British Media Law

Brief Description of the Race Relations Act (1976).

As part of the Race Relations Act (1976), media sectors (film, TV, newspapers, magazines, internet etc...) are found unlawful to broadcast or publish offensive or discriminating material that effects different ethnicity within the public, which come under the grounds of discrimination of gender, race, religion, nationality or ethnic background. It is also clear that the media sectors must publicly promote racial equality.
This applies to foreign, ethnic and cultural authorities.

http://www.redgoldfish.co.uk/viewglossary.asp?gid=557


Brief Description of the Obscene Publications Acts (1959 & 1964)

The Obscene Publications Act states that no media sector can broadcast or publish any material that is found to be obscene throughout the public sector. It is also against the law, if a single person publishes or broadcasts any material, that is in ownership, possession or control.

http://www.uddingston.s-lanark.sch.uk/security/obscene.htm

The "Watershed" is the time of day (9pm - 5:30am) where broadcasters throughout the TV industry are allowed to broadcast "adult content", which may include, offensive language, gambling, violence etc...
This broadcast time is unsuitable for children.
The Watershed does not apply to radio.

http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/television/watershed

Brief Description of the Representation of People (1983)

The Representation of People Act (1983) are the guidelines of how much time is allowed per broadcaster to broadcast different political parties within a country.
The broadcaster are also not allowed to be biased towards a particular party.

Brief Description of the Public Order Act (1986)

The Public Order Act (1986) is a law which does not allow the broadcast of offensive material that effect ethical/national groups within a country.
Offensive material concerned include, drugs, sex, violence, language, racism, threats etc...

Brief Description of the Sex Discrimination Act (1975)


The Sex Discrimination Act '75 states that it is unlawful to discriminate an individual in a job/workplace/training program etc... surrounding the sexuality or marital status.
This means that you must not question (in a respectful way) or harass a work colleague into sexual harassment.

http://www.redgoldfish.co.uk/viewglossary.asp?gid=597



Brief Description of the Broadcasting Act (1990)

The Broadcasting Act '90 allowed the creation of Channel 5 and multichannel satellite television.

Ofcom Legal and Ethical Broadcast Rules surrounding Gender.

Ofcom Legal and Ethical Broadcast Rules surrounding Gender.

2.3 In applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context (see meaning of "context" below). Such material may include, but is not limited to, offensive language, violence, sex, sexual violence, humiliation, distress, violation of human dignity, discriminatory treatment or language (for example on the grounds of age, disability, gender, race, religion, beliefs and sexual orientation). Appropriate information should also be broadcast where it would assist in avoiding or minimising offence.
Meaning of "context":
Context includes (but is not limited to):

• the editorial content of the programme, programmes or series;
• the service on which the material is broadcast;
• the time of broadcast;
• what other programmes are scheduled before and after the programme or programmes concerned;
• the degree of harm or offence likely to be caused by the inclusion of any particular sort of material in programmes generally or programmes of a particular description;
• the likely size and composition of the potential audience and likely expectation of the audience;
• the extent to which the nature of the content can be brought to the attention of the potential audience for example by giving information; and
• the effect of the material on viewers or listeners who may come across it unawares.

- Taken from Section Two: Harm and Offence of The Ofcom Broadcasting Code 2011.

- http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code-february2011/harmoffence/

Definition of Representation in the Media Culture.

Representation in the media culture is how different media areas portray a certain event in today's news.

At the moment, in today's world, North Korea is building tension between South Korea and the US, along with some other countries, including Russia and the UK.
They (North Korea) are threatening and preparing to invade South Korea, after a US Stealth Bomber flew over a US military base near Seoul (capital of South Korea).
The media has represented North Korea mainly in a negative way, saying he (Kim Jong Un) doesn't know what he's doing, or that the UK should get involved if the US fall into a war with North Korea.

There is very little positive (if not none at all) views revolving the Korea Crisis at the moment.

This makes the audiences brainwashed into believing that North Koreas actions are currently wrong.