Regulatory Bodies - Issues

What is a monopoly?

A monopoly is "the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service." This means that, in media, a monopoly is something a person or company has when they own a large portion of the market. For example, Rupert Murdoch has a monopoly of businesses in the media sectors because he owns many newspapers and television channels.

Why is it important to ensure that no one single media producer in the UK has a monopoly?

It is important to make sure that no one person in this country has a monoply because if they did, the media would be mostly - or entirely; controlled by them. This means that everything we see, hear, and read would be controlled by that one person and therefore the information can become unreliable and of the opinion of that person, and things would stop being in the public's interest. It would be harmful to the public if one person had a monopoly in this country because they would not get fully correct information and would be influenced by the same person every day without really noticing.

Why is consumer choice so important?

It is important for consumers to have choice over the things that they see, hear, and read because they need to be able to decide what the best thing is for themselves. If they had no choice, they would hear the same thing over and over again, and it may not neccessarily be correct information. To have a varied choice is important so the news they hear is not biased or false. Also, competition is important in the media industry because if there was no choice, a certain business, such as Sky for example, could charge a high amount of money for their services and the public would not have a choice in paying it as there would be no where else they could go to to get a lower price.

What is censorship?

Censorship in the media industry is when some things are removed or supressed for the benefit of the public, and it usually happens when something is considered to be offensive or harmful to the general public.

What are the arguments for and against censorship?

Censorship can keep a certain degree of control in the media and therefore is usually seen as a good thing. It stops harmful, offensive, or obscene things being seen by the wrong people, (for example, children) and can make the media safer. However, some people argue that censorship is bad because it can prevent people from seeing the truth and it can restrict freedom of speech.

Why should under 18s be subjected to particular considerations by regulators?

People under the age of 18 are often seen as vulnerable people, and should therefore be protected. They should not be shown things which could be potentially harmful to them. For example, when BBFC decide which certificate a film should have, they must consider younger people and make sure that only people of the appropriate age group can see a certain film. If, for example, a film has graphic scenes of violence or obscenity, the BBFC would choose to give the film an age certification of 18 to ensure that it could not harm, upset, or offend anyone significantly.