Part 2

Legal and regulatory constraints

Handling stories involving minors With a story involving a minor whether it is
abuse to that minor or if the minor has committed a crime the story has to be
heavily censored when it comes to their personal information. The report cant
include any form of identity so it cant include their name, address, school,
photograph or any other information regarding to their identity or specific
location. As well as any information to people they "now under the age of 18
or their identity.

Contempt of court This is when someone releases some information or makes a

statement and this is deemed to have interfered with the court case. This may
take several forms but each of which involve the law not being carried out
appropriately, its for this reason that contempt of court is taken so seriously and
prison sentences can be carried out regarding the seriousness of the case.

Libel and defamation a law that protects a individuals personal reputation it

allows people to sue for damage to reputation. This would usually only happen if
the person was famous or otherwise in the public eye as their reputation and
status is important to their living or work. But anything defamatory can be
something that lowers them in the estimation of right thinking members of the
public, disparages them in their office/profession, exposes them to
hatred/ridicule or it could be anything that causes them to be ignored or avoided
by people around them. So anyone could sue someone but usually it is
something that could be dealt with through the company/business rather than I
someone who is famous and relies on their reputation to live.

Coverage of elections impartiality is built into broadcast codes. Ofcom has

specific regulations that state the rules of impartiality that broadcasters must
follow during election and referendum periods. Equal coverage must be given to
all parties during the election period and broadcasters must also consider giving
appropriate coverage to other parties and independent candidates.
Official secrets act this is a law that protects government secrets that if
released could damage nation security. A controversial act as this allows
governments to cover things state its a secret just to protect the governments
image.

Ofcom Ofcom will get involved if a song breaches their regulations and codes
that protect the public from inappropriate songs or otherwise explicit in nature.
This can happen if a song plays by accident for example and it has only a few
barely audible swear words or references and the broadcaster didnt notice. For
example the radio station KISS FM played a Calvin Harris song which was very
sexually suggestive in nature and explicit content. As the radio station asked the
record company to send the new song from DJ Calvin Harris asking for a radio
friendly song and instead the outcome turned out to be an explicit and very radio
unfriendly song. In all fairness to the record company, KISS FM based their whole
morning radio show about Calvin Harris but didnt even listen to the song before
broadcasting.

BBC editorial guidelines

The BBC has their own guidelines to follow in a sense that they follow in the way
they edit their programmes. These are only how to present in a way that as they
say they are impartial, honest and only tell the truth. So when other radio shows
are starting up or in need of assistance the BBC guide them as to how to deliver
their radio shows, news, sports, entertainment or other aspects different to radio.
Ethics
Serious and sensational stories
In some news stories priority of story isnt actually relevant. Such as news stories
that report on stories that arent top priority to the public to know and is being
reported on instead of for example a really important event that could change
the public opinion or give them awareness on a important subject.

Invasion of privacy

The invasion of privacy is when a company or organisation look into someones

personal life and look into their personal information or messages for example.
In this news event a woman deleted an app that tracked her movements by her
workplace and she was fired because she deleted she is now sueing them due to
the invasion of privacy by them tracking where she was at all times. they kept
the app on 24/7 even when she wasnt at work and they say its just to keep an
eye on them for client purposes.
This is an invasion as even when shes not working they know where she is in her
own home and social life.

News values

OBSERVATION RECORD
Learner name:
Qualification:

BTEC L3

Unit number & title: 41: News production for radio

Description of activity undertaken
Debate about the ethics of News reporting in Radio and print news
Each student discussed Kate Middleton / Cheryl Cole, football rape charges and the phone
hacking debate (Millie Dowler v the celebrities) Where do you draw the line on Ethics /
what is right and what isnt.

Assessment criteria targeted

LO2 Ethics: serious and sensational stories; invasion of privacy; public interest
Critically evaluate the constraints on radio news production with comprehensive reference
to
legal and regulatory issues, ethics and news values, with supporting arguments and
elucidated examples

How the activity covers the requirements of the assessment criteria (this does
not confirm achievement of assessment criteria or confer an assessment decision)

It allows students to discuss their own views on ethical news reporting with the use of
examples. Groups are asked to plan an argument for either said and then they are put on
the spot arguing for a specific side.
Supporting evidence can be found on weebly accounts in the form of an essay and
research into news stories.

Learner name:
Learner
signature:
Assessor name:

Date
:
Sarah Wilson

Assessor
Date
24/04/15
signature:
:
In this discussion we talked about why famous people such as the royal family get rudely
publicised and almost stalked by the paparazzi and we discussed how just because they
are the royal family why cant they live normally and be treated normally why do they
have to be pestered on everything they do or if they go somewhere why is it reported on
above more important stories like an earthquake or other emergencies that the public
should hear about. Rather than seeing a blurred picture of Kate Middleton tanning on
holiday or Prince Charles walking through Brixton.