Explain how either broadcasting or the press are regulated in the UK.

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Explain how either broadcasting or the press are regulated in the UK.

In terms of the media, the broadcasting section of it is relatively ‘new or recent’ particularly when we compare it’s life span (from around 1900 to present) to that of the press, which has had a long illustrious history dating from around 1702 (England’s first daily newspaper). Most theorists, authors etc. will date the broadcasting media as coming into existence around (1900, when radio technology was being developed). Broadcasting (to broadcast) is essentially defined as 1: to transmit by radio or t.v. 2: to tell many people n: a radio or television programme or transmission. In definition being very simple, the regulation of the broadcasting media diverges away from simplicity.

There are a number of regulatory bodies, that alone control and maintain standards within television. These include the independent television commission (ITC), the broadcasting standards council (BSC), OFTEL and The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) which also has a 300-page booklet of producer’s guidelines of which oversight is invested in a four-person editorial-unit.

When we think of Broadcasting, generally speaking we associate the term with Radio, Television and now through advancements in technology, the Internet.

Regulation is termed as 1: a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority in accordance with regulations. 2: the act or process of regulating or being regulated.

During the body of this essay one will discuss, the various ways of regulating there are, the current ‘system’ in the U.K. along with comparisons between the broadcasting media and the press. One will also raise debates about the effectiveness of the legislation and regulatory bodies in place and whether these measures can extend to new advancements, such as the Internet. The discussion will also focus on current thinking on the regulation of the Internet, and national debate and measures that are taking place.

Television has many regulations and regulatory bodies, simply because it is divided into sections, the BBC being the company that provides a service for all, and must therefore provide a wide ranging service for all the population. Commercial terrestrial channels that are regulated like the BBC but have slightly more freedom and cable and satellite channels and companies, which although are regulated, don’t have restraints on what they have to broadcast. Regulation for these vastly different sectors is therefore ultimately different and needs to be regulated in accordance.

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Regulators and legislators have many problems in effectively regulating each individual ‘section’ of television broadcasters, simply because each serves the public in different ways. As already stated the BBC, as a public broadcasting company, and the company which receives the license fee that the British public pays, is indebted to give wide ranging broadcasting, a variety of programmes and unbiased news coverage. While Sky has no such constraints on it’s programming or content to the same degree it, although having to follow particular standards cannot be told what it ahs to broadcast. The press in this way has no real ...

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