Regulation

Question 1

What perspective claims that Media Ownership is not a problem because of the existence of regulation?

Answer 1

PLURALISTS

Regulators prevent one singular ideology from being represented in the media

Question 2

The Law

Answer 2

Restricts the media from reporting what they want, how they want:

• Libel (prevents untrue statements - written)
• Slander (prevents untrue statements - spoken)
• Official Secrets Act (criminal offence to make a ‘damaging disclosure of any information or document’ relating to security or intelligence
• DSMA (Defence and Security Media Advisory notices) - an official request to news editors not to publish or broadcast items on specified subjects for reasons of national security
• Radical and Religious Hatred Act (2006) - prevents media discrimination of ethnicity and religion
• Equality Act (2010) - prevents discrimination
• Obscene Publications Act (1959) - forbids publication of items that the court considers ‘obscene and indecent’ and likely to ‘deprave and corrupt’ individuals who see / hear / read it.
• contempt of court provision - forbids publication of items that could jeopardize or prejudice a fair trial for an ongoing case.

Question 3

Ofcom

Answer 3

• Regulatory body (est. 2003)
• Further interests of consumer
• Ensure a wide range of high-quality products with a broad appeal
• protect the public from offensive or potentially harmful content
  Safeguard people from being ill-treated by the media (TV & Radio)
• investigates complaints - had over 1,000 complaints about Matt Hancock’s I’m A Celeb appearance - how affective is this though?

Question 4

The BBC / BBC Trust / Royal Charter

Answer 4

• BBC Trust = governing body for the BBC
• BBC Regulation = 1/2 Ofcom & 1/2 BBC Trust
  BBC Trust members are a[pointed by Queen / King with advice from government ministers - does not accurately represent all political POVs in society - only those in power
• BBC Trust - outlines strategic direction of BBC
• has a clear duty to represent the interests of TV license fee payers (broad appeal)
• Ensures the BBC remains impartial
• Royal Charter = inform, educate and entertain

Question 5

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

Answer 5

• regulating body - newspapers and magazines
• replaced PCC after Leveson enquiry and phone hacking scandal - evidence against media / journalist professionalism
• controls and maintains standards of journalism through the Editor’s Code of Practice - accuracy, invasion of privacy, intrusion of grief or shock and harassment.
• investigates complaints (print content and journalist behaviour)
• Established by the Newspaper industry - more concerned about interest of own industry than the public

Question 6

Government influence

Answer 6

• Official government press conferences - brief journalists in hopes of getting their line represented in the media
• Leaks and off-the-record briefings - informal briefing of journalists to influence what gets reported on