Rohan Jethoo

OFCOM Research
OFCOM stands for office of communications. The job of OFCOM is to regulate the
TV, radio and video-on-demand sectors, fixed-line telecoms, mobiles and postal
services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate. They aim to ensure
that: the UK has high speed broadband, a range of TV and radio channels, and to
protect the audiences from harmful or offensive material.
Ofcom takes lead in decisions on media mergers, regulating the BBC, overseeing
Channel 4 and keeping commercial media companies in check. It also handles
complaints over broadcasting standards.
OFCOM Codes:
OFCOM tries to protect people under the age of 18 by not allowing derogatory words,
swearing, pornography and excessively graphic images between the hours of 5:30am
and 9pm. They also attempt to take into consideration when children will be in school,
school holidays and the different types of content which will occur on different
channels. This applies to my advertisement as while it is intended at adults, I will still
have to take into consideration that some of the images may be too graphic to show
the audience at specific times.
They also ensure that TV and Radio services dont include anything which can be
harmful or offensive towards the audience. Factual programmes such as
documentaries must not give the audience false information. This applies to my
advertisement as this means when I show the culprit of the video, I may have to tone
down anything they may say as it can cause harm and offense to some viewers.
OFCOM ensure that material likely to encourage or to incite the commission of crime
or to lead to disorder is not included in television or radio services. This helps to keep
everyone safe by not encouraging or promoting crime, disorder, hatred and abuse. As
child abuse is a crime, and I am attempting to stop it though my advertisement, I will
have to ensure that it is in no way being glorified to any of the audience as this can
cause harm.
Office of communications also:

To ensure that broadcasters exercise the proper degree of responsibility with

respect to the content of programmes which are religious programmes.

To ensure that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and
presented with due impartiality.

To ensure that the special impartiality requirements in the Communications

Act 2003 and other legislation relating to broadcasting on elections and
referendums, are applied at the time of elections and referendums.

To ensure that broadcasters avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals or

organisations in programmes.

Rohan Jethoo

To ensure that broadcasters avoid any unwarranted infringement of privacy in

programmes and in connection with obtaining material included in
programmes.

To ensure that there is distinction between editorial content and advertising.