Legal and Ethical Codes in Radio News

Learning Aims:• MUST be able to describe what

ofcom do and how their codes affect radio news broadcasts

• SHOULD be able to illustrate how ofcom maintain standards using broadcasting codes.

• COULD justify reasons for upholding BBC values and ofcom codes

Ofcom

“Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.”http://www.ofcom.org.uk/

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the UK communications industries.

They have responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

They regulate the UK radio industry whilst giving help and advice to the listeners.

The Ofcom Broadcasting Code

The Broadcasting Code applies to all of your broadcast material.

These rules state what broadcasters can and cannot do.

Decency and ObscenityIssues of decency and obscenity in particular can be dependent on context.

A song lyric which would pass unnoticed at 11.00pm might generate outrage and serious complaints at 11.00am, and Ofcom recognises this.

To give you a scenario:

Eminem has released a new single which contains explicit lyrics and lyrical content of a violent nature.

As a radio station regulated by Ofcom we have to abide by their broadcasting Code. Within this code are a number of sections.

Here is an example from the section Protecting the under Eighteens

Violence and dangerous behaviour 1.11 Violence, its after-effects and descriptions of violence, whether verbal or physical, must be appropriately limited in programmes broadcast before the watershed or when children are particularly likely to be listening and must also be justified by the context.

Offensive language 1.15 Offensive language must not be used in programmes made for younger children except in the most exceptional circumstances.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/protectingu18/

In Pairs • Take a look at one of these sections and

answer the questions on the forum entitled “OFCOM forum”

• Click on the section relating to the section you have been given.

• Religion• Privacy• Offensive Language• Crime, disorder, hatred and Abuse• Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy• Elections and Referendums• Fairness• Harm and Offence• Equal Opportunities

You have been given a new code to look atJudge the reasons for using that code and the impact it has on

audiences and wider society.

• Religion• Privacy• Offensive Language• Crime, disorder, hatred and

Abuse• Due Impartiality and Due

Accuracy• Elections and Referendums• Fairness• Harm and Offence• Equal Opportunities

TASK: Make notes about OFCOM codes in preparation for your assignment

• Use the codes to explain what news broadcasters can and can’t do

• Use the notes from the forum

• Use your brief to guide your note taking

• Consider legal and ethical justifications for using the codes.

BBC Editorial Guidelines

The Editorial Guidelines are the BBC's values and standards. http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidelines/

Activity:In groups of four or five look at one of the scenarios and the corresponding section of the BBC’s editorial values (on Moodle link under radio).

Discuss the ethical and legal reasons for using BBC’s editorial values.

Defend reasons for the BBC’s editorial guidelines based on the following points:

• democracy.• the rule of law.• individual liberty.• mutual respect for and tolerance of

those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith

• How do these guidelines reflect the values of our society?

TASK: Continue making notes about

• Legal and Ethical issues

• OFCOM codes• Consider legal and

ethical justifications for using the codes.

• BBC editorial values

Learning Aims:• MUST be able to describe what

ofcom do and how their codes affect radio news broadcasts

• SHOULD be able to illustrate how ofcom maintain standards using broadcasting codes.

• COULD justify reasons for upholding BBC values and ofcom codes