Eden Community Radio Slander

[keitha http://www.aussieseek.com]

Eden Community Radio has agreed to broadcast an apology to resolve a
complaint brought against the station by Bega Valley Shire Council
general manager Graeme Faulkner.

"An apology will be broadcast as soon as we have agreement between the
parties on an appropriate form of wording," station chairman Dave
Evelyn said.

"If we have upset anybody, and we certainly didn't intent to do so,
then we are very sorry about that," he said.

"We are happy to broadcast an apology so that the matter can be
amicably resolved and we can get on with the business of running a
radio station."

Mr Faulkner had sought legal advice and made a complaint to the
station under the terms of the broadcasting code over comments made by
on air by 2SEA presenter Phil McManus.

Station manager Terry Love said last week that Mr McManus had been
suspended for six months for bringing the station into disrepute over
comments made in his program in late January and early February.

The matter was discussed at a closed council meeting on Tuesday last
week, and a spokesperson said that council would not be funding any
action against the radio station. It was also confirmed that if any
councillor or staff member did decide to do something that would be a
private matter they would need to pursue individually.

Mr Faulkner had funded the cost of his own legal advice, the
spokesperson said.

However, questions have been raised about council's intentions with
confirmation that council's solicitor was asked to provide legal
advice the matter.