1. PR9 Regulation continued:
Describe some of the legal and ethical issues that impact on individuals and
companies in the UK radio industry:
Use the Ofcom website to find ethical policies and legal procedures related to radio
(same as TV);
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/programme-
guidance/bguidance/
Ofcom have laid out different rules regarding certain subjects. These include
language, crime etc.
Discuss any ethical issues that radio producers have to take into account
They have to produce content that will not offend people. The thing that they have to
look out for mainly is controversial subjects that are likely to offend the audience.
Listen to the audio taken from the live phone in last year, where BBC Radio Solent
presenter Alex Dyke made comments which led to him being taken off the air.
2. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/alex-dyke-bbc-radio-solent-
djs-breastfeeding-comments-in-breach-of-broadcasting-rules-says-ofcom-
a6727321.html
What are the issues around Dyke’s comments?
Alex Dyke was already talking about an already controversial topic, he then
proceeded to be rude and talk about women, specifically woman who breastfeed
their children in public, in a derogatory manner.
Why were they deemed to be ethically unsound?
Because he stereotyped the sort of person that would breastfeed their child in public.
Find the section of the broadcasting code which relates to Dyke’s comment. (Use the
Ofcom website)
It comes under harm and offence, because Alex Dyke’s comments are considered
offensive.
Would you class the issue around Dyke’s comments as an emerging social concerns
and expectation? What other emerging social concerns and expectations are there?
Yes because he had the responsibility to say things which are not considered rude or
offensive. Other social concerns are that people who say things that can be deemed
rude and offensive, brand it as satire. Alex Dyke is frowned down upon because the
comments that he made were not satirical, and he genuinely believed everything that
he said. Sometimes people forget that satirical people say things to be funny and not
be offensive, However there can be topics that are very inappropriate to talk about
satirically.
Present all of your answers on your blog via Prezi/PPT or Podcast
