Media regulation: blog task

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

Very few industries leave the organisations or companies who operate

in that sector to their own devices. Systems of regulation are required

to provide rules and regulations to ensure that organisations operate

fairly.

2) What is OFCOM responsible for?

In the media industry there are several regulatory bodies that exist
to monitor the way that their industries work. Broadcast media (TV
and Radio) are regulated by OFCOM – the OFfice of COMmunication
and the advertising industry is regulated by the Advertising Standards
Authority. So OFCOM make sure media that are okay and sutible for people to see.

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 is due to the fact that kids should not see harmful or sexual scenes at a young age.

Section 2: Harm and Offence. If people watch harmful scenes or violence committed they could be a chance people copy it thinking its okay or if they offend some type of audience then its a lot worse. 

Section 8: Privacy. Revealing someones personal things could get realised which is not good as people would like privacy and somethings too them selves. 

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


I do think it was wrong as younger audience was probably watching at the time and was able to watch a film which 18+. 

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?

The lack of statutory powers means that when a newspaper has been found to break 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?

It was set up as a result of the phone hacking scandal. It was an inquiry into the “culture, practice and ethics of the press”.
8) What was the PCC replaced with in 2014?

On 8th September 2014, the PCC was replaced by 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?

Yes otherwise some things that are said could be twisted and we would need to maintain what is real and fake.

10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?

Because everyone can access it and create what they want on it then its harder to keep control on it.