Constraints On Radio News Production

Both Ofcom and BBC have different rules and regulations that have been put into place regarding the use of certain things in there media content. Breaking any one of these constraints can make you liable to be prosecuted, fined, and maybe even arrested.

Handling Of Stories Involving Minors:

Ofcom - There principle for the protection of minors is 'To ensure people under eighteen are protected'.
The regulations are as follows:

• Material ha might seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of people under eighteen must not be broadcast.
• In the provision of services, broadcasters must take all reasonable steppes to protect people under eighteen. for television services, this is in addition o there obligations resulting from the audiovisual media services direct line.
• Children must also be protected by appropriate scheduling from material that is unsuitable for them. (Children are people under the age of fifteen years)

BBC - There principles and guidelines are as follows:

• We must ensure that the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of children and young people is protected during the making and broadcasting of our content, irrespective of any consent given by them or by a parent, guardian or other person acting in loco parents. There interests and safety must take priority over any editorial requirement.
• We must ensure that children and young people are not caused unnecessary anxiety or distress by their involvement in our output. Their involvement must be clearly editorially justified, consents should be obtained as appropriate to there circumstances of the child/young person and the nature of the contribution and output,and supporter should be give to them where necessary.

These would come into effect if say i had a story about a young child being abused and beaten. If i obtained images to do with the beating and i had received some information that doesn't go against the rules of Minors. i still may not publish this because eve though it isn't against the rules its unethical.  

Contempt Of Court:

Their isn't set regulations about this section, but that's basically means that if any judge had passed a verdict that someones name will not be used in any media of anykind, and a publisher, publises an artical with the persons name on it, the editor and the publisher could be sued, fined or even arrested.

Libel and Defamation: 

This in simpler terms means that is untrue may be published. This could be anything from false accusations, to fake images. If the story isn't true they cannot publish it.

Coverage Of Elections:

Ofcom - Their Principles for the coverage of elections are 'To ensure that the special impartiality requirements in the communications act 2003 and other legislation relation to broadcasting on elections and referendums, are applied at the time of elections and referendums.'

• The rule in section five, in particular the rules of maters of major political or industrial controversy and major maters relating to current public policy, apply to the coverage of elections and referendums. ( The rules in section five are ' News, In what ever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. - Significant mistakes in news should normally be acknowledged and corrected on air quickly. corrections should be appropriately scheduled. - No politician may be used as a newsreader, Interviewer or reporter in any news programs unless, exceptionally, it is editorially justified. In that case, The political allegiance of that person must be made clear to the audience.)

BBC - There principles are as follows:

• The BBC's commitment to impartiality and fairness is under intense scrutiny when reporting election campaigns. Political parties are likely to seek to influence editorial decisions. Programmes makers and other content producers should take all complaints seriously and be aware tat anything they say may be construed as 'BBC policy'. It should be explained to complainants that general complaints or allegations of bias must always be dealt with at a higher level, and the complaint should the be referred accordingly.
• We should make, and be able to defend, our editorial decisions on the basis that they are reasonable and carefully reached, with due impartiality. To achieve this we must ensure that :
• News judgments continue to drive editorial decisions making in news based programmes.
• News judgments at election time are made within a framework of democratic debate which ensures that due weight is given to hearing the views and examining the challenging the policies of all parties. significant smaller parties should also receive some network coverage during campaign.
• When producing UK-wide output, we are aware of the different political structures in the four nations of the united kingdom and that the are reflected in election coverage of each nation.
• The way in which due impartiality is achieved between parties will vary, depending on the format, output and platform. It may be done in a single item, a single programme, a series of programmes or items, or over the course of the campaign as a whole. But the programme makers and content producers must take responsibility of achieving due impartiality in there own output and no rely on other BBC content or services to redress any imbalance for the,.