The document discusses several regulatory and professional bodies within the UK creative media sector, including: - The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) which examines and age rates films and videos before release to protect children and inform consumers. - The Video Standards Council (VSC) which establishes standards for the video and video games industries and administers the PEGI age rating system for video games in the UK. - Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK which regulates TV, radio, telecoms, and the airwaves. - Trading Standards which ensures accurate product information and protects consumers from unfair trading practices. - The Press Complaints Commission which handles complaints about editorial content in newspapers,

1. Regulatory and professional bodies
within the Creative Media Sector
Name: Jessica Grundy
Unit 2 Task 1 Be able to extract information from written
sources
Unit 7 Task 3 Understanding the regulation of the media
sector

2. Task 1: Be able to extract
information from written
sources
 Be able to extract information from
written sources
 Written sources: e.g. books, journals,
websites, magazines, newspapers, handouts
 Reading: with concentration; skim-reading:
scanning; using index; using word search;
using phrase search
 Extract information: e.g. write notes,
summarise, highlight text, annotate
document, underline passages,

3. British Board of Film
Classification (BBFC)
In order to protect children from unsuitable and even harmful content in films and
videos and to give consumers information they might need about a particular film or
video before deciding whether or not to view it, the BBFC examines and age rates
films and videos before they are released. This independent scrutiny prior to release
ensures the highest possible level of protection and empowerment. They watch films
and videos all the way through and award an age rating and insight to each one. They
reach an age rating by applying the standards and criteria contained in their
Classification Guidelines. They look at issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror,
dangerous and easily imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, and violence when
making decisions. The theme of the work is also an important consideration. They
also consider context, the tone and likely impact of a work on the potential audience.
Trading Standards and law enforcement officers have the power to seize illegal video
works including, but not limited to, DVDs, Blu-rays and video games. The BBFC has
been designated by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to provide evidence
to help secure convictions under the terms of the Video Recordings Act (VRA) 1984.
The BBFC's financial affairs are administered by the Council of Management. Members
of the Council are drawn from the manufacturing and servicing sections of the film
industry, as well as from banking, corporate accountancy, TV broadcasting and
production and the charity sector. Council of Management members are excluded
from classification decisions and policy making. There must be no actual or perceived
conflict of interest, while at the same time members have to command the confidence
of our customers. The Council of Management is also responsible for the senior
appointments at the BBFC. This information I found on the official website called
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

4. British Video Association
The BVA was established in 1980 to represent the interests of publishers and rights owners
of pre-recorded video entertainment. The British video association’s objective is to help
maintain a business environment with the least regulatory burdens and optimal conditions
that enables video's crucial role in the audio-visual eco-system to continue. Members that
are involved include; Robert price, chairman and managing director of Twentieth Century
Fox Home Entertainment. Other examples also include the chairman and regional
managing director from Universal Pictures (UK) Ian Foster. UK copyright law falls under
the remit of the UK Intellectual Property Office. The BVA has extensive dealings with this
government agency as it develops copyright policy. This information I found on
http://www.bva.org.uk/about-us/

5. Film Distributors Association
Film Distributors' Association Ltd. (FDA) is the trade body for theatrical film
distributors in the UK - the companies that release films for UK cinema
audiences. Originally established in London in 1915, FDA liaises and works
with many individuals, companies and organisations. FDA's Council, or board,
comprising a senior representative of each member company, normally meets
six times a year and considers only matters of generic interest to film
distributors. Film Distributors' Association co-ordinates national press
screenings for UK film critics and circulates a weekly schedule of forthcoming
releases, used by many journalists and others. Some Film Distributors
Association members include; Warner Bros, Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures, UK and The Works UK Distribution. This information I got from
http://www.launchingfilms.com/fda-members

6. Video Standards Council (VSC)
The VSC was established in 1989 and fulfils two basic roles:
It is a standards body for the video and video games industries and has a
Code of Practice designed to ensure that both industries show a duty of care
in their dealings with customers and the public generally. It provides its
retailer members with a staff training course dealing with age restricted
videos, DVDs and video games.
It acts as an administrator of the PEGI system of age rating for video
games. PEGI is used in over 30 countries. It is the UK regulator responsible
for the age rating of video games supplied in the UK (using the PEGI
system). In fulfilling this role it uses the name Games Rating Authority
(GRA).
The VSC has a Board of Directors which comprises a Chair and two Vice-
Chairs, representatives from the video and games industries together with
representatives from the child and family welfare sector. Some examples
include; Tony Lake (chairman), Iain Muspratt (vice- chairman) and the
British Video Association (BVA). One of their code of practice rules I found
was members must at all times comply with all aspects of the law having
particular regard to the provisions of the Video Recordings Act 1984 (as
amended). This information I found from the official website called
http://www.videostandards.org.uk/VSC/

7. Office for Communication
(Ofcom)
Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK. They regulate the TV and
radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, plus the
airwaves over which wireless devices operate. They also make sure that
people in the UK get the best from their communications services and are
protected from scams and sharp practices, while ensuring that competition
can thrive. Ofcom, as its also known operates under a number of Acts of
Parliament, including in particular the Communications Act 2003. Ofcom
must act within the powers and duties set for it by Parliament in legislation.
Ofcom's main decision making body is the Board, which provides strategic
direction for the organisation. It has a Non-Executive Chairman, Executive
Directors (including the Chief Executive), and Non-Executive Directors. The
Executive runs the organisation and answers to the Board. The Ofcom Board
meets a least once a month (with the exception of August). Ex-Co is
Ofcom's senior executive team. It meets each month (except August) and is
responsible for setting Ofcom's direction and overseeing the management of
the organisation. PE meets weekly (except August) and is responsible for
the development of Ofcom's overall regulatory agenda. As well as providing
a forum for discussion, it also has the powers to take certain decisions itself.
This information I found from the official website called
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/what-is-ofcom/

8. Trading Standards Central
Trading standards make sure people are selling what they say they are
selling if not this is against trading standards. An example for this would be
someone hoping to be buying what is alleged to be a Vivienne Westwood
bag when in fact, it is a cheap copy. Lead officers are trading standards
professionals who are specialists in their field. There are currently 52 lead
officers. Their specialist subjects cover everything from animal health and
welfare to weights and measures. Lead officers work with the Trading
Standards Institute, dedicating their time to ensuring they are fully briefed
and up-to-date in their specialist area. They use this knowledge and insight
to inform TSI policy, work with the media and are extremely active in
government discussions and consultations. They do all this in addition to
their day-jobs in local authorities and blue chip companies, allowing TSI to
sustain its lobbying effectiveness. TSI works in parliament to represent
members at a national level and raise awareness of the profession. Current
priorities include the passage of the Consumer Rights Bill through
parliament and making members aware of cuts to consumer protection as
demonstrated by the Trading Standards Workforce Survey. This information
I found on the official website http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

9. Press Complaints
Commission (PCC)
The PCC is responsible for the self regulation for press. What it does is deal
with complaints made about editorial content such as websites, magazines
and newspapers. The purpose of the PCC is to serve the public by protecting
the rights of individuals, while also at the same time preserve appropriate
freedom of expression for the press. The commission has 17 members. 10 of
these are all public members including the chairman, who has no connection
to the newspaper or magazine industry making it less bias. Where as, the
other 7 are serving editors. The PCC enforces the Editors' Code of Practice
agreed by the newspaper and magazine industry, which deals with issues of
accuracy and privacy in reporting and how journalists should behave in
gathering the news. This information I found on the official website
http://www.pcc.org.uk/AboutthePCC/WhatisthePCC.html

10. Advertising Standards
Authority(ASA).
The Advertising Standards Authority is the UK’s independent regulator of
advertising across all media. They apply the Advertising Codes, which are
written by the Committees of Advertising Practice. Their work includes
acting on complaints and proactively checking the media to take action
against misleading, harmful or offensive advertisements. The ASA Council is
the jury that decides whether advertisements have breached the Advertising
Codes. Led by ASA Chairman, Lord Smith of Finsbury, two-thirds of the 13-
strong Council are independent of industry and the remaining members
have a recent or current knowledge of the advertising or media sectors.
Nearly all members judge both non-broadcast and broadcast
advertisements, although there are two alternating industry members – one
who looks at broadcast advertisements only and another who looks at non-
broadcast ads. The ASA senior management team is the executive decision-
making team responsible for:
setting the direction for the organisation.
overseeing the management of our core responsibilities.
ensuring the delivery of our objectives in line with our standards of
service.
This information I found of the official website
http://www.asa.org.uk/About-ASA.aspx