Institutions The Broadcasting

Code

Who is OFCOM?

Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications industries

It has responsibilities across television,

radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

What do they do?

Ofcom’s specific duties include applying

adequate protection for audiences against

offensive or harmful material and unfair

treatment or the infringement of privacy.

It can:

direct a broadcaster not to repeat a programme or advertisement

direct a broadcaster to publish a correction or judgement it can fine a broadcaster; and shorten or revoke a licence (excluding the BBC, Channel 4 or S4C)

Being able to take away the right to broadcast means that Ofcom is a very powerful institution

OFCOM can impose the following sanctions:

What is the Broadcasting Code?

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code (2009) is a document which sets out the standards which audiences are entitled to expect from broadcasters

These standards include appropriate scheduling of programmes so as to protect children, adequate protection of the public from harmful or offensive material, and exclusion of material likely to encourage crime or lead to disorder

News and current affairs should be accurate and impartial.

The Code has sections on fairness and privacy which apply to how broadcasters treat individuals or organisations directly affected by programmes.

The Human Rights Act

At the same time, the public’s right to know

is enshrined in the Human Rights Act

This is also known as ‘in the public interest’

The Code includes rules on:

 1. Harm – physical, self, psychological, health, protection

of identity, drugs, violence or dangerous behaviour, criminal behaviour, flashing imagery

 

2. Offence – discrimination (incl. sexuality, race, gender, religion), language, sex and nudity

 

3. Impartiality and accuracy, fairness, privacy

 

4. Sponsorship and advertising; what type, when, how much 5. Voting and competitions – charges, prizes etc 6. Scheduling – channel, time, watershed, warnings, pre-programme information

The Code includes rules on:

Apply the code:

Qu: Would OFCOM approve of your reality show?

If not, which point in the code would be the problem?

1. Harm2. Offence3. Impartiality4. Sponsorship5. Voting and competitions6. Scheduling