Media regulation: blog task
Like most industries, the media is regulated - overseen by government to make sure the market is fair and the content appropriate for the audience.
As A Level Media students, we need to understand how the media is regulated and form opinions on whether we think that regulation is effective and appropriate. Complete the blog task below to demonstrate you understand the basics of media regulation.
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet 128: Contemporary Media Regulation. Our Media Factsheet archive can be found at M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) What is regulation and why do media industries need to be regulated?
Media regulation: when rules are provides to ensure that organisations operate fairly within the industry.
2) What is OFCOM responsible for?
OFCOM is responsible for monitoring and regulating broadcast media - 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?
I think that the most important sections of the broadcasting code are:
4) Do you agree with OFCOM that Channel 4 was wrong to broadcast 'Wolverine' at 6.55pm on a Sunday evening? Why?
I think that it was wrong for Channel 4 to broadcast Wolverine at this time. This is because the content that was in this quite violent and unsuitable for children to watch. This film should have been shown after the watershed at 9pm as it would have avoided the likelihood of children who are extremely young viewing this explicit content.
5) List five of the sections in the old Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice.
It was criticised for a "lack of statutory powers". There was controversy surrounding the regulation of newspapers and what they publish regarding politicians etc.
7) What was the Leveson enquiry and why was it set up?
The Leveson enquiry was an inquiry into the press and the culture, practice and ethics of it. This enquiry resulted in many people being jailed for illegal actions. For example, a private investigator was imprisoned as a result of illegally intercepting phone calls. Phone hacking was a major issue at this time, however, the Leveson enquiry helped to identify those breaking laws.
8) What was the PCC replaced with in 2014?
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
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?
I think that free press does allow people to express their views and opinions, creating a sense of democracy and freedom of speech. However, I believe that press regulation is needed to some degree to ensure that the content we receive is unbiased and remains as impartial as possible. This would enable consumers to read the text and make up their own opinions about the subject matters at hand.
10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?
It's difficult to regulate the internet because the internet has many different aspects that are all easily accessible, meaning that controlling every part of it would be challenging and extensive.
As A Level Media students, we need to understand how the media is regulated and form opinions on whether we think that regulation is effective and appropriate. Complete the blog task below to demonstrate you understand the basics of media regulation.
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet 128: Contemporary Media Regulation. Our Media Factsheet archive can be found at M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:
1) What is regulation and why do media industries need to be regulated?
Media regulation: when rules are provides to ensure that organisations operate fairly within the industry.
2) What is OFCOM responsible for?
OFCOM is responsible for monitoring and regulating broadcast media - 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?
I think that the most important sections of the broadcasting code are:
- Protecting the under-eighteens
- Impartiality of views/opinions
- Reporting of crime
I think that these sections are important, especially section 1: protecting the under-eighteens. This is because children/young people tend to be more susceptible to what is shown on TV/ in the media, and there more likely to replicate the behaviour they witness. Therefore, the content they view needs to be regulated. I also think that the reporting of crime (and reporting of news in general) is important to monitor. The way that topics are reported impacts the way people perceive others and how they view the subject as a whole, so it is necessary for these topics to inform people of the correct facts effectively.
4) Do you agree with OFCOM that Channel 4 was wrong to broadcast 'Wolverine' at 6.55pm on a Sunday evening? Why?
I think that it was wrong for Channel 4 to broadcast Wolverine at this time. This is because the content that was in this quite violent and unsuitable for children to watch. This film should have been shown after the watershed at 9pm as it would have avoided the likelihood of children who are extremely young viewing this explicit content.
5) List five of the sections in the old Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice.
- Accuracy
- Opportunity to reply
- Privacy
- Harrassment
- Intrusion in to grief and shock
It was criticised for a "lack of statutory powers". There was controversy surrounding the regulation of newspapers and what they publish regarding politicians etc.
7) What was the Leveson enquiry and why was it set up?
The Leveson enquiry was an inquiry into the press and the culture, practice and ethics of it. This enquiry resulted in many people being jailed for illegal actions. For example, a private investigator was imprisoned as a result of illegally intercepting phone calls. Phone hacking was a major issue at this time, however, the Leveson enquiry helped to identify those breaking laws.
8) What was the PCC replaced with in 2014?
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
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?
I think that free press does allow people to express their views and opinions, creating a sense of democracy and freedom of speech. However, I believe that press regulation is needed to some degree to ensure that the content we receive is unbiased and remains as impartial as possible. This would enable consumers to read the text and make up their own opinions about the subject matters at hand.
10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?
It's difficult to regulate the internet because the internet has many different aspects that are all easily accessible, meaning that controlling every part of it would be challenging and extensive.
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