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Contemporary Media Regulation

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What is media regulation? Who regulates the media? What does the editorial code include? What is the public interest?

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Contemporary Media Regulation
What Is Media Regulation? Media regulation is the control of mass communication, formatted in the press, radio, music, film and television over multiple mediums including satellite, disks, cinema and the internet. The line between public and private communication is highly important in regards to media regulation as public media is owned by the government and is under tight editorial control, funded by taxes and license fees. Many issues come out of public media because of the obligations it has to follow in regards to regulation laws. Private media has fewer obligations because it is a free media. There are hardly any restrictions placed on what broadcasters and journalists can say and write. The only regulation private media has to follow is the expectation of professional journalistic standards. This involves accurate and balanced reporting as well as a clear divide between fact and opinion.
Historical Background to Media Regulation? In Western Europe’s mid-15th century, media regulation was born due to the printing press to book production instead of the age old copying of manuscript texts by hand, which had not been formally regulated. As the printing trade expanded, the church and the state became interested in what was being published, mostly to avoid heresy and dissent. In effect, this led to the requirement for approval from the church and state before anything was printed and published. Freedom to publish was achieved by a gradual change in Britain and a revolution in France during the 18th century and with the 19th century’s new inventions such as the telegraph, telephone and public radio, regulation grew tighter and tighter, taking the form of state bodies and public monopolies. The 20th century saw the regulation of broadcast media. This form of media never truly received the same freedom enjoyed by the print media, however since the 1980’s invention of new distribution techniques: cable, satellite and eventually the internet, we have begun to see more relaxed regulatory regimes.
Why are the Media Regulated? One of the main rules to regulation is that there have to be clear and convincing reasons for regulation. Here are some examples of why the media is regulated: • The control and stability of the economy through the emerging ‘information society’ which depends highly on all forms of communication. • The protection of public order and to support the government and justice system • The protection of individual and sectional rights and interests that could be harmed by unrestricted media coverage. • The promotion of efficiency and development of the communication system • The promotion of access and freedom to communicate in diversity. • To ensure innovation and expansion, consumption and production
Who Regulates the Media? – Broadcast Journalism The Office of Communications (Ofcom) controls the commercial regulation of television and radio in the UK. Ofcom monitor the distribution of broadcast journalism, as well as the specific content of the broadcast. They have the power to fine broadcasters as well as shut ‘pirate’ broadcasting down completely. Whilst companies are controlled by Ofcom, some also choose to regulate themselves. For example the BBC fall under the control of Ofcom, however they also have the BBC Trust which lays out an ethical code for BBC journalists in, what is called, the BBC Editorial Guidelines. Ofcom requires that publications must be politically impartial. Moreover, the content must avoid any message or footage which could potentially influence, offend or harm the public in some way. Ofcom put forward the idea of the watershed to protect children from violent or pornographic material in television.
Who Regulates the Media? – Print Journalism There really isn't a specific statutory body, like Ofcom, which regulates print journalism. This is due to the frequency and short lifespan of newspapers and printed articles. This means that print media is left to self-regulate their own content. This aspect of self-regulation is what allows newspapers to be so politically biased without sanction. The self-regulatory body for print-journalism was the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), until the Leveson Enquiry in 2014, when the body were heavily criticised for their lack of action and a new independent body were established: the International Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). IPSO handle complaints and conducts its own investigations into editorial standards and compliance.
Editor’s Code of Practice IPSO follow an extensive code of practise which covers the regulation of: • Accuracy • Privacy • Harassment • Intrusion into Grief or Shock • Reporting Suicide • Children • Children in Sex Cases • Hospitals • Reporting of Crimes • Clandestine Devices and Subterfuge • Victims of Sexual Assault • Discrimination • Financial Journalism • Confidential Sources • Witness Payments in Criminal Trials • Payment to Criminals • Public Interest
What is ‘The Public Interest’? Public interest, according to the Random House Dictionary, is "the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth.” “appeal or relevance to the general populace: a news story of public interest.“ Public interest relates to the information which is believed to be of use and profit to the general public. For example, the super-injunction which surrounds the celebrity threesome scandal (cough*Elton John*cough) may have been broadcasted on the purposes of ‘public interest’ due to this fact: The couple involved are highly admired and respected as a strong and inspirational homosexual couple who have adopted two young children. The fact that the famous singer’s partner has invested himself in a separate threesome on the grounds that they share an open relationship, reflects badly on the homosexual couple. Many homophobic groups of society would use this information as a reason to spread hate in the gay community and say that homosexual couples are incapable of adopting children.

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Contemporary Media Regulation

  • 2. What Is Media Regulation? Media regulation is the control of mass communication, formatted in the press, radio, music, film and television over multiple mediums including satellite, disks, cinema and the internet. The line between public and private communication is highly important in regards to media regulation as public media is owned by the government and is under tight editorial control, funded by taxes and license fees. Many issues come out of public media because of the obligations it has to follow in regards to regulation laws. Private media has fewer obligations because it is a free media. There are hardly any restrictions placed on what broadcasters and journalists can say and write. The only regulation private media has to follow is the expectation of professional journalistic standards. This involves accurate and balanced reporting as well as a clear divide between fact and opinion.
  • 3. Historical Background to Media Regulation? In Western Europe’s mid-15th century, media regulation was born due to the printing press to book production instead of the age old copying of manuscript texts by hand, which had not been formally regulated. As the printing trade expanded, the church and the state became interested in what was being published, mostly to avoid heresy and dissent. In effect, this led to the requirement for approval from the church and state before anything was printed and published. Freedom to publish was achieved by a gradual change in Britain and a revolution in France during the 18th century and with the 19th century’s new inventions such as the telegraph, telephone and public radio, regulation grew tighter and tighter, taking the form of state bodies and public monopolies. The 20th century saw the regulation of broadcast media. This form of media never truly received the same freedom enjoyed by the print media, however since the 1980’s invention of new distribution techniques: cable, satellite and eventually the internet, we have begun to see more relaxed regulatory regimes.
  • 4. Why are the Media Regulated? One of the main rules to regulation is that there have to be clear and convincing reasons for regulation. Here are some examples of why the media is regulated: • The control and stability of the economy through the emerging ‘information society’ which depends highly on all forms of communication. • The protection of public order and to support the government and justice system • The protection of individual and sectional rights and interests that could be harmed by unrestricted media coverage. • The promotion of efficiency and development of the communication system • The promotion of access and freedom to communicate in diversity. • To ensure innovation and expansion, consumption and production
  • 5. Who Regulates the Media? – Broadcast Journalism The Office of Communications (Ofcom) controls the commercial regulation of television and radio in the UK. Ofcom monitor the distribution of broadcast journalism, as well as the specific content of the broadcast. They have the power to fine broadcasters as well as shut ‘pirate’ broadcasting down completely. Whilst companies are controlled by Ofcom, some also choose to regulate themselves. For example the BBC fall under the control of Ofcom, however they also have the BBC Trust which lays out an ethical code for BBC journalists in, what is called, the BBC Editorial Guidelines. Ofcom requires that publications must be politically impartial. Moreover, the content must avoid any message or footage which could potentially influence, offend or harm the public in some way. Ofcom put forward the idea of the watershed to protect children from violent or pornographic material in television.
  • 6. Who Regulates the Media? – Print Journalism There really isn't a specific statutory body, like Ofcom, which regulates print journalism. This is due to the frequency and short lifespan of newspapers and printed articles. This means that print media is left to self-regulate their own content. This aspect of self-regulation is what allows newspapers to be so politically biased without sanction. The self-regulatory body for print-journalism was the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), until the Leveson Enquiry in 2014, when the body were heavily criticised for their lack of action and a new independent body were established: the International Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). IPSO handle complaints and conducts its own investigations into editorial standards and compliance.
  • 7. Editor’s Code of Practice IPSO follow an extensive code of practise which covers the regulation of: • Accuracy • Privacy • Harassment • Intrusion into Grief or Shock • Reporting Suicide • Children • Children in Sex Cases • Hospitals • Reporting of Crimes • Clandestine Devices and Subterfuge • Victims of Sexual Assault • Discrimination • Financial Journalism • Confidential Sources • Witness Payments in Criminal Trials • Payment to Criminals • Public Interest
  • 8. What is ‘The Public Interest’? Public interest, according to the Random House Dictionary, is "the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth.” “appeal or relevance to the general populace: a news story of public interest.“ Public interest relates to the information which is believed to be of use and profit to the general public. For example, the super-injunction which surrounds the celebrity threesome scandal (cough*Elton John*cough) may have been broadcasted on the purposes of ‘public interest’ due to this fact: The couple involved are highly admired and respected as a strong and inspirational homosexual couple who have adopted two young children. The fact that the famous singer’s partner has invested himself in a separate threesome on the grounds that they share an open relationship, reflects badly on the homosexual couple. Many homophobic groups of society would use this information as a reason to spread hate in the gay community and say that homosexual couples are incapable of adopting children.