Regulation and censorship
Newsnight production team
Regulation and censorship: Key Stage 4 lesson plans (PDF, 91kb)
- Worksheet 1: The Ofcom programme code (PDF, 49kb)
- Worksheet 2: Mediawatch-UK (PDF, 56kb)
- OHT 1 - Mary Whitehouse quote (PDF, 27kb)
- OHT 2 - 'Itchy and Scratchy' (PDF, 50kb)
Background
Censorship is a controversial issue. Should the government be allowed to control what people read, watch or listen to? The governments of some countries maintain a tight control on the media and ban anything that criticises the government or challenges traditional or religious conventions.
In democratic countries, freedom of the press, and of the media more widely, is seen as a basic right, the violation of which undermines the fundamental principles of democracy. In order for people to have a say in the way the country is governed they need to be well informed about what the government is doing and about domestic and international issues. Any control on access to this information is seen as repressive and anti-democratic.
However, many people believe that some regulation is necessary, particularly of the visual media - film and television - because, they think, showing violence, sex and bad language on television or in the cinema is a violation of important moral codes and can encourage similar behaviour in society. This view is encoded in the regulatory procedures that have been established in the UK since the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) was set up in 1981 and which are now maintained and developed by Ofcom.
For more on this topic see:
- Regulation and censorship
- What is the watershed?
- Ofcom's regulation of TV broadcasting
- Information about the Broadcasting Code
Regulating the broadcasters
Under the Communications Act of 2003, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) was set up to regulate all broadcasters. To broadcast legally in the UK an independent broadcast company needs a licence, which are awarded by Ofcom.
The BBC
The BBC is largely self-regulating. The BBC's Royal Charter requires it to publish a statement of promises to its viewers. There is also a Statements of Programme Policy 2003/4. The programme makers at the BBC operate according to editorial guidelines. These cover all aspects of programme making including taste and decency.
The BBC operates its own Programme Complaints Unit, which investigates complaints to the BBC. If a complaint is upheld, the BBC will apologise and there may be a correction on-air. A quarterly bulletin that summarises complaints and outlines any action taken is also published. There is an online bulletin for complaints processes and procedures.
Because this process has been criticised for allowing a company to regulate itself, under the Communications Act 2003, the BBC became subject to external regulation by Ofcom, which has the power to fine the BBC for breaches of standards.
