Can you say what you want?
Podcasting has got a danger inherent in it, because it's on essentially an internet-based activity. The technology will change, and because it's an internet-based activity there is a slight tendency to think "Wow, we're out of control now, we can say what we like." Bad language is probably the least dangerous thing - if you swear, if someone goes mad and starts really f-ing and blinding, two things about that: It might be alright, or secondly you can always take it out in an edit - because it's not live. If it gets through, there's an apology - it's just bad language. But you've got to be very careful in other areas. The laws of libel, slander, and the like still apply even online and in podcasts, however obscure. The chances are that if you are slugging somebody off in a chat room, they are never going to see it, they are not going to come after you. If you are associated with something as big as The Times and start slandering people, libeling people, there is every chance that my learned friends will become involved. But that's nothing new. Whatever part of the broadcast industry you're working in: television, radio, podcasting, whatever it is, you need to have a have a proper feel for the edges of what the laws of libel are. People like you to be edgy. They like you to push up to that edge. Often, your journalistic integrity requires you to imply things, or even to say things you know are going to upset somebody. You need to make sure you can back those things up, or you are saying it in such a way that it is of public interest, or what the other acceptable defenses are all around the world. The law does not change just because you're doing it on a podcast. You can't just say anything you want. You have to work within the premises of the law and whatever levels of decency you think are appropriate for the product you are making.
