Critical Perspectives - Independence of Media

• Implications of freedom in british media
• Mediawatch UK
• Censorship

Independant - Free from political control

Is it possible or desirable to have a media platform that is free

Whats the price of freedom, and who does this benefit and disadvantage?

OFCOM - Regulator 

Freedom of speech - Letting anyone who has an opinion say what they want. It means that we can challenge views that we do not agree with. As soon as awe stop people speaking we stop people from learning new things and seeing different views that they may or may not agree with. 

Can television be bad for your moral health?

• Since the early days they have been viewed as visual media as potentially dangerous to viewers morals
• Obscenity is, relatively speaking a modern invention
• In the late 1800's  such notions became partially widespread
• Trying to restrict the freedom of speech in a fictional book. Lady Chatterley's Lover was banned in 1928 when first released. The 1959 obscene publications act. it stated that publishers would escape conviction if they could prove the literary merit of the book.

• The jury decided that it was fining Penguin books not guilty of publishing an obscene article.
• This verdict led to greater freedom to publish explicit material in the future.

• Censorship doesn't stay in one place, it adapts and evolves over time when certain things may or may not be seen as "right"

• Mary Whitehouse tried to be the new voice of TV censorship.
• She formed the "National viewers and Listeners Association" 
• She campaigned against what she perceived as the broadcast media's negative influence on moral standards. 

• Mediawatch UK 
• The 21st Century National viewers and listeners Association
• "For family values in media"

• They believe that the media in many forms is damaging our society - Sexualising images, Violent and addictive gaming, bullying through technology etc. 
• Representation of what is happening. New media seems to make it seem worse than it is, when a huge amount of the time they are to blame.
• They are aiming to clean up TV, they are trying to remove damaging and harmful content from our lives.
• They are trying to campaign against violent, exually explicit and obscene material. They also want to debate the effects of TV, Computer games, the internet etc.
• Educate media literacy trying to protect from potentially harmful content.
• Made images of child pornography illegal
• Encourages people to talk and think about the effect of violent entertainment
• Regularly called upon for comment by the media
• Trying to safeguard online

Should we control the media?

The implications of controlling the media is that we could be only told certain things if they are severely restrained, if we let people have a little more freedom we may here more authentic news. This can go both ways however because they then could bring out information that is too private.

OFCOM -  Government approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the UK

MAIN LEGAL DUTIES:

• the UK has a wide range of electronic communications services, including high-speed services such as broadband; 
• a wide range of high-quality television and radio programmes are provided, appealing to a range of tastes and interests; 
• television and radio services are provided by a range of different organisations; 
• people who watch television and listen to the radio are protected from harmful or offensive material; 
• people are protected from being treated unfairly in television and radio programmes, and from having their privacy invaded; 
• viewers of video on demand services are protected from harmful content; 
• a universal postal service is provided in the UK - this means a six days a week, universally priced delivery and collection service across the country; and 
• the radio spectrum (the airwaves used by everyone from taxi firms and boat owners, to mobile-phone companies and broadcasters) is used in the most effective way.

CENSORSHIP AND FILM: Some Cinema History

Hollywood Production Code - In the 1930's is an interesting study in moving image censorship 

In 1922 said that a bedroom scene could only take place if a man and a women has a foot on the floor.

Here are the 11 "don't" in Hollywood in the 1927

• Pointed profanity – by either title or lip – this includes the words "God", "Lord", "Jesus", "Christ" (unless they be used reverently in connection with proper religious ceremonies), "hell", "damn", "Gawd", and every other profane and vulgar expression however it may be spelled;
• Any licentious or suggestive nudity – in fact or in silhouette; and any lecherous or licentious notice thereof by other characters in the picture;
• The illegal traffic in drugs;
• Any inference of sex perversion;
• White slavery;
• Miscegenation (sex relationships between the white and black races);
• Sex hygiene and venereal diseases;
• Scenes of actual childbirth – in fact or in silhouette;
• Children's sex organs;
• Ridicule of the clergy;
• Willful offense to any nation, race or creed;

Conception vs Perception

The way that we all interpret a situation, maybe different to the concept that the original creator intended. 

The BBFC has constantly changed to stay in line with modern standards. The BBFC cannot assume responsibility for the guardianship of public morality.

Michael Powell's Peeping Town was rated an "X" even with many cuts. It was an 18 until 2007 and then finally it was declassified to a 15. This possibly shows that we are becoming a little more use to what was shown in this show.

TRAINSPOTTING: Before it's release in 1995 the BBFC said many factors meant that it was classified as an 18. Even though it had this high rating it still was a hit and had been nominated for many awards.

They then had to take in to account the difference of watching it at home because of the ability to pause it at home and see the graphic nature in more detail. They thought that it was glamorizing drug taking etc. They maybe thought that people would then start taking drugs because of what they had saw. 3 Cuts had to be removed for it to be allowed to played at home.

In 2002 it was resubmitted for an uncut certification at an 18 certificate.  Society had changed so people's opinions where different meaning it could then be passed at an 18 because they had finally realised that the film may not have been as bad as they first though. They had changed their perspective on what was going on in the film.

Hunger Games wanted to make the 12A Certificate but had to make some cuts to make that age Level. They where facing a 15 restriction. 

Some people including Michael Scammell state that we should have total freedom of speech and any restriction is a bad thing.

How can you incorporate the impact and implications of media freedom or censorship into your own work?

1. Fake News
2. Bias News (agenda)
3. Strong opinions which may not be suitable for all

What censorship laws/organisations can you explore?

1. Article 19 (Media regulations)
2. 1909 Cinematograph Act
3.  Broadcasting Act 1990

What themes can you explore? Differences in the written word and moving image?

1. What are constant news reports that are repeated every day
2. Do certain organisations always 
3. Do certain people have an agenda

Find sources to utilise and add to your reference list.

Find examples - individual case studies - which can support this

Discussions of findings