WRL

1. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
Unit 7: Understanding the Creative
Media Sector
Learning outcome 2:
Understand ethical and legal constraints
within the media sector
Name: Bob George Trelfa
Understand legal constraints in the creative media sector

2. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
Use this workbook to help you with this learning outcome. There is some guidance
and further notes which you should read and then remove, replacing it with your own
answers.
Are representations ever realistic?
Positive representation wants to make the subject positive so they would normally only
show the positive aspect of some thing and leave out the negative. Negative
representation wants to make the subject negative so they would normally only show
the negative aspect of some thing and leave out the positive. The media does this a lot
to try get people to have a certain opinion on something this means its very rare that
representation is realistic, for example the daily mail has distinct was of representing
women and men, on their website they have a side bar that talks about the figure and
clothing style of certain people in the news.
What sort of things can influence the representations that we see?
Things can influence the representation like different media companies, the audience
the media companies target , peoples popular opinion on things like politics modern
society and celebrities.
Find an example of representation and explain what you are seeing:
The daily mail has paintedthisfactas some thingbadby sayingwe are takingin to many
refugees when actually we are helpingotherpeople witchisagoodthing.
How many categories of word do Ofcom have? Explain each one.
Ofcom have 3 categories of word:
Category A:Not before the watershed (9pm) and often come with editorial restrictions.
Category B:Generally not before 9pm, with exceptions.
Category B: Pre 9pm but some restrictions still apply.

3. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
Why does Ofcom have this list of words? Do you think there should be
restrictions on when certain words can be used?
(Explain the reason that these categories exist and then use your own opinion,
supported by further research, to debate if we should have these restrictions.)
Why does the NUJ produce language guidelines?
Language can be more than swearingandcan be incredibly influential, they produce language
guidelines So children or influential people don’t get influenced and start behaving
badly. It is also there to make sure no one is offended by what is said.
Should we protect groups of people by putting in place guidelines on how we
talk about them?

4. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
There are 3 ways in which a broadcaster can make it easier for people with a
disability to access its programmes. What are they?
The broadcastingcompany would show programs that include Subtitling and Sign language
for people who can’t hear, they would also use Audio description for blind people. All
this would give access to disabled people so they can be entertained by programs on
T.V.
Who ensures that broadcasters are making their programmes accessible? What
are the consequences for broadcasters if they do not meet their accessibility
requirements?
Ofcom makes sure broadcasters programs are accessible for disabled viewers, if
ofcom find that a company has not made its programs accesible they can fine the
company and the fine depends on the situation.

5. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
Why do we have codes of practice?
Most companies have a code of practise they should work towards, producers can use
these guidelines to make decisions on contact of a program. They follow these guide
lines to make sure the content is appropriate for the audience and so it doesn't offend
anyone.
Use one code of practice and investigate it in detail:
The IPSO is the editors guideline for anything print based like newspaper or
magazines, if any one has a problem with a newspaper, magazine or even a reporter
they would go to IPSO and complain and then IPSO would deal with the company who
make the print based product some one is complaining about. IPSO also
What is the Broadcasting Act and what did it do?
The broadcasting act came about in 1990 and it creative a regulative body that
aloud the creation of channel five and encouraged people to own more of the
media and it says that people can’t own more than 20% of a broadcasting
company.
What is the Official Secrets Act?
This act is law that says you cannot release secrets and information to anyone.
Find an example of when it has been used and explain why it was used and what
the outcome was.

6. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
Edward Snowden worked at the C.I.A and he was a whisper blower because he
moved to Russia and was a asylum seeker and put all the C.I.A’s information on the
internet.
Should we have an Official Secrets Act?
I think we should have this act because it keeps information safe, some information is
and acts are put up by the government to protect the public and if every one knew
these secrets they could just find away around the protection putting the public in
danger.
What is the Obscene Publications 1959 and what is its definition of obscenity?
Effectively protect people from films were obscene acts are shown. Before the acts
was mainly print 1977 but after it was adapted to film as well.
Give an example of a recent case involving the act (1990 onwards). What
happened, who was involved and what was the outcome?
6th January 2012 Michael peacock had a business of selling mail order business
pornography, an undercover officer approached him seeking videos of water sports, he
was found not guilty because the footage wasn't corrupting the audience.
What is the Video Recordings Act? Why was the Video Recordings Act
introduced?
VRA was made in 1984 it was made to regulate the growing home video market, from
1985 they had to summit the film for rating. This act was updated in 2010

7. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
What were some of the films that were prosecuted by the Director of Public
Prosecution?
cannibal holocaust: was made in 1980, 2001 5 minutes was removed and then 15
seconds in 2011.
snuff:
the driller killer:
ss experimental camp
What is the equality act?
Designed to encourage the identification and elimination of discrimination, sexual
harassment and victimisation and their causes. The whole point of the equality act is to
make people aware of it and not do it.
What are the 9 protected characteristics?
age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage / civil partnership, race, religion,
sex, sexual orientation
Can you find an example of a case involving the equality act? What happened
and what was the outcome?
A pub chain refused some travellers because they viewed them as a stereotype and
feared they might steel or mis behave, the travellers took the pub chain to court and
won for £3500.

8. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
What protects people from journalists invading their privacy?
Find a privacy case and explain who was involved, what happened and what the
outcome was.
What areas does the Copyright and Intellectual Propertylaw cover?
Why is copyright important to the creative media sector?
(Finding a specific case involving this law will help you discuss things in more detail.
Think about how you would feel if someone else were to use your work to get paid.)
What is libel? What must you be able to prove to win a libel case?

9. BTEC Extended DiplomainCreativeMediaProduction
Find an example (not the one you were given in the lecture) of a libel case.
(Explain in detail what happened, who was involved and what the outcome was. You
could find a case which was won or lost.)