B. Units 1 & 2 (t7) - Regulatory frameworks

 

Task 7 – Regulatory frameworks

Regulatory Body

A regulatory body/agency is defined as being a public authority or government agency responsible for exercising authority over a specific area of human activity in society. Different bodies will be responsible for different things, rather than covering everything as a whole. For example, in the creative industry, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is a non-profit organisation that regulates film and TV. This includes the regulation of videos and DVD's since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984. Overall, their aim is to protect the public from risk of harmful content - children, most importantly. 

SOURCE - Professional and Regulatory Bodies in the Media – Valentinemedia (wordpress.com)

Regulatory Framework

Similarly, regulatory frameworks means that any laws, regulations, policies and guidelines are complementary of electoral laws by clarifying or filling in gaps, in which they use the regulatory body but apply this to modern laws being geographically relevant. They are used for handling regulatory matters and developing flexible and meaningful networks of laws and rules - when a framework is developed, it must be started by defining its end goal first. 

SOURCE - Professional and Regulatory Bodies in the Media – Valentinemedia (wordpress.com)                               Legal and Regulatory Frameworks | IFES

Ofcom

Ofcom is a regulator of TV, radio, VoDS, telecoms, mobiles, postal services and wireless airwaves. It follows a main body, called the Board, which provides strategic direction. However, their regulatory framework consists of Senior Management, Content Board Committees, Nations and Regions and Annual reports which they provide. They handle complaints from the public about any of the services they overlook, as mentioned prior. They get their regulatory body status as they claim that "our duties come from Parliament", and so they are a government agency. Their main responsibilities are:

• to ensure the public can use communications services, such as broadband
• to ensure companies provide quality TV and radio which appeal to diverse audiences
• to ensure viewers and listeners are protected from harmful and offensive content on TV, radio and VoDs
• to ensure people are protected from unfair treatment in programmes and that they don't have their privacy invaded
• to ensure universal postal providers covers all of the UK six days a week and with fair pricing
• to ensure the radio spectrum is used effectively

SOURCE - What is Ofcom? - Ofcom

ASA 

The ASA stands for the Advertising Standards Authority, of whom are independent to the UK and are classed as a regulatory body. They ensure that all adverts across the UK follow advertising rules and will handle complaints from the public about any and all adverts. Their framework is split into six strands, also called their strategy: People (the public comes first); Online (main focus on improving online advertising and the abolition of misleading content); Effectiveness (always aim to deliver high quality regulatory projects); Buy-in (seek greater buy-in from online only advertisers); Enforcement (aim to improve how irresponsible ads are proactively identified) and Independence (aim to continue to regulate without fear or favour). The complaints they cover include:

• press ads, radio and TV ads
• ads on the internet across all platforms
• ad claims on companies' own websites
• commercial email and text messages 
• posters and billboards
• leaflets and brochures
• ads displayed in cinema
• direct mail

SOURCE - Our purpose and strategy - ASA | CAP

IPSO

In the UK, IPSO stands for the Independent Press Standards Organisation, who are an independent regulator of almost all of the UK’s newspapers and magazines. This can include investigating complaints about printed and online material which may breach the ‘Editor’s Code’. The ‘Editor’s Code’ is the regulatory framework followed by the IPSO, which is a code of practice that sets out rules that newspapers and magazines have to follow, and which will be regulated by the IPSO. The code itself is written and administered by the Editor’s Code Committee, and is updated regularly (last updated on 1^st July 2019). Their responsibilities are:

• ensuring magazines and newspapers follow the Editors' Code
• investigating complaints about printed and digital material
• forcing publishers to publish corrections if the Editors' Code is breached
• monitoring press standards and annual statements
• investigating standard failings and issuing fines in serious cases
• operating 24-hour anti-harassment lines
• providing advice for editors and journalists and providing training
• providing a Whistleblowing Hotline for journalists
• working with charities to improve press standards

SOURCE - Editors' Code of Practice (ipso.co.uk)

BBFC

The BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification, who are an independent regulator of UK film. They gather data on what Brits want to watch using surveys and focus groups to consult those across the UK in order to constantly update what they monitor and produce. The BBFC work closely with the film and digital industries and educators. When it comes to online content, the BBFC work to encourage the use of age ratings for the video on demand (VoD). Their main focus is to protect the public - especially children - from harmful content in film and TV. 

SOURCE - Who we are | BBFC

PEGI

PEGI stands for Pan European Game Information, who are a European game and film regulator for age ratings, the ensure that age appropriate content is effectively monitored and produced for the public. They base their ratings off of the age regulators across Europe, unique to each country and their own lawful recommendations. They follow their strict Code of Conduct, which consists of 15 Articles needed to be followed during the development of video games. Games are rated by:

1. Publishers complete a content assessment form prior to release which contains questions about content included which can include sexual or violent content.
2. Based on this form, PEGI's online rating system automatically determine a provisional age rating
3. PEGI receives the game from the publisher and thoroughly checks the provisional age rating
4. The age rating is approved and the license is delivered to the publisher
5. The publisher is now authorised to reproduce the appropriate age rating logo on their game's release

SOURCE - What do the labels mean? | Pegi Public Site

Creative Industries Council

The Creative Industries Council is a joint forum and regulator between the creative industries and UK government, as the UK is a leading country in creative enterprise. Their aim is to be a suitable voice for creative industries, in which the council focus on areas where there are barriers to growth facing the sector, including finance, skills, export markets, regulation, intellectual property and infrastructure. 

SOURCE - About Us (thecreativeindustries.co.uk)                                                                                                         Creative Industries Council - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)