This document discusses arguments for and against regulation of contemporary media such as film and press. Proponents of film regulation argue that observational learning theory shows that children may imitate inappropriate behaviors they see in films, and cite the Jamie Bulger case as an example. However, others argue that violence in films is purely for entertainment and there is no evidence it directly causes harm. Supporters of press regulation want to protect moral values and minorities from misrepresentation, while critics point to studies finding media effects are generally weak and inconclusive. Debates continue around balancing free expression versus protecting audiences.

1. What are the arguments for and against specific forms of contemporary media
regulation?
•Historical
•dependent on the requirements of the topic, candidates must summarise the development of
the media forms in question in theoretical contexts.
•Contemporary
•examples from five years before the examination.
•Future
•candidates must demonstrate personal engagement with debates about the future of the media
forms / issues that the topic relates to
FILM REGULATION
PROS
IMITATION - Social Learning Theory- Bandura et al (1960s). Children learn by imitating
significant others. - This theory supports contemporary media regulation as it is argued that
children are surrounded by influential models which includes the observation of films. Bandura
argues that observational learning leads to imitation of the behaviour they have observed. For
example, children that view violence and inappropriate language may imitate these behaviours if
they were able to watch 18 rated films and not realise the consequences and immorality of
these actions.
EXAMPLE - An example which supports this theory is the case of Jamie Bulger as it was
claimed that the two ten year olds which murdered Bulger were influenced by the violent 18
rated film ‘Child’s Play’, which suggests that media regulation is necessary to protect children
from being exploited to violence and immoral behaviour.
1930’s - ‘HYPODERMIC NEEDLE MODEL’ - This theory was established in the 1930’s and
suggested that the media had a massive influence on the audience as its intended messages
are directly received and wholly accepted by the receiver. However, the theory is now dismissed
as it became apparent that the media had selective influences on people. This also relates to
the Imitation Theoryas it suggests that children are influenced by messages in the media due
to observational learning.
CONS
Quentin Tarantino - ‘Violence is one of the most fun things to watch.’ - This statement can be
used as an argument against media regulation as it suggest that violence in media is purely

2. used for entertainment purposes and it supports the view that there is no evidence that violence
in films has a direct effect on the audience.
Roman Polanski - “You have to show violence the way it is. If you don't show it realistically, then
that's immoral and harmful. If you don't upset people, then that's obscenity.” This statement from
Polanski suggests that the audience should be exploited and not protected from images and
violence as it would be immoral to not show violence the way it is.
Catharsis - pro-social effect
Feshbach and Singer (1970s): The Media provides a safe outlet for venting aggression etc.
without resorting to violence.
It can be argued that media regulation is not necessary due to the fact that the media provides a
safe outlet for venting aggression without resorting to violence. For example, if a person was to
watch an 18 rated violent film, Feshbach and Singer argue that this would not result in people
committing acts of violence due to the violent nature of 18 rated films which suggests that in
fact, media regulation should be more relaxed and have less strict age ratings and there is no
evidence that violence in films has caused violent behaviour in an individual.
PRESS REGULATION
PROS
The PCC was an independently run organisation and due to the phone hacking scandal people
were complaining that they were not doing enough to regulate the press and therefore after the
Leveson enquiry, the IPSO was established.. Organisations such as the IPSO are a good
example of the arguments for press regulation as they protect moral values of society. An
example of press regulation in the last 5 years was when The Sun printed a story where they
claimed that 1 in 5 British Muslims had sympathy for jihadis. The Independent Press Standards
Organisation (Ipso) said that the front page article misrepresented the results of the poll on
which they were based because the relevant question in its poll did not support the claim. In this
sense, press regulation is necessary as in this sense, they are protecting Muslims in society as
some people may read the front cover and create a false impression of Muslims which is
immoral.
CONS
•The Byron Review (2008) by Prof. David Buckingham, expert on children and media-use:
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3. •“Broadly speaking, the evidence about effects is weak and inconclusive – and this applies both
to positive and negative effects. Of course, this does not in itself mean that such effects do not
exist. However, it is fair to conclude that directly harmful effects are significantly less powerful
and less frequent than they are often assumed to be” - This can be used as an argument
against media regulation as Buckingham claims that ‘directly harmful effects are less frequent
than they are assumed to be’ which dismisses the effects debate as he suggests that there is no
evidence that violence in press or films has a direct effect on an individual.