This document outlines a case study involving media regulation and includes questions for discussion. It addresses: 1) A case where a media complaint was upheld by the regulator OFCOM regarding broadcast content before the watershed. 2) Issues around protecting children and vulnerable groups from potentially harmful media effects versus freedom of expression and morality. 3) Challenges regulators face in effectively policing online media and whether stricter or more liberal approaches are most appropriate.

1. Case StudyTitle
and Year
Pro-active orreactive
Mediasector ComplaintUpheld?
Regulator
responsible
Statutoryor non (self)
Numberof
complaints
Regulatorpowers
KeyPointstowrite aboutfrom thisCase Study
1. Find3 Social/political factorseffectingthe Case Study
2. Legitimisingfactorsordebatesaroundthe decision - publicinterest,mediasensationalism?
3. Media effectsarguments/debatesthatcanapplyto thisCase Study
a) Desensitization

2. b) Copycat
c) Negotiated,oppositional orpreferredreadings
d) Moral Panic
4. Effectivenessof OFCOMinprotectingchildrenandvulnerable - orprotectingsociety'smoral
standards - Accessto media/technology?
Discuss Conclusions& Write a 500 word Summary:
What challengesdoesthe regulatorface fromonline mediatechnologyinbeingeffective in
protectingthe vulnerable orenforcingtheirpractices?
Was thisin the publicinterestandwasthatsolelythe mainreasonfor itsbroadcastbefore the
watershed?
Is thisregulatorstricter,more liberal orconsistentincomparisonwithotherregulators/casestudies?
What logicallydoesthistellusabouta hierarchyof mediaeffects - TV more influential thanfilmor
games?Explainreasonswhyyouthinkthatitis regulateddifferently?

3. Is thisa typical challenge forOFCOMtoconsider - compare the MediaEffect& IdeologyMessage
debatesthisraisestootherCase Studies:CBBHomophobiaandClassdiscriminationinBenefit
Street.
Do youagree withOFCOMs decision?Shouldthe Terroristhave beenallowedtomake the speech
withbloodiedhandsandknife with the deadbodyinshot,pre-watershed?
How didthe debate overthe complaintsovershadow the actual story?Whatdoesthisreveal toyou
aboutattitudestofreedom,moralityandregulationof the media?
Summarise 3 thingswhatwe have learnedfromthisCase Study - whywouldyouuse it,what
argumentsor pointsaboutcontemporaryregulationdoesitshow?
Points/debates Why use thisCase Studyin
essay
What doesitreveal about
contemporaryregulation
Recommendation - wouldasingle regulatorforALLmediabe more effectiveinprotectingthe
vulnerable?Whatwouldbe the negative pointsof doingthis?
Positive Negative