‘Regulation
is no longer needed to protect audiences’
The
pros and cons of media regulation
In
this document I will be discussing the statement ‘regulation is no longer
needed to protect audiences’. I will be researching the pros and the cons of
media regulations and explaining them.
I will be researching why it is debated and whether regulation has a place in
modern media.
To begin, media
regulation is the control or guidance of mass media by governments and other
bodies. This regulation, via law, rules or procedures, can have various goals.
For example, intervention to protect a stated ‘public interest’, or encouraging
competition and an effective media market, or establishing common technical
standards. The principal targets of
media regulation are the press, radio and television. This can also include
film, the internet, mobile phones etc. regulation refers to the whole process
of control, by established rules and procedures, applied by governments and
other political and administrative authorities to all kinds of media
activities. Therefore, regulation is always a potential intervention in ongoing
activities, but also to serve the needs of the market or for reasons of
technical efficiency (for example setting technical standards). Regulation can
be internal as well as external. In the former case, we are usually speaking of
‘self-regulation’, where internal controls are applied, sometimes in response
to public pressure or criticism from outside.
Historical background
The history of media regulation beings
with the application of the printing press to book production from the mid 15th
century onwards in Western Europe. Printing was simply a more productive
alternative to the copying of manuscripts texts by hand, which had not yet been
properly regulated, although in practice it took place mainly under the
oversight of authorizes of church or state. The printing trade and industry
then expanded and church and state took an increasing interest within it. The
export and import of books was also controlled or forbidden. In other states,
including Russia, printing was banned for roughly two hundred years.
A new dimension to regulation was
added by then invention of new media during the nineteenth century, especially
the electric telegraph, then the telephone and wireless, which led to public
radio broadcasting from 1920 onwards. Broadcast media were the most closely
regulated of all media nearly everywhere during the twentieth century and they
have never achieved the degree of freedom enjoyed by print media.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is
the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any
audio or visual mass communications medium, but usually one using radio waves.
Broadcasting has been used for various purposes. Historically, there have been
several types of electronic media broadcasting. These are telephone, radio
broadcasting, telecast, cable radio, direct-broadcast satellite and webcasting.
Broadcasting originates in the United Kingdom. In the 1920’s it quickly became
a monopoly public service broadcaster that lasted for roughly thirty years,
until the advent of ITV broadcasting in the late 1950’s. The introduction of
commercial TV was regulated by a legal framework which was later altered by
Margaret Thatcher’s Broadcasting Act, which de-regulated parts of ITV in 1990.
The UK TV terrestrial broadcasters are BBC, ITV C4 and C5.
All of these channels have some public service media responsibilities. Each
channel, BBC having two channels (BBC1 and BBC2), have to run news broadcasts
and create original programming. All of these channels include some sort of
news segment throughout the day. For example, both BBC1 and ITV have morning
news which goes on for roughly two hours. The main laws that effect
broadcasting is the Broadcasting Act. This is an act in which the key issues
its covers all relate to the media, including laws affecting television
programmes, radio, sound broadcasting, complaints etc. this act mostly effects
television broadcasting. An example of the one rules is: a)as to the rules
to be observed with respect to the showing of violence, or the inclusion of
sounds suggestive of violence, in programmes included in licensed services,
particularly when large numbers of children and young persons may be expected
to be watching the programmes.
Film and other media
regulation:
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still images which, when shown on a
screen, creates the illusion of moving images. The Obscene Publications Act
relates to film regulation. The Obscene Publications Act will
directly address the discussions about decency and taste. The BBFC (British
Board of Film Classification) affects the regulation of films. The BBFC is an
independent, non-governmental body which has classified cinema films since it
was set up in 1912 and videos/DVD’s since the Video Recordings Act was passed
in 1984. An example of work by the BBFC was when the film, directed by Stanley
Kubrick, The Clockwork Orange was looked at when it was submitted to the BBFC
in 1971. The film was discussed and then received and 18 age rating because of
the violence and behaviour shown. Kubrick decided as an example of
self-censorship to withdraw the film from circulation in the UK, even though
the BBFC did not reject it. After his death, the film was allowed to be
released in the UK.
I feel that through my research so far, that media regulation is highly
important. I feel that it is still needed to protect audiences.
The media
industry should be able to be accessed by any independent production company.
Media conglomerates do not allow this and so the industry is being held back in
its improvement. I feel that there should be restriction so that there is
access to those who are not a part of the conglomerates who monopolise the
industry. I think that there should be more diversity within the media
industry. There needs to be access to funding for these independent companies
to get into the industry.
Various political leaders and parties have different views on media
regulation, including Ofcom. For example, in July 2009, the Conservative party
leader, David Cameron warned a speech that “Ofcom, as we know it, will cease to
exist”, if his party came to power. Under Cameroons leadership, the current UK
coalition government has pulled back from substantially reducing Ofcom’s remit,
although the current Public Bodies Bill does propose some changes to it.
Censorship and self-censorship
Censorship is the
suppression of speech or public communication which is possible objectionable,
harmful, sensitive or inconvenient as determined by a government, media outlet
or controlling body. Censorship can be done by governments and private
organisations or individuals who engage in self-censorship. I feel that
censorship does affect media regulation. I feel that if something is censored
because it is offensive it possibly a good thing, as no-one is mentally harmed
by it. Although it can be argued that censorship is just hiding the truth and
is similar to being lied to. Censorship may take place in speech, books, music,
films, television, the press, radio and many other media industries. There is a
variety of reasons it takes place, which could be including national security
or to protect children. Self-censorship is the control of what you say or do in
order to avoid annoying or offending others, but without being told officially
that such control is necessary. A lot of
the time self-censorship is used on social media websites. These include
Twitter and Facebook, where people may write a status or tweet, but not telling
the truth of what they actually think as they feel people may take offence.
Conclusion
To conclude, I
believe that the current regulations and all correct and should stay the way
that they are. I feel that there is correct amount of freedom for television,
film and radio. I feel it is necessary for people have freedom of expression
yet it is understandable that if people go too far and express their very
personal opinions, it may seem offensive to someone watching is listening to
the certain programme. This is where the law should be put in place. Yet it is
always important to stick to the truth. I feel that the BBFC do an excellent
job of rating films, as I feel it would be inappropriate for a child to watch a
film that includes violence, scenes of a sexual nature etc.
Although I do
agree with the current regulations, I feel that there would be no need to
extend or enforce any rule further. If regulation is taken too far, the quality
of films, television and radio will be affected, and would decrease. This would
‘dumb-down’ certain programmes and may create less enjoyment for the audience. Yet
if there was no regulation, the media would be free to broadcast and/or publish
anything that they want and face no consequences from it. Therefore I feel the
regulations in place at the moment should stay in place. I feel that there
should always be considerations when media regulation may be changed or even
withdrawn. Although media regulation has not always been used for an honest
reason, current bodies including Ofcom regulate a large variety of media to
ensure consumer choice but not at the cost of taste and decency.
From all of the
research I have completed, I have come to the conclusion that media regulation
is highly important in these modern times and that it should be kept to protect
certain audiences.
Bibliography:
ALL ACCESSED 5/07/13
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