Regulating Bodies

Ofcom-
Regulating Bodies


The Office of Communications, known as Ofcom, is the regulatory authority set up by the government in the United Kingdom, to monitor the broadcasting and telecommunications industries.  Ofcom’s remit is very wide ranging and includes monitoring adverts, music videos, radio and television. They duty is to cover licensing, research, codes and policies, complaints, competition and protect the radio from exploitation. Ofcom’s interest is within citizens to protect them as consumers from harmful or offensive material.

Ofcom has created a ‘Code of Practice’ for broadcasting (Feb ’11). Section one explains the ‘Protecting Under- Eighteens’ regulations. The guidelines for media aimed at Under 18s with reference to sexual content are:
1.8 they must protect the identification of the young person, ‘who are or might be involved as victim, witness, defendant or other perpetrator in the case of sexual offences featured in criminal civil or family court proceedings.’
1.9 Ofcom will pay particular regard to vulnerable position of any under 18 year old who is ‘involved as a witness or victim, before broadcasting’ their details. This also applies for under 18’s involved in ‘the defence as a defendant or potential defendant’.

In section 1.10, Ofcom explains that ‘the use of illegal drugs, the abuse of drugs, smoking, solvent abuse and the misuse of alcohol must generally be avoided and not encouraged or glamorised’ for childrens programmes unless there is an ‘editorial justification.’

1.14 of the code of practice talks about offensive language- this cannot be used before the watershed on TV. 1.15 says that offensive language should not be used except in exceptional circumstances but in 1.16 it does say that offensive can’t be used unless justified by the context and should certainly not be frequent.

Material that is classified as an BBFC R-18 or equivalent (hardcore pornography that exceeds the 18 certificate) should never be broadcast at any time. Adult sex material can only be shown within very strict guidelines and times (2200-0530 on premium subscription services).
Sexual intercourse must not be shown before the watershed unless there is an educational reason. (1.20) Nudity can only be shown if it is justified by the context.
The emotional welfare and dignity of people under eighteen has to be considered when they are used in programmes, irrespective of consent. It is not permissible to cause them any anxiety or distress.
Both physical and verbal violence have to be avoided before the watershed in programmes unless justified by the context. (1.11-1.13) Dangerous behaviour that children might copy cannot be portrayed unless justified.
Ofcom says that broadcasters must take precaution to viewers who may have photosensitive epilepsy. Broadcasters can demonstrate that broadcasting flashing lights and/or patterns is editorially justified, viewers need a verbal and text warning at the start of the programme or programme item before this is broadcasted. (2.12)
If I include flashing images in my music video, then I will have to have a verbal and text warning at the start of the music video to warn anybody who may have photosensitive epilepsy.

Ofcom states that ‘music videos are an artistic and creative medium, which can sometimes contain challenging content which some may find offensive.’ Ofcom has duties regarding all music videos so ‘that under-eighteens are protected and enforce generally accepted standards so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from the inclusion of offensive and/or harmful material.’

Ofcom’s rules on clothing in music videos depends on how sexualised the clothing is and how the images are presented. Ofcom says that ‘Great care should be taken as to how these images are presented before the watershed.’ Meaning images of artists wearing for example, bikinis or underwear and in which way they are presented.

By Phoebe Atkinson


References:
www.wikipedia.com
www.ofcom.org.uk