Media regulation refers to the public means of mass communication like press, radio, television, film and recorded music. It came about during the 1980s due to public complaints about excesses in the British press. Almost everyone relies on the media to learn news and hear debates, so it plays a central role in freedom of information, though governments sometimes want to limit critical voices. There is debate around whether regulation protects the public or "toffs," and whether the government will use the Leveson Inquiry as an opportunity to reset its relationship with the media and establish new robust regulations.

1. J E M M A , J A M E S A N D Z A R A
MEDIA REGULATION

2. WHAT IS MEDIA REGULATION?
• The ‘media’ regulation that we will be discussing is
the public means of mass communication
especially the press, radio and television but also
including film and recorded music as well as a
number of newer means of distribution by the way
of cable, satellite, discs and tapes.

3. WHY DID IT COME ABOUT?
• During the 1980s a number of public complaints
regarding perceived excesses in the British press
and so the British government responded by setting
up a public enquiry into press regulation. This meant
that they got a new voluntary body as they felt the
previous body was ineffected and discredited.

4. DO WE NEED MEDIA REGULATION?
• Almost everyone relies on the media (sometimes
known as the public watchdog) to learn about
news and hear debates. The media therefore has a
central role to play in the freedom of information
and freedom of expression. Governments often
dislike influential alternative or critical voices.
Therefore article 19, works to stop governments
using regulation to capture, limit or control the
media.

5. WHO DOES IT PROTECT?
• According to Rupert Murdoch, “press regulation is only too protect
toffs.”
• In an entry on Twitter, Mr Murdoch wrote: “BBC massive taxpayer
funded mouthpiece for tiny circulation leftist Guardian. Meanwhile
print media about to be gagged to protect toffs.”
• The comments from Mr Murdoch are thought to be his first comments
since Mr Murdoch was dragged in front of MPs at the height of the
phone hacking scandal last year.

6. WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF IT?
• The question of whether government should regulate the
media, and how it would do that, looms large. So the
final event in the Media & Government series sought to
explore whether the Government will use the Leveson
Inquiry, which is as an opportunity to ‘reset the clock’ in
its relationship with the media.
• Several themes emerged from an interesting and lively
debate between our panellists, who were split as to the
form of future press regulation.
• “It was unanimously agreed that we have seen
‘outrageous and terrible behaviour’ from the press, and
Leveson has been charged with establishing a new set
of robust regulations for the industry.”
(Leveson Inquiry = is a judicial public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the
British press following the News International phone hacking scandal, chaired by Lord
Justice Leveson)