INDUSTRIES- REGULATION

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

Rules and regulations are set in place to ensure that companies/organisations operate in a fair manner. Regulations - in short - are a system of rules made and maintained by an authority such as the government.

2) What is OFCOM responsible for?

Ofcom is responsible for regulating a certain sector of the media industry, which is TV and Radio.

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?

1. privacy as everyone's information and data should remain disclosed to the public..

2. Religion as there shouldn't be any false or negative information spread about someones faith because it could lead to discrimination and generalisation.

4) Do you agree with OFCOM that Channel 4 was wrong to broadcast 'Wolverine' at 6.55pm on a Sunday evening? Why?

Not at all because Channel 4's primary age demographic is 16 to 34-year-olds. 'Wolverine' is age-rated PG-13, so even - under parental guidance - 13 year olds are official permitted to watch this film. Channel 4 is completely in the right in this situation, if parents don't want their children to watch films like 'Wolverine' it is in their right do so - but they shouldn't complain about Channel 4 about showing content that is appropriate for their age demographic.
 
5) List five of the sections in the old Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice. 

1. privacy 

2. harassment 

3. discrimination 

4. children 

5. reporting a crime

6) Why was the Press Complaints Commission criticised?

The PCC was under scrutiny due to claims by critics of its lack of statutory powers...meaning newspapers have been able to circumvent the rules at a regular basis...with little ramifications to stop them.

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

The Levenson enquiry was a probe into the “culture, practice and ethics of the press”. Its reason from existence was - mainly - as a result of an acclaimed phone hacking scandal (journalists were allegedly reported to be hacking into people's phones as to dig up information).

8) What was the PCC replaced with in 2014?

The PCC (Press Complaints Commission) was replaced  in 2014 by IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation).

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?

Press regulation can be a finicky line to cross, the press shouldn't be dictated by constricting set of rule...however, the press should have a basic form of regulation - to express my point further, news sources should be unbiased, rather than enforcing a certain political agenda...the news should state facts, not opinions; these regulations must be enforced under statutory powers.

10) Why is the internet so difficult to regulate?

There is no particular body that governs the regulations of the internet; regulations and regulators vary around the world...so having one body establish a system of rules may evoke controversy.