Radio Skye Statement

In response to comments made by members of the Skye Windfarm Information Group

As Station Manager I would like to address all those who have recently commented negatively on our interview with Muirhall Energy and clarify our position as news broadcasters and as a community radio station.

Radio Skye is wholly impartial in its news broadcasting and interviews. As a community station, we work hard to seek facts, opinions and local comment on all aspects of our news broadcasting. Therefore, it is very disappointing and upsetting when we read such comments on social media that suggest we are bias, paid to keep our mouth shut or that we have failed to seek local opinion on matters that mean the most to our community. For those unaware of what we have been accused of, then here are some of the comments we are referring to:

‘even it seems our local radio station has been given cash to shut us [Skye Wind farm Information Group] up’ – A section of an email that was sent to the Press and Journal published on Skye Windfarm Information Group

‘Muirhall advertising on Radio Skye, those who pays the piper, calls the tune’ –  comment on Skye Information Group Facebook Page

‘Oh I am sure you are not bias in anyway! Really! not according to a recent meeting I attended. !!’ – Comment on Radio Skye Facebook Page

‘You must be unbiased and fair, I hope you show images of those against this gigantic proposal too. You are being watched and listened to very closely’ – Comment on Radio Skye’s Facebook Page

‘Perhaps if I chuck the station £2K from my savings they’d think again?’ An interviewee that we delayed airing because it was a long opinion piece that we were looking to add to a full feature along with information sought by Highland Council on the current situation on all Windfarm projects – sections of this interview have been broadcast. The person was contacted for an update and has not responded.

‘you seem to be giving this muirhill a platform and holding back on locals thoughts.’ – comment on Radio Skye’s Facebook Page

It is very disappointing that some members of our local community have suggested we are paid for interviews or that we are influenced by our funders. So therefore, I would like to use this opportunity to be open about how we are funded and what that means for the station by stating the following so that all are informed and there is no ambiguity about our integrity.

Firstly, as an OFCOM licenced Commercial Radio Station, we are under strict guidelines to remain impartial in all our news broadcasting. Secondly, as a commercial station, Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered Charity we are not funded for our core costs and therefore wholly reliant on advertising, sponsorships and donations to pay those core costs, eg: station manager wages, equipment, insurances, building, land rental, mast rental, utilities, and as a 24/7 operation, I’m sure you can imagine this is quite significant. We have made no secret of our sponsors and supporters, some of which are windfarm companies, some are fish farm companies and other local companies, we also have advertising from the local government and Scottish Government to name some. This sponsorship and advertising income allows us to keep local advertising rates low so that it is affordable for both the sole trader and local cooperate companies to advertise on their local radio station. Sponsorship from large companies also allows us to match fund against funding streams to support projects such as YouthSPACE, Young Broadcasters, our Cultural Journalist post as well as capital programmes such as mast and tech upgrades.

I would like to make it clear that at no point have any of our supporters ever made stipulations on our news reporting. We take our news reporting very seriously and professionally. This year we were awarded funding to support a new full-time position that would bring more news and features and give a bigger platform to the local community to have their say. We employed Adam Gordon who has spent previous time at Radio Skye as a Broadcaster and board member, he was chosen for his integrity, professionalism, and experience in handling important local news stories. As his line manager I have every confidence in him and witness him daily seeking both sides to every story.  In the case of Muirhall Energy, Radio Skye have interviewed them on several occasions over the course of three years to highlight the Glen Uillinish 2 Windfarm proposal to encourage the local community to go along to their consultation events so that the community are fully informed, have opportunity to ask direct questions and feedback their views. Yes, they have advertised with us, if you are a listener to the station you would already be aware of this.  It is in the public interest to know dates and times of consultation events. This year, we invited them back to give them a platform to inform the local community at what stage they are at with the proposal. This interview was not an advert for their business, it asked questions on the environmental impact, size, community benefit etc. As part of our reporting on wind farms, we have interviewed several members of the community such as those involved in the Windfarm website,  two members of the Skye Windfarm Information Group, comments gathered from the Muirhall Energy Public Drop In events, as well as broadcast the press release by the Portree and Braes Community Trust and Portree Community Council asking for a public enquiry on all windfarm projects, and in relation to windfarms have interviewed those involved in the campaign against large pylons at Kylerhea as part of the SSEN Skye Reinforcement Programme as well as request and broadcast comment from MSP Kate Forbes on this particular matter along with comment from SSEN. We have never shied away from stories involving our supporters and sponsors, we endeavour to seek the full story on every occasion.

Radio Skye goes above and beyond to cover as many local stories seven days a week. As a team, we spend our weekends supporting local events, hundreds of volunteer hours are used to inform, entertain and support the local community. We have given lifetime free advertising to Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau, The Skye and Lochalsh Communiuty Food bank, free Christmas advertising to both RNLI and Lucky 2B Here to name a few and support local families every Christmas with Cram the Van which supplies gifts to over 200 young people each year. It is hard to read unfair and untrue comments on our social media that seek to undermine our commitment to the community of Skye and Lochalsh.

I would also like to point out, many other organisation across Skye and Lochalsh have benefited from Windfarm and Fish Fam money and would not be able to do the work they do without that support. Bigger companies have bigger budgets to support the areas they work in and we are just one of those organisations that have been supported.

To end, if you have a complaint or a question about our broadcasting please contact me directly, my details are on social media, our website and mentioned on air> suzy@radioskye.com.

I would also like to remind people that the Muirhall Development is in planning so if you wish to have your voice heard, there is a formal process through the planning portal.