for keeping in touch with these companies to ensure that WSIA receives new andinteresting music to play on the air.

Music Director Responsibilities:

Oversees all activities related to music on WSIA.

Communicates with record companies and other outside agencies to obtain albums to be

played on-air.

Compiles lists of the most popular songs on WSIA (Playlists) for publication in various

industry journals.

Oversees the cataloging and filing of all incoming music.

Maintains the WSIA Music Library.

Coordinates and oversees the administration of all Music Department business, including the

Music Department coordinators listed below.

Assistant Music Director:

Acts as the Music Director in the director's absence.

Oversees music coordinators for the various genres.

Assists Music Director in cataloging and filing of incoming music.


Music Coordinators:

Assists the Music Director by reviewing, sorting and filing music in various genres.

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PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT

The Promotions Department is responsible for promoting WSIA to listeners both on and offcampus. This includes all station events and contests, including ticket giveaways.

Promotions Director responsibilities:

Oversees all station promotional activities.

Formulates and implements a comprehensive, on-going promotional campaign.

Communicates with various venues and outside agencies to receive tickets and other

materials for contests.

Assistant Promotions Director:

Serves as Promotions Director in the director's absence.

Coordinates staffing and personnel for station events.


Nightworks Coordinator:

Gathers information on local clubs and concerts for inclusion in the weekly Nightworks

concert calendar.

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES DEPARTMENT

The IT (Information Technologies) Department is responsible for the maintenance of thecomputer systems of WSIA.

IT Director responsibilities:

Oversees all WSIA computers, in conjunction with the Chief Engineer.

Maintains and updates the WSIA Web site (www.WSIA.fm).

Maintains and updates the WSIA automated DJ system (MegaSeg).

Works with the Chief Engineer to ensure all WSIA computers are properly working and have

the appropriate software.

Assistant IT Director:

Serves as IT Director in the director's absence.

Trains and recruits IT personnel and runs workshops.


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PROFESSIONAL STAFF

The General Manager and Chief Engineer are WSIA's professional staff. The General Manageris an employee of the College of Staten Island's Office of Student Life. The Chief Engineer is anemployee of the CSI Association and is paid by the radio station.

General Manager Responsibilities:

Works with the Board of Directors to oversee the day-to-day operations of the radio station

Ensures that WSIA adheres to FCC and College rules and regulations.

Works with the Underwriting Department to seek outside funding sources.

Reviews student records to ensure members are eligible for participation in WSIA.

Prepares and monitors the annual operating budget, including all bills to be paid. Acts as a liaison with the College of Staten Island's academic departments and offices.

Provides assistance to student directors so they can better perform their duties.

Performs other duties as assigned by the Office of Student Life.

Chief Engineer Responsibilities:

Serves as the Designated Chief Operator, responsible for all on-air operations of WSIA.

Reviews all program logs to ensure on-air personnel are following station procedures.

Assists the General Manager in the day-to-day operations of the radio station.

Assists members in use of production and on-air equipment.

Works with Engineering, Production and IT Departments to ensure equipment is functioning

properly.

Conducts initial technical training for all new members and conducts ongoing training for

existing members.

Maintains recording and production supplies and recommends new equipment purchases.

Assists with live recordings and live remote broadcasts.

Performs other duties as assigned by the General Manager or Board of Directors.

The Book 2009

Documents

Transcript of The Book 2009