Media regulation: blog tasks

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:

1) What is regulation and why do media industries need to be regulated?

Systems of regulation are required to provide rules and regulations to ensure that organisations operate fairly. In the media industry there are several regulatory bodies that exist to monitor the way that their industries work. 

Regulators also provide somebody for audiences to complain to if they see something they don’t like.

preventing young people from obtaining material that was unsuitable for them.

Regulators must provide a set of tough consequences for media organisations that break the rules, but they do also need to balance the interests of media producers and protect freedom of expression.

2) What is OFCOM responsible for?

The OFice of COMunication (OFCOM) is responsible for regulating television, radio, telephone services and some aspects of the internet, although the areas most relevent to media students are TV and radio.

3) Look at the section on the OFCOM broadcasting code. Which do you think are the three most important sections of the broadcasting code and why?

Section 1: Protecting the Under-Eighteens

This part is crucial as it ensures that children are shielded from harmful content. Kids are more impressionable and can be easily influenced by what they watch on TV. Therefore, it’s important for broadcasters to steer clear of showing anything violent or inappropriate, especially when children are most likely to be watching. This section plays a key role in keeping kids safe from material that could have a negative impact on them.

Section 4: Religion

Religion can be a delicate subject, and this section makes sure that all broadcasters handle it with fairness and respect. It aims to prevent content that might offend or promote negative stereotypes about different religious groups. In our diverse society, it is vital that TV and radio shows don’t foster intolerance or discrimination. This section promotes fair and respectful discussions about religious topics.

Section 8: Privacy

This section is also very important as it protects individuals' privacy. In an age of reality TV and social media, personal information can be shared easily without permission. Section 8 ensures that broadcasters honor people's privacy, especially in sensitive circumstances. It helps keep the media from intruding into personal lives, preventing harm and exploitation.

4) Do you agree with OFCOM that Channel 4 was wrong to broadcast 'Wolverine' at 6.55pm on a Sunday evening? Why?

I agree with OFCOM that Channel 4 made a mistake by showing Wolverine at 6:55pm. The film had violence that wasn't suitable for kids, even though it was cut down. This time slot is usually for movies that are safe for families, so viewers might have thought they were watching something good for all ages, especially since other family movies were on then. The warning at the beginning didn’t explain the violence clearly, and many parents might not have known what their kids would see. It would have been better for Channel 4 to show Wolverine later in the evening, after the safer viewing time of 9pm.

5) List five of the sections in the old Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice. 

Section 1: Accuracy

Section 2: Opportunity to Reply

Section 3: Privacy*

Section 4: Harassment*

Section 5: Intrusion Into Grief and Shock

6) Why was the Press Complaints Commission criticised?

It’s critics claim that the lack of statutory powers means that when a newspaper has been found to breach the rules, the best a victim can hope for is an apology, which often does not get sufficient prominence in the paper. Critics also argue that many newspapers seem to fly in the face of the rules on a pretty regular basis and that very little is done to stop them. It’s defenders point out that a free press is a vital part of a functioning democracy. If statutory rules were imposed, newspapers ability to hold politicians and other people in power to account would be greatly diminished.

7) What was the Leveson enquiry and why was it set up?

The Leveson Inquiry was a study of the UK press that started in 2011 after a scandal involving phone tapping. Reporters, especially from the  News of the World were caught listening to private phone calls without permission. The inquiry aimed to investigate bad behavior in the media, like phone tapping, and understand how the press worked. It wanted to find out if new rules were needed for journalists and whether those who broke the law should face punishment.

8) What was the PCC replaced with in 2014?

On 8th September 2014, the PCC was replaced by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). This new body (like the PCC) has been set up by the newspaper industry itself and it’s code of practice is essentially the same as the code administered by the PCC. This has led to criticism that the new body is effectively the PCC under a different name.

9) What is your opinion on press regulation? Is a free press an important part of living in a democracy or should newspapers face statutory regulation like TV and radio?

A free press is very important for democracy. It helps make sure the government is responsible, keeps people informed, and lets different opinions be heard. If we didn’t have it, citizens might miss out on important information needed for making good choices.

Still, there should be some rules to stop bad practices like sharing false information or invading people's privacy. Some laws, like those for TV and radio, could help, but we need to be careful to not stop journalists from their work. A better approach might be to have a system where an independent group oversees the press. This way, the press stays free while still being responsible.

10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?

It's worldwide: Information can be shared all over the planet, so no one country can control everything online.

People can be anonymous: Users can use fake names, which makes it hard to find out who is behind harmful content.

Technology keeps changing: New websites and tools come out all the time, making it hard for rules to keep up.

Freedom of expression: The internet allows people to share their thoughts freely, and too many rules can take away that freedom.

Privacy and data concerns: It's complicated to manage how companies collect and use personal information when different countries have different laws.