Media Law 25: Ofcom Flashcards
1
Q
difference between Ofcom and PCC
[1]
A
- statutory vs self-regulation
2
Q
reason Ofcom is statutory
[2]
A
- moving images are riskier / more direct
- state control of analogue channels
3
Q
when was Ofcom created?
[2]
A
- Communications Act 2003
- Ofcom brought in 2005
4
Q
what does the BBC have instead of parts of Ofcom Code
[1]
A
- BBC Editorial Guidelines
5
Q
who is Ofcom beholden to?
[2]
A
- independent of Government
- accountable to Parliament
6
Q
what are Ofcom’s main roles?
[3]
A
- issue licences
- set standards
- deal with complaints
7
Q
what sanctions can Ofcom use?
[5]
A
- forbid repeat broadcast of programme
- force channel to issue apology / Ofcom-written statement
- fine up to £250,000 (BBC and S4C) OR 5% of ‘qualifying revenue’
- shorten or revoke licence to broadcast (serious and repeated offences)
- find the matter resolved and no further action needed
8
Q
harm and offence in Ofcom
[4]
A
- offensive material must be justified in context
- factual programmes should not ‘materially mislead’ viewers
- methods of suicide/self-harm must be justified in contex
- simulated news broadcasts must not seem like the real news
9
Q
rules about impartiality and accuracy in news programmes
[3]
A
- news should be presented with ‘due impartiality’ (depending on content, this may not necessarily mean each side gets an equal voice…)
- errors should be corrected as soon as possible
- never use politician as interviewer/presenter/reporter unless justified (then allegiance must be stated)
10
Q
special rules for ‘matters of political or industry controversy, or matters of current public policy’
[8]
A
- don’t express broadcaster’s own view
- due impartiality (but can be over multiple shows)
- views and facts must not be misrepresented
- make presenter/reporter’s interests known
- presenters/reporters can put over their views, but must be balanced by others
- presenters appearing regularly must not use this as an advantage over due impartiality
- phone-in presenters must encourage alternative views
- ‘personal view’ programmes must be indicated as such from the start
11
Q
rules for referendum/election
[7]
A
- due weight to ‘designated organisations’, and appropriate coverage to other ‘permitted participants’
- candidates must not act as newsreaders, etc.
- no arranging for candidates to appear on non-political programmes (applies after election period begins)
- reports must use due impartiality (although if one side refuses to show, it can still go ahead)
- reports on constituencies must mention candidates names OR parties (depending on geographical size)
- all discussion ends when polling stations open
- no opinion poll results broadcast on polling day
12
Q
rules about being fair
[10]
A
- be fair to contributors
- inform contributors
- parent/guardian permission for under 16s / not in permission to give consent
- edit fairly
- honour guarantees (e.g. anonymity, confidentiality, content of programme, etc.)
- reuse content fairly
- present facts fairly
- give ‘appropriate and timely’ chance to respond to allegations
- if people don’t appear, you should state this and give person’s excuse
- if someone doesn’t take part, their view should still be represented