OFCOM Media Law

By, Jagvir Singh Tiwana

MEDIA LAW GOVERNING FACTUAL PROGRAMMING

OFCOM What is it? How has it been broken in the past? Give example
This has been broken when Crimewatch have not correctly reconstructed a serious crime accurately. This has been broken because Tulisa from N-Dubz has been promoting a perfume band when she was told she was not allowed to. When participants from Big Brother got caught swearing vigorously on television.

How will it specifically affect your work?

Reconstructions

When something is reconstructed to show to the audience of a television show. Crimewatch is an example of a show. If advertisement is needed then it must be approved by the commissioning editor and the program lawyer. There should be nothing that can offend anyone such as, strong language, violence, sexual violence, explicit sexual portrayal etc. must always be justifiable by the context. Programs should not encourage crime or any kind of criminal activity. No payment should be made to anyone who has been convicted or confessed criminals or anyone close to them unless it is justified by the public interest.

This can affect my work because, if I do include a reconstruction and it is not accurate it can mislead my target audience of my documentary. This can effect my work as the wording of the advertisements may take time to be improved from the editors. This can effect my work because, if I add any footage in I will know it will be potentially offensive material and people will be offended by it and I know what potentially offensive material is. This can effect my work because, if I was going to include anything to do with criminality I could be given a fine and if I know the rules I know what to include in my work and what not to include in my work.

Dealing with Contributors

Potentially Offensive Material

Criminality

This was broken when Eastenders showed a gang attack in a episode before a specific time, they were warned before hand on what they could show and what they could not show