The Media

Question 1

What is ‘Free Press’ ?

Answer 1

∆ The media have the right to investigate and report on issue of public interest. However, this is subject to the need of privacy and dignity
∆ The government does not tell the newspaper what they are allowed to print

Question 2

State ONE reason why press freedom is important in a democracy

Answer 2

• Acts as a check on government

* Prevent government present online side of an argument and withhold information we need to know

Question 3

State ONE thing the law prevents the media from doing

Answer 3

Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
∆Censorship∆
• Plays, films and books have to be submitted to a government censor before they are released to the general public
• Press releases, radian and television broadcasts are carefully monitored to make sure the correct viewpoint are being given

Question 4

State one way in which the media bring about change by influencing public opinion and decision making

Answer 4

• Before General Election/ Referendum
  1) Providing facts to help people form their opinions
  2) Interviewing people with different opinions on a issue to give them publicity
  3) By promoting the opinion of the media company or newspaper

Question 5

5 Human Rights link to the media

Answer 5

1) Freedom of speech
2) Freedom of press
3) Freedom of expression
4) Freedom of information
5) Right to privacy and a family life - Human RIghts Act

Question 6

Why does the media need to expose the truth

Answer 6

1) Get all the information to make judgements on issues
2) Expose corruption e.g. Government / Business bribes or favours
3) Point out injustice by the government, the law, powerful groups or other citizens
4) Expose criminal activities
5) Check on government

Question 7

Media in non-democratic society

Answer 7

• Control the media so news stories reflect well on the government
• Country’s ruler can control the content of books, newspaper, radio and TV
• Fear to lose faith in their authority

Question 8

What and why certain information was kept from public

Answer 8

1) During Second World War
• Pictures and details of bomb damage were deliberately kept out
∆ Fear of giving information to the enemy
∆ Fear of lowering public morale
2) After 9/11 USA,UK gov. limited broadcasts of Osama Bin Laden
∆ Might encourage people to volunteer to fight for the Taliban
∆ Might contain hidden codes ordering further attacks
∆ Fear publicity for Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban

Question 9

Why do pressure groups use media

Answer 9

To draw attention to prisoners of conscience and injustice around the world
e.g. Malala using BBC blog

Question 10

How do local basis campaign groups use local media

Answer 10

E.g. Twitter
To fight for local causes and raise public attention
e.g. wind turbines, closing libraries

Question 11

Which legislation charge newspaper or publisher with criminal offence if something obscene is published.

Answer 11

Obscene Publications Act

Question 12

Deformation of Character (Libel)

Answer 12

Laws prevent anyone from making public statement about people that are not true, that person can sue them for damages

Question 13

Under which legislation prevent the press publish anything classed as an official secret

Answer 13

Official Secrets Acts

Question 14

Where do newspaper editors sent to if secret details were published

Answer 14

Contempt of Court - face a prison sentence

Question 15

Problems arise when a small number of companies own most of the media in the UK

Answer 15

1) Narrows the range of news the public are exposed to
e.g. For European Elections BBC report both UKIP campaign and BNP campaign
2) Bias
e.g. Rupert Murdoch owns multiple outlets
• Political bias - reporting of the MP’s expenses, e.g. Maria Miller reassignment
• Impact on election results
3) Using one media source to promote another
e.g. Rupert Murdoch promote Sky programmes in ‘The Sun’

Question 16

State BBC’s mission

Answer 16

To enrich people’s lives with programmes and service that inform, educate and entertain

Question 17

BBC’s scandals

Answer 17

1) Failure to report what is knew about Jimmy Saville

2) Suggested Lord Mcalpine was involved in a sex scandal - was later proved untrue

Question 18

Advantage of BBC World Service

Answer 18

In countries without free press, people can get reliable information

Question 19

Example when Human RIghts is taken - related to media

Answer 19

2014 - Turkey bans Twitter
2014 - 2 people jailed for offensive comments and threats made against a women campaign groups
2013 - Zimbabwe ban on raids during the run up to the election campaign

Question 20

Example when press clash with right to privacy

Answer 20

Pictures of Prince Harry naked during a private visit to USA

Question 21

Which organisation control the press (especially for newspaper)

Answer 21

Press Complaint Commission

Question 22

Press Complaint Commission’s scandals

Answer 22

1) Celebrities phone hacking

2) Rebecca Leighton accused killing but someone else now been convicted

Question 23

What does Ofcom do?

Answer 23

Controls the output (quality and standards) on TV and radio

Question 24

Arguments supporting media censorship

Answer 24

1) Children and vulnerable individuals can be influenced by what they see
2) Should be stop when intruded people’s privacy
3) Famous people should have a right to a private life

Question 25

Arguments against media censorship

Answer 25

1) Democracy needs freedom of information
2) Privacy laws have been used by powerful people to core up their misdeeds
3) Who decides what needs to be kept secrets of what needs to be censored?

Question 26

What does ‘Leveson Inquiry’ do?

Answer 26

To examine the culture of the press in respond to the phone-hacking scandal

Question 27

How does the press influence use

Answer 27

1) Selection of stories
2) Position of stories
3) Photographs/ images

Question 28

How does language and writing styles influence us?

Answer 28

1) Create stereotypes

2) Owners views