Media regulation: blog 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. The media needs to be regulated as it can be a dangerous place for people such as children as if it not regulated people can see or access illegal things 

2) What is OFCOM responsible for?

The Office of Communication (OFCOM) is responsible for regulating television, radio, telephone services and some aspects of the internet, although the areas most relevant to media students are TV and radio. OFCOM is responsible for granting licences to TV and Radio stations and it is illegal to broadcast TV or Radio signals without a licence from OFCOM.

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?

OFCOM also handles complaints about programme content through the Broadcasting Code. The code applies to television and radio programmes in the UK and lays out rules about the kind of content that is acceptable for broadcasters to include. The code has 9 sections and covers areas such as Offensiveness, impartiality and protecting children. The most well known element of the code is the “watershed”. The watershed only applies to television and it occurs at 9pm. It means that material that is unsuitable for children should not be shown before 9pm and after 5.30am.

Section 1: Protecting the Under-Eighteens- As if a child access underage content this could have a negative impact on them as they are young taking in bad information from the internet. 

Section 2: Harm and Offence- This is also important as children need to be protected from harm and offence from the internet 

Section 3: Crime-  This is important as this stops illegal activity happening on the internet allowing people be less risked at fraud and other activities 

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

No as the movie wolverine is a 12 PG and on a Sunday evening children are just about to have dinner therefore they could watch a movie whilst eating with there family however there are some aspects as this movie contains violence and action therefore it might not be suitable for a younger audience and may be bad for them

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

Section 6: Children*

Section 7: Children in Sex Cases*

Section 8: Hospitals*

Section 9: Reporting of Crime*

Section 10: Clandestine Devices and Subterfuge*

Section 11: Victims of Sexual Assault

Section 12: Discrimination

Section 13: Financial Journalism

Section 14: Confidential Sources

Section 15: Witness Payments in Criminal Trials

Section 16: Payment to Criminals*

6) Why was the Press Complaints Commission criticised?

In recent years, the PCC became the focus of a great deal of controversy. It’s critics claim that the lack of statutory powers means that when a newspaper has been found to breath 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.

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

Throughout 2011 and 2012, an inquiry into the “culture, practice and ethics of the press” was held, mainly as a result of the so-called phone hacking scandal. In January 2007, Clive Goodman (the royal reporter of the News of the World newspaer) and Glenn Mulcaire (a private investigator, employed by Goodman) were imprisoned for illegally intercepting phone calls connected to the royal family.

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?

My opinion on press regulation is that it is good we have that as people can access harmful things which can scar them for life. Free press should be a thing but should be regulated therefore there is a limit to it so it can't spread false news and opinions and it won't allow the public to revolt against any party or anyone and newspaper should face statutory regulation like TV and radio as it would be fair 

10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?

It is so difficult to regulate as it is a massive platform full of different people using it and doing there own things on it and changing it may cause negative opinions and ruin the internet itself.