Media regulation: blog task

Read the Factsheet and complete the following questions/tasks:

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

Regulation prevents content that doesn't meet the age restriction from being shown. Media needs to be regulated so young people aren't exposed to explicit content.

2) What is OFCOM responsible for?

OFCOM is responsible for regulating TV, radio and the internet.

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?

These are all the sections on the OFCOM broadcasting code-

Section 1: Protecting the Under-Eighteens
Section 2: Harm and Offence
Section 3: Crime
Section 4: Religion
Section 5: Impartiality and Undue Prominence of Views and Opinions
Section 6: Elections and Referendums
Section 7: Fairness
Section 8: Privacy
Section 9: Commercial References in Television Programming

The three most important sections in my opinion is Section 1, Section 5 and Section 2.

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, this is because on a Sunday evening there is always children at home who are often watching television. Previous films have been shown at this time on channel 4 so in this occasion families would think it is okay for their child to watch this. This would lead the child to watching violent content.

5) List five of the sections in the old Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice. 

Accuracy, Opportunity to reply, Privacy, Harassment and Intrusion into grief and shock.

6) Why was the Press Complaints Commission criticised?

Due to a lack of statutory powers.

7) What was the Leveson enquiry and why was it set up?

Because of the phone hacking scandal and the company was found to be hacking phone calls related to the royal family.

8) What was the PCC replaced with in 2014?

The PCC was replaced with IPSO in 2014. 

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? 

I think it is important so there its isn't supporting left wing nor right wing. It shares news from both side and keeps it balanced.


10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?


Regulating the internet is a very difficult task as there are many loopholes to get around things even if they are patched.