OFCO
M
OFCOM Factual
How it imposes
Regulation constraints on
media
production?
What is OFCOM’S OFCOM is an agency that regulates the content of all television and radio
programmes in the UK. OFCOM regulates programmes from channels such as BBC
role as a media and all digital channels. OFCOM functions the OFCOM Broadcasting Code, which
regulator? involves rules and regulations that cover the standards in programmes,
sponsorship and fairness and privacy.
Reconstructions OFCOM are determined
that all reconstructions
must be fair and
accurate. They also feel if
there is a risk that the
audience might be
misled, the producers
should label the
reconstructions, for
example, something like;
avoid confusion.
Secret Filming OFCOM say that an
individual should not
normally be filmed or
recorded secretly in a
show/programme, unless
this activity is pre-
approved by the
broadcaster (channel).
They regulate that before
any secret filming or
recording is commenced,
they have a detailed
guideline to which the
producers and director
must follow and comply.
The programme/show
maker must give in a
written justification to
satisfy a certain section
of the code.
Payments OFCOM strongly
recommends that the
programme maker
should not make
payments to contributors
or other sources without
the acceptance from the
broadcaster. These
How it could
affect your
product
negatively
This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product
negatively because If I
were to produce or
create a reconstruction
of some kind in my
documentary, I would be
have to take care that
the reconstruction is not
misleading or something
that leads to confusion. If
the result of the
reconstruction is like
such, the producer (I)
would have to bare the
consequences.
This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product
negatively because if I
were to film an individual
or a group secretly
without permission from
the broadcaster, that
would be going against
the OFCOM rules and
regulations., and as a
results, I the producer
would have to deal and
negotiate with the
penalties.
This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product
negatively because if I
have created a product
using for example;
different brand names or
using archive footage or
music, I an in debt with
How it could
affect your
product
positively
This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product
positively as well because
now that I am aware of
what OFCOM do not
want to see in
reconstructions, I know
that I have to create a
reconstruction that is
clear and precise towards
the audience watching.
This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product
positively because now
that I know and
understand the rules and
regulations of secret
filming, I can stick by the
regulations when filming
of this sort. And also by
receiving a pre approval
for the channel
broadcaster.
This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product
positively because now
that I know before
making I have to get
acceptance from the
broadcaster, I can go
ahead and get permission
 payments do not include
personal payments such
as; cover meals and taxi
fares. The programme
makers should also seek
some advice from
programming lawyers
before making any
decisions to make
payments to anyone
involved in criminal
offences and convicted
criminals.
Dealing with If programme makers
create adverts for
Contributors contributors, the scripts
in the advert should be
approved by the editor
and a programme lawyer.
Any letters from or to
contributors must also be
should also be approved
by a commissioning
editor and a programme
lawyer. Another
regulation the OFCOM
regulate is that all
interviews taken by
anyone must be edited
fairly and honestly.
Potentially OFCOM strongly feel that
potential offensive
Offensive material must always be
Material justifiable by the context.
And advice should be
sought from legal
representatives at an
early stage.
Criminality OFCOM feels the
programmes must not
encourage or provoke
crime. Programmes
shouldn’t not give any
the contributor or the from contributors to user
original person who had other sources like music
created it in the first or archive footage.
place. So this can affect
my product if I were to
pay the contributors
without consulting and
receiving acceptance
from the broadcaster, as
these matters can be
handled legally.
This OFCOM regulation This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product can affect my product
negatively because if I positively because now
were to make a that I am aware of the
documentary about a regulations set by the
certain topic that is i.e. OFCOM, about dealing
quite serious and ‘in the with contributors, I know
news’ or has words or that before making the
scenes that are product about topic that
inappropriate, I would is ‘serious’ or ‘in the
have to get the script pre news’, I would have get
approved by the acceptance from the
commissioning editor commissioning editor.
before the product is
made.
This OFCOM regulation This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product can affect my product
negatively because if I positively because now
were to involve or that I have realised that
include any sort of before including
offensive material that offensive material to the
may affect the audience product I would have to
watching, I would have to seek legal advice from a
seek legal advice form a legal representative.
legal representative
before including that into
my product. If I were to
involve offensive material
without seeking any legal
advice, then I think as the
producer I would have to
pay the penalties and
deal the channel
broadcasters and people
from the public who have
anything against the
product’s content.
This OFCOM regulation
can affect my product
negatively because if I
were to use any criminal
offence in the making of
sort of impression, of my product I would again
conducting criminal have to bare the
activity. They also feel consequences as OFCOM
the programme makers advise that programmes
must seek some advice should not conduct or
from some sort of legal encourage any sort of
representative before crime or criminal offence
conducing these towards the audience as
activities. it could instigate or
provoke the to do so in
reality.