Using textbook p.98-101 and internet research to aid you, answer these questions (remember to copy these questions on your blog).

Who regulated the press from 1991 to 2014?

The Press Complaints Commission (PCC)

Who regulates the press now?

Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

Who was Lord Leveson? What is the Leveson inquiry?

Lord Leveson is an English judge who chaired the public enquiry into the culture, practises and ethics of the British press.

Task: 

Phone hacking scandal Timeline

November 2005 – News of the World (NoW) prints a story about Britain’s Prince William injuring his knee, prompting royal officials to complain to police about probable voicemail hacking.

May 15, 2007 – The Press Complaints Commission says it found no evidence of phone hacking at NoW

January 2007 – NoW royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire are convicted of conspiracy to hack into phone voicemails of royals and are jailed. Andy Coulson, the paper’s editor, insists he is unaware of hacking but still resigns.

June 2008 – News Group Newspapers pays a £700,000 (nearly $1.13 million) settlement to football executive Gordon Taylor, whose phone was hacked by Mulcaire.

November 2009 – Britain’s Press Complaints Commission releases a report concluding that there is no evidence of continued phone hacking.

January 26, 2011 – London’s Metropolitan Police launches a new investigation into voicemail hacking allegations at NoW.

April 10, 2011 – News of the World officially apologizes for hacking into voicemails from 2004 to 2006 and sets up a compensation system for unnamed victims.

July 4, 2011 – It is reported that News of the World journalists possibly hacked into then-missing teenager Milly Dowler’s voicemail and deleted messages to free space, causing her parents to believe she was still alive.

July 8, 2011 – Coulson is arrested. Goodman, the paper’s former royal correspondent who served a four-month jail term in 2007, also is arrested on corruption allegations.

July 10, 2011 – The 168-year-old News of the World publishes its final edition with the headline “Thank you and goodbye.”

July 14, 2011 – The FBI launches an investigation into allegations that News Corp. employees or associates hacked into the phones of 9/11 victims, a federal source says.

July 16, 2011 – Rupert Murdoch apologizes to the British public with full-page advertisements in seven national newspapers.

September 14, 2011 – Dozens of celebrities, including Hugh Grant and J.K. Rowling, are given permission to participate in a top-level inquiry into phone hacking by British journalists.

November 23, 2011 – Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of missing toddler Madeleine McCann, testify before the Leveson Inquiry.

November 24, 2011 – Celebrities Sienna Miller, Max Mosley and J.K. Rowling testify before the Leveson Inquiry.

December 20, 2011 – Then-CNN host Piers Morgan, former editor of both the News of the World and Daily Mirror, testifies regarding his knowledge of the phone-hacking scandal involving Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

March 13, 2012 – UK police arrest six people, including Brooks. All six are arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977.

September 4, 2012 – The number of likely victims jumps to more than 1,000 people, according to the top police officer working on the case.

February 8, 2013 – News International settles 144 lawsuits related to phone hacking. Seven cases were not settled and are scheduled to go to trial in June.

October 30, 2013 – It is revealed that former News of the World employees Neville Thurlbeck, James Weatherup and Greg Miskiw have pleaded guilty to phone hacking.

December 19, 2013 – News of the World hacked Kate Middleton’s phone while she was dating Prince William, a prosecutor tells the court.

January 31, 2014 – Actress Sienna Miller testifies regarding the alleged affair with Daniel Craig, which is exposed by a tabloid journalist who hacked Craig’s voicemail.

February 25, 2014 – Rebekah Brooks denies in court ever having approved the practice of phone hacking while editor of News of the World.

June 24, 2014 – Andy Coulson is found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to hack phones. The jury is still considering additional charges against him and former royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office. Rebekah Brooks and the other defendants are cleared of all charges.

The PCC was heavily criticised in the Leveson enquiry. The PCC were seen to be largely ineffectual in regulating the newspaper industry. Lord Leveson made recommendations for a new regulatory body to replace the PCC (IPSO).

Which regulatory body was created in September 2014?

The independent Press Standards Organisation (ISPO)

What is the role of this new regulatory body?

IPSO was created to regulate over 1,500 print and 1,100 online titles. It also deals with complaints about possible breaches of the Editors code of practice. It gives help to unwanted press attention and advice to editors and journalists.

Go onto https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ – read some of the recent rulings from the ISPO:

What are the most frequent complaints?

Inaccurate information/Harassment

Who are the most frequent complaints against?

Often celebrities/politicians (such as the labour party) against newspapers (Most commonly The Sun)

Look at the ‘outcome section – how often are press organisations sanctioned for their breach of rules?

Around half of complaints after investigation is found to have no breach. However, some are still under investigation and others have had IPSO mediation or have requested that the publication is changed.

Stretch and challenge question (all students must answer this):

On 7th January 2015 twelve cartoonists were shot dead by three extremists who were offended by the magazine printing a satire of the prophet Muhammad.

Should newspapers and magazines be allowed to print images which others may find offensive?

Write two contrasting arguments for this question -for regulation (100 words) and against regulation (100 words)

On one hand, there is a sense for people to have the right to free speech and expression on their opinions with light-hearted humour intended to entertain and not offend. Likewise, if the press are not allowed to do this, it might become too extreme as we attempt to regulate it too much and therefore create no sense of opinion in newspapers and magazines. On the other hand, people may find the content upsetting or offensive. The content may encourage bullying by not only the press but the wider community especially when it comes to religion. Most of the content encourages radical behaviour on both spectrums, on one hand people may assault people who fit that criteria and have prejudice as a result of press’ representations. However, it may also provoke more extreme scenarios such as the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack, in which the magazine printed a satire of the prophet Muhammad, these portrayals aren’t too dissimilar from jokes made of government members in the UK such as PM Theresa May. The attackers then opened fire on the cartoonists, killing 12 and injuring 11 others.

Powerpoint: Radio Industry Powerpoint

Glossary Key Terms

Audience streaming- Listeners can click on a link to play the radio programme instantly. Increasing the global reach of BBC radio, as listeners abroad can tune in to hear the live programme.

Cross-platform marketing- Where one form is advertised on another media platform. (e.g. BBC 1 will broadcast promotional advertisements for its radio stations which are also on the websites).

Emerging media- Referring to communication through digital technology and new platforms with interactive elements. (e.g. podcasts, social media etc)

Profile- For radio stations this refers to how they are defined to their target audience through their brand identity, (e.g. the presenters or programme style). This includes their aims and ethos.

Public service broadcaster- A radio/television broadcaster that is seen to offer public service by catering to a range of audiences. These main public service broadcasters in the UK are the BBC, ITV & Channel 4.

Stripping- A technique in radio and television where a certain programme is broadcast at the same time every day. In radio, this attracts an audience who associate a particular programme with their daily routine.

Syndicated output- Radio stations make and sell a programme to other stations, or buy a programme that may be available to other radio stations.

Quickfire Questions

3.18- What marketing strategies are used by commercial radio to promote stations and programmes?

Commercial radio stations tend to advertise within other radio programmes on the same station. Local radio stations also use local advertising e.g. bus shelters, local press and billboards

3.19- What is BBC Taster an important service for the company and its audience?

BBC Taster is an important service as it produces content which is not usually seen on most platforms. It allows audiences to feel involved through interactions. For the BBC, it provides quick, free and easy feedback about proposed programmes and test out ideas upon audiences.

3.20- Why is it important to have an independent regulator?

It is important to have an independent regulator as it creates a non-bias attitude towards the company that is being regulated. They work outside of the industry and is therefore impartial.

3.21- How does LNWH go some way to fulfilling one of the strategic objectives of the BBC?

LNWH can inform audiences as well as entertain them through the different discussions. One of the strategic objectives set by the BBC was to ‘transform mainstream services to better appeal to younger audiences’, this is done by LNWH through the topics as well as the presenter.

3.22- How do radio programmes construct audiences?

This can be done through the title of the programme, attracting younger audiences. As well as the themes that are covered and the mode of address of the presenter that appear in the programme. It helps to engage audiences and create a discussion/debate surrounding a particular topic.

3.23- Consider how you could apply Hall’s theory to LNWH

If the listener bas tuned into/downloaded the programme, they are part of the target audience and will therefore accept the preferred reading of the text. However, some audiences may adopt a negotiated response because they do not agree with some of the themes featured in the programme.

The Sun

The Sun urged readers to vote leave during the Brexit referendum. The informal text addresses the readers as it is a right-wing newspaper. The union jack is placed over the wording of “leave” to create a bold title which at a quick glance encourages the public to vote to leave the EU.

The Sun reported on the US Presidential election (2016) with a light-hearted joke. They use cartoons from The Simpsons to make fun of the election result. It uses slang such as “the prez..” to target readers to make the article more amusing.

The Daily Mirror

The Daily Mirror is a more left-wing newspaper which addresses the state of Brexit as “broken” addressing the government directly. The image portrays the prime minister as the only person dressed in red (which has several connotations). It shows how the newspaper embarrases the prime minister showing their viewpoint on Brexit. The style of editing in the Daily Mirror is different to The Sun as they use less caps lock in the titles to generate less bold and “in your face” titles.

The Daily Mirror reports on the outcome of the 2016 US Presidential Election result. It shows an iconic US landmark to British readers with their face in their hands. The rhetorical question conveys a sense of hopelessness for the US through this election result. Similarly, this creates an opposite viewpoint than The Sun, as the Daily Mirror creates a sense of weakness.

The Guardian

The Guardian reports the prime minister as “desperate” in an almost comical manner. The newspaper also represents Theresa May as not in power through the image of her portraying seriousness in the topic as well as humorous in the title. The newspaper is left-wing therefore showing the beliefs of the newspaper on the Conservative party.

The newspaper reports the US election result as a form of doom as the wording “now the world waits” represents the president as a threat to the world. The image of Donald Trump is large to indicate this threat to the ‘world’.

British National Newspapers:

• The Sun (right wing)
• The Guardian (left wing)
• i
• The Evening Standard
• The Daily Mail (right wing)
• The Daily Mirror (left wing)
• The Times
• The Metro
• The Daily Telegraph (right wing)
• The Daily Express (right wing)
• The Daily Star
• The Independent
• The Observer (left wing)
• Financial Times (central)

Main formats of newspapers

Tabloid (informal)- A newspaper which concentrates on sensational and lurid news, usually heavily illustrated- a short form or version; condensation; synopsis; summary. Physically smaller than Broadsheets

Broadsheet (formal)- A newspaper which a large format, regarded as more serious and less sensationalist than tabloids.

Political Perspectives

Newspapers, like any media texts have an agenda. Most are associated with political perspectives and ideology, as well as specific political parties.

Left-Wing Politics: Liberal values, values, multi-culturalism. In opposition of inequality and hierarchy. Has been associated with civil rights, feminism, environmentalism and anti-war movements.

Centrism: A political outlook or specific position that involves acceptance or support of a balance of a degree of social hierarchy.

Right-Wing Politics: Conservative and traditional values, supports capitalism. This type of politics upholding ‘traditional’, perhaps “outdated” values that create a sense of inequality and hierarchy becomes apparent.

Regulating Newspapers in the UK

In the UK, three different organisations have set standards/regulated the Press since 1953. They are:

• Press Council
• Press Complaints Commission (PCC)
• Independent Press Standards Organisations (IPSO)

The Daily Mirror Powerpoint