Newspaper regulation
Task One: Media Magazine article and questions
Read the Media Magazine article: From Local Press to National Regulator in MM56 (p55). You'll find the article in our Media Magazine archive here. Once you've read the article, answer the following questions:
1) Keith Perch used to edit the Leicester Mercury. How many staff did it have at its peak and where does Perch see the paper in 10 years' time?
130 journalists in ten years. He thinks that if it is still in print, it will be weekly, extremely expensive and have a very small circulation. If it's online, it will be unlikely to make money and so would employ on five or six.
2) How does Perch view the phone hacking scandal?
Perch thinks that the biggest single issue is that something illegal was going on, which obviously should not have been, and which wasn’t dealt with by the police, and unfortunately the resulting actions have been disproportionate. Far too many newspapers and magazines have been caught up in a regulatory system that they shouldn’t really be caught up in.
3) What does IPSO stand for and how does it work?
- IPSO- Independent Press Standards Organisation.
- It’s set up in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry and the revelations of phone hacking at tabloid newspapers.
Perch's view on newspaper ownership is: concentrated in the hands of a few large corporations, which limits diversity in perspectives and reduces the democratic function of the press.
5) Do you agree with his view that broadcast news should have less regulation so that TV channels can support particular political parties or people?
No because reducing regulation could lead to biased reporting, similar to how newspapers operate under corporate ownership. Unlike newspapers, broadcast news reaches a wider and more diverse audience, meaning that political bias could significantly shape public opinion.
Task Two: Newspaper regulation exam question
Write an answer on your blog answering the following exam question:
What are the arguments for and against statutory regulation of the newspaper industry? [20 marks]
Aim to write an answer of around 400-500 words featuring at least three detailed paragraphs. Make sure you cover both sides of the debate. This topic could well be our 20-mark essay at the end of Paper 1, Section B so it's great preparation for the summer exams.
Another argument is that powerful newspaper owners should not control the news unfairly. Some big companies have a lot of influence over what people read. If newspapers regulate themselves, they might not always be fair. Government rules could make sure newspapers serve the public, not just their own interests.
However, some people argue that government control would limit press freedom. Newspapers help expose corruption and hold politicians accountable. If the government controls the press, it might try to stop criticism of itself. In some countries, like Russia and China, strict press laws lead to censorship (blocking news). This shows how too much control can be dangerous for democracy.
Another argument against government control is that newspapers can regulate themselves. In the UK, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) was created to make sure newspapers follow ethical rules. It is not run by the government, but it still investigates complaints and punishes newspapers when needed. Some people think improving self-regulation is a better solution than government control.
In conclusion, government control of newspapers has both good and bad sides. It could stop unethical journalism, but it could also reduce press freedom. A balance is needed to protect the public while allowing journalists to report freely. Improving self-regulation may be the best way forward.
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