Investigating regulatory bodies

Television: Ofcom
What they regulate: Product Placement on TV, Watershed, Protecting
Children, they replace old aerials with wideband aerials.
How they enforce regulations: Careful with what they show after 9, dont
include inappropriate content, they offer services which replace aerials.
Film: BBFC
What they regulate: they regulate all films in the UK
How they enforce regulators: Protect the public, they regulate every movie
coming through the UK is appropriate.
Radio: Ofcom
What they regulate: Broadcasting codes and guidance, radio operations,
guidance for radio broadcasting.
How they enforce regulators: they regulate on UK radio demand services.
Why are ethical restrictions in the creative media sector important?
These ethical restrictions make sure that all the laws and restrictions for
the media industry keep all the sectors in place and that they want have
any problems this includes censorship, copyright , libel laws
Can you outline some of the ethical restrictions that exist in the following
media industries: Television, multimedia, press?
Religion: This is covered to some degree by blasphemy laws but these
laws only cover Christianity. However, The Broadcasting Code also has a
section on Religion, as does the BBC's Editorial Guidelines. The
Broadcasting Code states:
4.2 The religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular
religion or religious denomination must not be subject to abusive
treatment"
Discrimination: Discriminatory treatment or language (for example on the
grounds of age, disability, gender, race, religion, beliefs and sexual
orientation) falls under the same section as Harm & Offence.
Children appearing in programmes: children under 16 are not allowed to
take time out of school to appear in programmes and there are rules on
the number of hours and type of employment children can take. Under no
circumstances may children be put at any moral or physical risk by taking
part in a programme.
Children as offenders or victims: Under the Children and Young Persons
Act 1933 and 1967 (England & Wales), it is a criminal offence to publish

the names and addresses of children under 17 who are involved in court
proceedings or to publish any information that may lead to their identify
being revealed. Broadcasting such information is prohibited until such
time as a judge lifts this restriction.
Children as viewers: the main priority is to ensure that children are not
upset or inadvertently influenced by programmes aimed at them. The use
of bad language before the watershed (generally accepted as 9 pm to 5
am), subject matter including violence, the use of guns and offensive
weapons, crime, drugs and solvent abuse, anything harmful that may be
imitated, must not be broadcast when children are listening or watching.
What are the potential consequences of ignoring these restrictions?
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You could get a warning.

A fine could be given to you.
You could get prison time depending on the size of the crime.

Give five reasons why it is important for you to fully understand and
comply with the codes of practices of your chosen industry sector.
The press
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The press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or

distorted information, including pictures.
The press must not identify victims of sexual assault or publish
material likely to contribute to such identification unless there is
adequate justification and they are legally free to do so.
The press must not, even if legally free to do so, identify children
under 16 who are victims or witnesses in cases involving sex
offences.
The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an
individual's race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or to
any physical or mental illness or disability.
The press must not, even if legally free to do so, identify children
under 16 who are victims or witnesses in cases involving sex
offences.