How does the site work?

You can either listen to the radio stream (see below), or make you own radio show and upload it to an empty timeslot (see also below), or both!

What is this 'ogg' stuff? How do I listen to it?

Ogg Vorbis is a completely free and open technique to store audio. Lots of audio/media players will accept ogg data perfectly fine. Unfortunately, most commercial operating systems like Windows or MacOS do not support ogg by default. If you experience difficulties playing ogg, there's a step by step guideline to get things running.
If you want to know more about Ogg Vorbis, read the FAQ of the people who created it!

How would I make a radio show?

Anyone with a microphone and either a computer or a mixer and tapedeck can make a radioshow! If you have a mixer and tapedeck, you probably know how to use them. If you want to use your computer to make radioshow, there's a great program called Audacity for editing audio. It's completely free, open-source and available for Windows, MacOS, Linux and others.

How do I get in touch with ORG?

send us an e-mail on info[at]open-radio.nl

Content

What's the Filler Music for? Can I upload Madonna?

• During the time no shows are scheduled, the radio will play filler music out of a collection of copyleft music that you can contribute to.

• No.

What's the difference between a radio show, a newsflash and a jingle?

• A radioshow is a show, usually between fifteen minutes and an hour, that will be played once.
• A newsflash is a short briefing on the latest news, no longer then five minutes, that will be repeated throughout the day.
• A jingle is a short audio-compilation, no longer then a minute, that should contribute to the ease of listening and be related to ORG radio.

Does someone edit my contribution? Who? Why? Will my content be moderated?

Your contribution will not be edited. If you upload your show by clicking on the Upload "Radio Show" link your audio file will be played in full, exactly as you have written it. If your content contains anything that clearly breaches our editorial guidelines it will be deleted.

The aim is to leave the platform as open as possible without it getting abused. However, there will be a team of moderators that listens to your show and they can delete or move shows or decide to stop a program for ,e.g. a live stream if they consider something important enough.
The moderation group is generally open to new members.

See the EditorialGuidelines for details of why a post might be hidden.

What languages can I upload content in?

Dutch and English.

What I am listening to is racist! How can I tell you?

Please e-mail us at org[at]puscii.nl

I just found a wonderful audio item on the web. Can I upload it to the website/mailing list? What if the show belongs to the BBC?

Please don't send it to our email address as we won't accept large attachments.

Issues of Copyright depend on the source of your material and what the author of the material will allow. Reposts of any content already published in the corporate media are discouraged in favour of first-hand reporting with your own perspectives. This is something to consider whenever you decide to publish.

I made some kick-ass interviews at last weeks demo that I want to share. But I don't want someone copying them to use for a political cause that I don't believe in. Can I control how my contribution is used?

All material on ORG is assumed to be copyleft . That means that other people are encouraged to re-use, re-publish, and re-purpose material as they see fit. However, you are always free to put a copyright notice and whatever restrictions you would like on your own content. Look on Creative Commons to find more information on different types of copyrights that you can put on your stuff. Of course, the internet is a very open place, and it is always possible that someone will just use your stuff anyway; if you want to be sure no one will do this, don't publish it on the net.

Why on the Internet?

• it's relatively easy and relatively open for everybody in the netherlands (europe/the western world) to join, so it can be a widely-used platform
• we don't face the legal problems about broadcasting
• everybody who wants can pick it up and broadcast it
• it allows us to be heard widely throughout the world

Who Is ORG?

see our AboutUs page.

Why are you doing this?

• to give the world a new possibility for open-publishing, free media
• to encourage groups and individuals to create their own media: to be active producers of content rather than passive consumers
• providing the open source software for others to replicate this project
• to gather and bundle existing (on air) radioprojects to give them a broader platform
• to give existing radioprograms the opportunity to fill up their own program so they can broadcast more/longer
• to create a left/alternative/free radio that is listenable from all over the netherlands (the world actually) in contrast to small pirate stations
• to create a "customerfriendlyness" in the sense that you can always "switch on" and get some sort of program or music like on "normal" radio
• have live streams to be heard widely e.g. for reports on actions

Are you journalists?

Yes we are journalists, but of a different sort from what you might expect. ORG aims to electronically publish audio reports on current news and debates of social importance. In that sense we are journalists. On the other hand we do not hold the monopoly on information. Instead we believe that the job of reporting and commenting is better done by allowing a multitude of views to come directly from the actors involved in various social struggles. Furthermore these actors are not simply those in charge or in power, who tend to monopolise the attention of other media. Instead, the aim is to provide a medium for those who are affected by the news, who have a stake but often no voice.

Are you sponsored or affiliated with a political party?

ORG will remain free of all connections to political parties. ORG is both a means and end in itself. It is an exercise in non-hierarchical organising and decision making, whilst serving as an interface for groups involved in struggles using other methods of organisation to work towards similar social goals.

Are you related to those anti-globalisation people?

Yes we are. ORG, as part of a wider project of using media for positive social change. We are one small piece of what is a large and diverse network of political activists and organisations that are campaigning every day in different ways for a better world for all. We have set as our job to make their, your, and our voices heard all around the world. At the same time ORG projects we are autonomous, in that we make our own decisions about the process by which the collective will run, and do not follow any "orders from above".

How do I get involved?

ORG volunteers administer the site and collaborate in the production of scheduled items. Anyone who agrees with our StatementsOfUnity can become an ORG volunteer. However, content in the program schedule is generated by anyone who wants to, there is no need to be an ORG volunteer to contribute.

I don't have audio equipment, I don't write well, I can't use computers. Can I still join? or What do I need to be a productive member?

The range of tasks that are required for the everyday running of ORG is much wider than simply reporting news. For example we require publicity, ..., and... coordination. ... Finally, even running the collective requires some administrative tasks that anyone can help with. If you are not sure what you can do, just get in touch with us and we will definitely find something you are interested in. Apart from being able to provide your energy to ORG without specialized skills, you should also see it as an opportunity to learn. We are committed to training people both in technical skills, but also in other transferable skills so that everyone in the collective can do what they wish without feeling that technology is a barrier.

I am pro-war on Iraq and believe in a free market. But I do think that having an alternative to corporate media is great. Can I join?

Everyone is welcome to contribute things provided they conform to the Editorial Guidelines. Once you become part of the collective, you need to agree with our statements of unity. These are the basic rules under which we are happy to work with each other. You can find a full copy at StatementsOfUnity

Within the collective, decisions are made by consensus which means that you will have to engage with the other people involved in ORG. Disagreements over issues that the site focusses on need to be resolved amongst the whole group.

This is great! Can I give you a donation?

Yes! Our bank account details are: giro rekening 3452439 tnv Open Radio Group