Control

• 3 Formal controls of the media?

  1. The Law
  2. Ofcom
  3. IPSO
• What Laws control the media?

  1. Liberal laws
  2. Official Secrets Act
  3. Obscene Publications Act
  4. DSMA-Notices
  5. Equality Laws
  6. Contempt of Court
• What does the Liberal Law entail?


  Forbids the publication of an untrue statement about a person which may bring them ridicule, dislike or hostility in society
• What is the Official Secrets Act ?


  Criminal offence to report (without authorization) any official government activity which the GOV defines as an official secret
• What is the Obscene Publications Act?


  Forbids the publication of anything that a court considers to be obscene and indecent, and likely to ‘deprave and corrupt’ the audience
• What is Ofcom? 


  Office of Communications, media regulator
• What is Ofcom responsible for?

  • Ensuring a wide range of media available in the UK
  • Protecting the public from offensive or harmful effects of media
  • Safeguarding people being unfairly treated on TV
• What is the IPSO and what does it regulate ?


  The Independent Press Standards Organisation

  Regulates newspapers & magazines in the UKProtecting, monitors standards of journalism e.g. Editors code of practice
• What funds the BBC?


  State funded & TV licence fees
• How does the government influence and control the media?

  Official Press Conferences

  “Leaks“ and Off the record Briefings

  Government Spin Doctors

  Filtering & Blocking computer software

  Surveillance
• What is the purpose of official press conferences held by the government?

  To present the official government position on contemporary issues in hopes to get their views published in the media
• How did the government use press conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic?

  To present key information and push policy initiatives e.g. “Eat out to help out”
• What is the significance of "leaks" and off-the-record briefings ?

  They allow government officials to talk to journalists and manage media reporting
• What advantage do journalists who provide favorable coverage to the government receive?

  They are given preferential treatment in the future
• What are public relations advisors in the government commonly known as?

  Spin doctors
• How might a government use leaks to its advantage?

  By leaking statistics that make them appear more effective
• What is the role of spin doctors in government media relations?

  To manipulate media coverage of policies
• Example of spin doctors in the government?

  Alastair Campbell advised Tony Blair to improve his public image suggesting he be more casual with his Cabinet ministers to seem down to earth and an approachable leader by the public
• What is one method some governments use to control internet access?

  Filtering and blocking computer software
• What was the impact of the headline "Call me Tony" on public perception?

  It made the Prime Minister appear down-to-earth and approachable
• What is an example of restricted internet access ?

  Many features of Google cannot be accessed in China
• Why did Google withdraw from China in 2010?

  Because the Chinese government was hacking into Google
• What type of surveillance does the government conduct ?

  Electronic surveillance of emails and mobile phone calls
• How might government surveillance affect internet usage among citizens?

  It may scare people away from using the internet freely
• What law was passed in the UK in 2014 regarding surveillance?

  A law allowing police to scrutinize social media and emails
• What was the phone hacking scandal? 


  First brought to public attention when a royal reporter hacked into the phones of the Royal Family

  Guardian Newspaper uncovered thousands of victims of phone hacking including Hugh Grant & George Michael
• What is phone hacking? 


  Technique used to listen to people mobile phone voicemails to find angles on stories that would get them ahead of competition