Uganda Radio Network connects radio stations needing news material with content filed by journalists around the country. Stations can choose news reports from correspondents on location without having to pay high yearly subscription fees to an agency. Uganda Radio Network stories are filed by category and outcued with contributor’s name and location, meaning a station can effectively draw on its own global network. For a journalist (contributor), Uganda Radio Network can maximise the exposure of his or her material by making it available to radio stations around the world, around the clock. Filing to the Uganda Radio Network website makes material available to thousands of radio stations – each one a potential buyer. When a story is uploaded to the site, it can be accessed by more stations than a contributor could reach by spending all day on the phone.

How is the website structured?

The site is password-protected. Anyone who wants to use the site must be a professional in the broadcast industry – either a working journalist or an editor/producer (exceptions can be made). Please contact us directly. Once past the login page, every user will see the Home page, with stories arranged by Top Stories and Latest Stories, as well as by subject; news, business, sport, entertainment. Depending on who you are and what you want to do with the site, you will see a slightly different version, and have different capabilities. There are four categories of user; Contributor, Station, Administrator and Agent. A journalist will use a Contributor account, which will allow him or her to upload stories. A Contributor cannot download stories, but can read their transcripts and listen to other contributors’ audio CV’s. A radio station will be given a Station account, with a senior representative designated as Administrator. The Administrator cannot download or upload: this account is designed solely for creating and managing Agent accounts for different editors and producers within the station, setting their spending limits and viewing all their transactions. An Agent can both download and upload stories on behalf of their station.

What kind of material is available?

Contributors can file any news content that radio stations may want to buy and use, including dispatches, packages and actuality. Uganda Radio Network will currently only accept English-language reports, and has set the following standards, to which most radio stations adhere:

30 second story

1 minute dispatch

1.30 minute dispatch

1.30 minute feature/package

2-4 minute feature/package

Independent Cuts/Clips (5 seconds – 20 seconds)

Complete interview (regardless of length)

Bespoke features/packages

Sourced 2-ways

We recommend contributors file as much content, in different formats, as possible. Different radio stations around the world are likely to want to buy content in different formats. If a contributor records a newsworthy event, he or she can use clips of the actuality in a package as well as providing the actuality by itself. Contributors who also work in print journalism and record interviews and events could use that actuality to create a radio package, or simply upload and sell the actuality – or both.

Is there a required format for items or does a contributor file material ‘on spec?’

A contributor files material on spec and decides the nature and format of the story: Uganda Radio Network is based on the freelance model. The only formatting requirement is a name and location outcue, guarding moral rights. A contributor may decide to file both a 30-second story and a 4-minute feature on the same subject, using the same material. Whether, and how much, radio stations download material depends on its newsworthiness and quality, and on the news judgements of the editors. On occasion, and if contributors have previously agreed, Uganda Radio Network may contact suggest or commission a stories.

How Does It Work?

The Uganda Radio Network system works by turning audio into files that can be sent across the Internet. We have developed a software package available free to all contributors to help with this. Once the stories are sent to Uganda Radio Network, they are filed under news categories for radio stations to browse and download. A station can read the transcript of a story (provided by the contributor) as well as hearing his or her short ‘audio resume (or CV)’ as a sample of vocal style before deciding to download a story.

In which regions does Uganda Radio Network market stories?

Uganda Radio Network does not market stories. The company makes stories available to radio stations anywhere in the world to purchase. Any registered radio station in the world can download material from Uganda Radio Network.

How is material edited?

Uganda Radio Network does not edit contributors’ material. Radio stations will read and hear exactly what is filed to the site. When a story is filed to Uganda Radio Network, an editor will check it for audio quality, content and style, and to ensure it matches the transcript before posting it for sale and download. If the audio quality of the story is poor, or if there are concerns over content or style, a Uganda Radio Network representative will contact the contributor to discuss possible changes. The purchasing station is the radio station that is responsible for checking that the material will not breach the laws or otherwise give rise to liability in the country in which it is to be broadcast.

When a radio station buys an item, is it for a one-time play or several plays? Is there a sliding payment scale for the importance of a story? Is there additional payment for re-runs? Is there additional payment for national airplay?

A radio station is given permission to use the audio it downloads as often as it wishes for one month from the date of download. Material is provided to stations for a one-time flat fee. Contributors will not be paid less – and stations will not be charged less - for a ‘smaller’ story, nor will there be larger payment and fees for a ‘bigger’ story. If a story breaks important news, a contributor can be confident a large number of stations will download it, creating more revenue.

Rights and Copyright

Who holds the rights to the audio material?

The contributor holds the rights to the material filed. Uganda Radio Network does not edit or in any way alter it. It is the reporter’s and each purchasing radio station’s responsibility to ensure prior to broadcast the material is accurate and non-libellous.

Can a contributor sell material more than once?

Yes. If a contributor is working freelance, he or she can sell the material as many times, to as many companies and regions as desired. Copyright law varies from country to country, but as a general rule, copyright is conferred immediately upon creation of a work and it can only be conferred to another party in writing. Work created in the course of employment for another company or individual is usually owned by that employer.

Moral rights

Moral rights are the rights of a creator of a piece to be identified as such, and that the work should not be edited, altered, displayed or broadcast in a manner that is detrimental to the original meaning of the piece, or to the creator’s reputation. Uganda Radio Network works to uphold moral rights.

What about stringers and sponsored stringers?

A sponsored stringer is a reporter who, while not a contracted staff member, is paid a retainer to report first and foremost to a certain station or group, when asked. This does not usually mean the stringer is prohibited from filing to other stations also, but it may mean there are certain competing stations the reporter is prohibited from filing to. If a contributor tells us which stations he would like to exclude from accessing his material, we can build this information into the account.

Uganda Radio Network Ltd. will not ask or coerce contributors to breach copyright or to break existing contracts or agreements, nor will it knowingly be party to a contributor attempting to do so.

For questions on copyright and related issues, we have a list of links and reading material we can send you. We also suggest you contact our partners at the International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest organisation of journalists body.

Billing and payment

Can payments and billing be made in my local currency?

Payment will be made directly to a contributor’s bank account based on exchange rates from Pounds Sterling at the end of each calendar month. Radio Stations will be invoiced in local currency, based on exchange rates from Pounds Sterling at the end of each calendar month. Bank details will be asked for during the final part of signing up.

How can I keep track of my account details?

Every time a radio station downloads a story, this information is recorded, and both the station and contributor accounts updated accordingly. Clicking on the ‘Manage’ link will let you view your account status at any time. Contributors can view how much they will be paid at the end of the month, and stations can see how much they will be billed. A station can set a limit on the amount it wants to spend, and can be sent automated reminders when it nears its monthly limit.

How much does it cost to sign up?

Enrolment is free. You will be given a login and password to allow you to enter the site to file stories (contributors) or download stories (stations).

Does signing up place me under any obligations?

Contributors can file if and when they like, and are paid when a story is downloaded by a station. A station only pays for what it downloads. A contributor can decide to agree to being contacted by Uganda Radio Network with story commissions or suggestions. Both contributors and stations must agree with Uganda Radio Network Ltd.’s Terms & Conditions before they can use the service.

Security

What do you do with personal information?

We hold this information for our own file purposes. We take all reasonable measures to hold this information securely, and will not pass it on to other parties without your prior consent. Uganda Radio Network Ltd. requests bank details either to make payments to you or to invoice you. These details are not held online.

Cookies

The Web site uses cookies to help make your visit easier. Cookies are small files which are transmitted from the website to your hard drive. These files no not store or transmit any personal information – only about your site visit. You will not be able to pass the login page unless you have cookies enabled. See the Help index on your browser.

How can a station keep control of an account?

A single radio station can have several ‘agent’ accounts for different editors and producers of different shows. The station will also have one ‘administrator’ account able to view all the actions of all agents on the account at any one time. This is designed to allow a station a one-stop account update. The administrator account cannot download stories. A station can set a limit on the amount it wants to spend, and can be sent automated reminders when it nears its monthly limit.

Technical

What you need - Contributors

To file stories to Uganda Radio Network, you will need a PC with an Internet connection, a microphone and a recording device (tape, minidisk, DAT etc). We recommend you use Internet Explorer 4 and above or Netscape Navigator 4 above browsers to access the site.

What you need – Radio Stations

All you need is a PC or Mac with Internet and a connection to a digital news desk to which you can transfer the file. We recommend you use Internet Explorer 4 and above or Netscape Navigator 4 above browsers to access the site.

Creating Stories

If you’re creating a package, you will need both your microphone and your recording device (tape, minidisk, DAT etc) plugged into your computer. With so many different makes of PC, different inputs, outputs, recording devices and microphones, we can’t offer advice on how you might set up your particular recording system. If in doubt, we suggest you contact your PC service point.

A note on digital audio

Uganda Radio Network will only accept .wav and .mp3 files as these are the most commonly-used file formats for digital audio. When a contributor uploads a file, the website recognises its format and automatically converts the file into the alternative to offer stations the choice between the two technologies.

As a rule of thumb, converting a .wav file into a good-quality .mp3 will create a file about one tenth the size, which helps explain some of the popularity of the .mp3 format.

About the Company

Uganda Radio Network …………….