Ethics and Regulations -
Broadcast Regulations
Ofcom
Television is regulated by statute [parliamentary law] through
an independent regulator, the Office of Communications
(Ofcom). Ofcom’s rules are contained in the Broadcasting Code
which says that broadcasters must:
1. Be impartial in political and social issues
2. Be accurate
3. Treat people fairly
4. Respond privacy
5. Avoid causing harm and offence
Complaints
Rules on broadcasters are stricter because sound and images
have more potential to “influence, offend or harm their
audiences.” Ofcom has not regulated web content, however, it
intends to. 2021 was a record year for TV and radio complaints
with over 150,000 cases, an increase of 124%. This does not
include complaints at the BBC.
Most complained episodes of 2021
1. Good Morning Britain, ITV (54,595 complaints)
2. Love Island, ITV2 (24,921 complaints)
3. Celebrities: What’s Happened to your face? (7,125
complaints)
4. Oprah with Megan and Harry (6,486 complaints)
Broadcasting code
1. Any breaching of the code must be justified - for
example, in the public interest.
2. Revealing or detecting crime
3. Trying to protect public safety or health
4. Exposing misleading claims made by individuals or
organisations
5. Disclosing incompetence that affects the public
Breaking the broadcast code
Any breaching of the code must be justified - for example, in
the public interest.
- Revealing or detecting crime
- Trying to protect public safety or health
- Exposing misleading claims made by individuals or
organisations
- Disclosing incompetence that affects the public
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Broadcast Regulations
Ofcom
Television is regulated by statute [parliamentary law] through
an independent regulator, the Office of Communications
(Ofcom). Ofcom’s rules are contained in the Broadcasting Code
which says that broadcasters must:
1. Be impartial in political and social issues
2. Be accurate
3. Treat people fairly
4. Respond privacy
5. Avoid causing harm and offence
Complaints
Rules on broadcasters are stricter because sound and images
have more potential to “influence, offend or harm their
audiences.” Ofcom has not regulated web content, however, it
intends to. 2021 was a record year for TV and radio complaints
with over 150,000 cases, an increase of 124%. This does not
include complaints at the BBC.
Most complained episodes of 2021
1. Good Morning Britain, ITV (54,595 complaints)
2. Love Island, ITV2 (24,921 complaints)
3. Celebrities: What’s Happened to your face? (7,125
complaints)
4. Oprah with Megan and Harry (6,486 complaints)
Broadcasting code
1. Any breaching of the code must be justified - for
example, in the public interest.
2. Revealing or detecting crime
3. Trying to protect public safety or health
4. Exposing misleading claims made by individuals or
organisations
5. Disclosing incompetence that affects the public
Breaking the broadcast code
Any breaching of the code must be justified - for example, in
the public interest.
- Revealing or detecting crime
- Trying to protect public safety or health
- Exposing misleading claims made by individuals or
organisations
- Disclosing incompetence that affects the public
21
