LO2 Understanding the Creative Media Sector

Understanding ethical and legal constraints within the media

sector
Why is it important to consider ethical issues when producing media?
Ethics are principles that define peoples actions. These issues are found in the
media industry and include Morality, Exploitation, Offensive material and
Representational issues.
When planning your media production professionals have to consider all ethical
issues that might happen. Regulatory issues and codes of practise exist in the
industry however they are not usually enforced y the law.
Offensive Material in media often means programmes with adult content not
suitale for !ids of a certain age. Things li!e films rated "# and even T$ adverts
have to e restricted when shown to not give off adult related content %&ondoms,
'lcohol(. Most adult content will not e shown on !ids channels if these
re)uirements arent followed you could face a fine. To conclude this section on
offensive material, ethical issues must e thought through when planning anything
ecause any media product has the power to influence, exploit and offend.
*egal issues consists of the most common issues in the media industry and
consists of things li!e copyright, which is a legal protection on original material so
that it cant e used in another persons name.
How is gender represented in film?
The movie the hunger games plays with stereotypes associated with gender in this
film, Mixing masculinity and femininity in the main character +atniss Everdeen who
is played y ,ennifer *awrence. -he is the heroin of the film ut is not portrayed as
a typical damsel in distress. When her father dies she ta!es up his role of
supporting her starving family. -he is given such a strong role and is not afraid to
use force. +atniss is a strong character and doesnt wear ma!eup as most feminine
characters do, the portrayed masculinity in +atnisss character is truly remar!ale
and gives people a clear view on what an interesting character she is.
Women who are engaging and caring at the same time, .emininity shouldnt e
read as wea!ness and women shouldnt feel pressuri/ed to putting on a masculine
role.
What is the Films Act (1985?
The .ilms 'ct got rid of the 0ritish fund agency ending the Eady levy system which
was estalished in "1#". The act aolished the cinematograph council and trimmed
the 2ational .ilm .inance &orporation, transferring assets to the 0ritish -creen
LO2 Understanding the Creative Media Sector
.inance *imited.
The act repealed the .ilms 'cts "134 5 "164 and repealed certain provisions that
were from the .inance 'cts "167 and "168 and sustituted new provisions for
determining whether or not a film is 0ritish for capital allowances.
9nder the .inance 'cts "11: %2o7(, "117 %2o7( and "114 these provisions amended
the prohiition on using foreign studio.
What is the !ideo "ecordings Act (198#?
The $ideo Recordings 'ct is an 'ct of the ;arliament of the 9nited +ingdom that
was passed in "168. <t states that commercial video recordings that are offered for
sale or for hire in the 9+ must carry a classification that has een approved y an
authority designated y the home office.
These are considered offences under the $ideo Recordings 'ct.
Supplying or offering to supply an unclassified video work
Possession of an unclassified video work for the purposes of supply
Supplying or offering to supply recordings of classified works in breach of the
classification
Supplying or offering to supply a work otherwise than in a licensed sex shop
Supplying or offering to supply a video recording not complying with the Video
Recording (labelling) Regulations 1!"
Supplying or offering to supply a video recording containing a false indication as to
classification

What would $e the conse%uences for $rea&ing copyright law?
LO2 Understanding the Creative Media Sector
This is the copyright symol which warns people that the product is copyright
protected.
The conse)uences of 0rea!ing &opyright *aws include=
.ines
*oss of property
*oss of freedom
*oss of employment
,ail
&ommunity service
;roation
'll conse)uences can e determined only y the scale of the violation, no legal
action can e ta!en unless the copyright owner files a claim against the violator.
<t is also illegal to discriminate people according to their age, gender, sex, disaility,
or ethnicity when recruiting in the wor!place.