1) What is regulation and why do media industries need to be regulated?
Regulation is the system of rules put in place to control how industries operate, enforced by an official authority. In the media industry, regulation ensures that organisations act fairly, responsibly, and within the law.
One reason why we may need regulation within the media industry is to protect audiences from harmful or offensive content, such as violence, misinformation, or material that could negatively affect children. Secondly, it ensures accuracy and fairness, preventing the spread of false information and encouraging balanced reporting, especially in news media.
2) What is OFCOM responsible for?
OFCOM, Which stands for the office of communication and the advertising industries which is regulated by the advertising standings and authority. They are responsible for for making sure that media content follows strict rules to protect audiences. This includes ensuring programmes are appropriate for different age groups, that content is not offensive or harmful, and that news is reported accurately and impartially.
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?
Three of the most important sections of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code are Protecting the Under-18s, Harm and Offence, and Due Impartiality and Accuracy. Protecting under-18s is important because children are more vulnerable to inappropriate content. Harm and offence rules help prevent broadcasters from showing content that could be upsetting, offensive, or discriminatory. Due impartiality and accuracy are essential because they ensure news and factual programmes are fair, balanced, and truthful, helping audiences trust the media.
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 was wrong to broadcast Wolverine at 6.55pm on a Sunday evening. This time slot is before the watershed, when children are likely to be watching television. Wolverine contains strong violence and action scenes that are not suitable for younger audiences, which goes against Ofcom’s rules on protecting under-18s. Broadcasting it at this time risked exposing children to inappropriate content.
5) List five of the sections in the old Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice.
Accuracy, Privacy, Harassment, Intrusion into grief or shock, Children
6) Why was the Press Complaints Commission criticised?
Press Complaints Commission (PCC) was criticised because it was self-regulated by the newspaper industry, meaning it lacked independence and had limited power to enforce its rules. It could not issue strong punishments, such as fines, and relied on newspapers to cooperate voluntarily. The PCC was also seen as ineffective at protecting the public, especially during the phone-hacking scandal, where it failed to properly investigate serious ethical breaches by the press.
7) What was the Leveson enquiry and why was it set up?
The Leveson Inquiry was a public investigation set up in 2011 to examine the culture, practices, and ethics of the British press. It was established after the phone-hacking scandal, particularly involving News of the World, which revealed serious abuses of privacy and unethical journalism. The inquiry aimed to find out how widespread these practices were and to decide whether stronger or independent regulation of the press was needed to better protect the public.
8) What was the PCC replaced with in 2014?
In 2014, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) was replaced by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). IPSO was set up to be a stronger and more independent regulator for newspapers and magazines, with greater powers to enforce the press code, investigate complaints, and issue sanctions when publications breach the rules.
I believe the press regulation is important to protect people from harmful, misleading, or invasive reporting, but a free press is also a vital part of a democracy. Newspapers play a key role in holding governments and organisations accountable, so overly strict statutory regulation could limit freedom of speech and investigative journalism. However, some form of independent regulation, like IPSO, is necessary to ensure that the press acts responsibly and ethically without abusing its power. This way, the public is protected while press freedom is maintained.
10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?
The internet is difficult to regulate because it is global, fast moving, and constantly changing. Unlike TV or radio, online content can be uploaded by anyone from anywhere in the world, making it hard for a single country’s laws to control it. Social media, video platforms, and websites can spread information instantly, including harmful or illegal content. Additionally, new technologies and platforms emerge quickly, often faster than regulators can create rules, and users can bypass restrictions through anonymity or encryption. This makes consistent enforcement very challenging.
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