The mission of WSHU Public Radio is to be the unifying voice of our region on the air, online and in person. As a group of not-for-profit, member-supported radio stations, owned and operated by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, we bring the best in public broadcasting to 252,000 listeners in Connecticut and Long Island. WSHU’s coverage area includes Connecticut (Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield, New London and Middlesex Counties) and New York (Suffolk, Westchester, Duchess, Greene, Columbia and Nassau Counties). The demographics of our Connecticut coverage area are as follows: 61% White, 11% African American, 5% Asian, 20% Hispanic, and 2% from two or more races. The demographics of our Long Island coverage area are: 67% white, 7% African American, 4% Asian, 20% Hispanic, and 2% from two or more races. An NPR member since 1984, we are a dual format station offering classical music and news.
Underwriting
The standards governing acceptable underwriting practices for WSHU Public Radio are set forth in the rules and regulations of the F.C.C., the Underwriting Policies of National Public Radio, and the probations to certain categories required by the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart University.
In addition to these rules and policies WSHU management may set additional prudent limitations on the type and content of Underwriting Messages to avoid potential conflict of interest, problems of listener misperception, confusion, overall listener sensitivity, or what it judges to be controversial, or not in good taste. In all cases WSHU Management has the right to refuse any announcement or language it feels is inappropriate.
WSHU does not accept underwriting messages from these groups:
- Candidates for Political Office. We will not accept sponsorship by political candidates, groups formed to influence election outcomes, or from political parties.
- 900 numbers, Chat lines, or Dating services, ‘Text To’ for a fee messages, fortune telling, occultism, astrology, phrenology, palm reading, or numerology, mind-reading, character readings, Miracle Solicitation, or subjects of the like nature. In all cases a reasonable listener test will be applied. WSHU’s first priority is the trust of its listeners.
- Messages for ‘Pro-Life’ or ‘Pro-Choice’ services or organizations. Because WSHU is associated with Sacred Heart University, and this is an ongoing controversial issue, WSHU will not accept messages from clinics or organizations that directly promote or advocate a position on this issue.
- Advocacy Groups with Underwriting language that express an opinion on matters of public concern or otherwise advocate positions on controversial matters. While WSHU will carry underwriting messages by advocacy groups, in no circumstances will the language of an underwriting announcement express an opinion on matters of public concern or otherwise advocate positions on controversial matters. In all cases we will apply the reasonable listener standard, and consideration will be given to the nature of the organization and whether the organization has an interest in matters currently prominent in the news and the language of the announcement.
- Makers and distributors of alcoholic beverages that say more than simple identification. Sponsorship by makers and distributors of alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer and distilled spirits, are permitted. Underwriting language must be restrained in tone, and should not involve product descriptions, other than that necessary to identify the sponsor’s line of business.
- Gambling, including Internet, casinos, lotteries, and charity events. Underwriting casinos that identify or describe their gambling activity is not permitted. Language that identifies a casino as a concert or a performance venue would be acceptable. References to “dream books,” the “straight line,” or other direct or indirect descriptions or solicitations relative to the “numbers game,” or the “polity game,” or any other form of gambling are prohibited.
- Tobacco products where the credit mentions the tobacco product(s) or required no smoking messages. Sponsorships from diversified companies engaged in the manufacture of tobacco products (e.g. Altria, formerly Philip Morris) are acceptable, but specific references to tobacco products are not allowed.
- Controversial Companies. In order to ensure that there is no perceived conflict between underwriting and editorial content, WSHU will not accept underwriting from organizations that are currently experiencing significant and controversial news coverage. In this case we will apply the reasonable listener standard, and consideration will be given to the amount of news coverage given in the past 45 days. In all cases a reasonable listener test will be applied, and the decision of WSHU’s News Director, or Program Director, will be final and can be revisited no less than every 30 days.