Regulatory Bodies: Ofcom

Ofcom is a legitimately approved regulatory service for communication services the public uses, such as television, radio, broadband and mobile devices. They make sure to protect consumers with code media outlets to abide by, such as the 10 section code. 

Section one: protecting those aged under 18. 

This section undergoes establishing rules on showing consumer content within media concerning under 18’s. This rule is greatly needed as it protects children from potential harmful content due to not having the maturity for such, as well as filtering content that is able to be consumed by above 18s, therefore presenting this media within scheduled intervals. When concerning this within my radio programme plan, I will enlist that my content is suitable for under 18s as it doesn’t include content not suitable regarding ofcom’s rules. 

Section two: harm and offense. 

This code ensures broadcasters abide by an understanding that their delivery of media must have great protection when concerning harmful, offensive content to their viewers. This ensures viewers aren’t mentally harmed in any way, and further ensures there to be filtered content on what’s allowed to be shown to society and what isn't. Moreover, this section when concerning media allows for controlled content to be produced and regulatory bodies to ensure content is enlisted to specific age ranges adequately. When planning my radio programme, I've understood that there will be discussion of social media being harmful in varying ways, however this is to raise awareness rather than to include and broadcast what the harm/hate is, therefore isn't going against ofcom's section two. 

Section five: due impartiality and due accuracy. 

This section is more directed to media that’s enclosing information listed as facts and news. It ensures broadcasters are aware they must be listing information as news in any form that is accurate to what it is regarding and therefore not biased or deceptive, aligning with the rule of being impartial. This therefore allows for media to be broadcasted with integrity and ensures viewers know they are consuming accurate information which is objectively delivered. When making my radio programme, I have planned to integrate honest opinions. However due to there not being any facts enlisted and rather it being based on independent experience, this section doesn’t affect my radio. 

Section eight: privacy

This section is directed towards keeping mention of people and when discussing a person, being that such person(s) are kept private and not integrating a persons’ privacy when regarding the programme's content. This is important as it protects unlawful bias from a broadcaster, as well as protects information people may not want delivered to society, further protecting a person from psychological harm. When planning my programme, due to the talk of hatred delivered online by people, I've made sure not to list names or specific people talked about, keeping anonymity and allowing a biased opinion on someone to be discussed which would go against section eight.