Regulation Research

The Mass Media in the UK is regulated very strictly, this is to ensure that people don't come across harmful content which could effect them in any way. To do this, legal bodies are set up by the government and given the ability to filter things from entering the web or onto sites that are viewed by a mass media.

I have undertook some secondary research to find out what these legal bodies have the power to do, why they have to do it and how badly things have to get for them to stop it from being viewed. Beneath is a list of which I have created to show you the different legal bodies and what they are enforced to do in terms of a music video.

The major legal body that relates to classifying music videos is Ofcom, Ofcom is a independent regulator of communications, this makes them the lead regulator in the music video industry. They can ban music videos from being placed on Youtube without an over 18's license. They can also put bars on the iTunes video buying by making sure that you are over 18. They ensure that people under eighteen are protected. There are many different sections of the page they have produced to do with under aged people which can be found at the link below.

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/protecting-under-18s/

In relation to my music video I believe that there is nothing that says it will be against the rules and regulation of which Ofcom put forward to there audiences, in my video the only significant pat which may 'effect' children' would be the ending where the main character commits suicide. This is not shown in the video as we did not have the correct equipment to make a fake death look real.

The BBFC (The British Board of Film Classification) is an independent, non-governmental body. They've classified cinema and films since 1912, videos/DVDs and some video games since 1984. Their main job is to ensure that people don't get to see what they believe is out of their age limit. The main issues of which they face are to do with sex, drugs, language and violence. Each of them are tolerated at  certain levels but when they are used too frequently or at higher levels then the BBFC rating will increase. For example if a film has the word 'shit' in it then the BBFC will only rate the film at a 12 as it is low level swearing and seen acceptable for an audience of that age, whereas if the word 'fuck' or 'cunt' is used within a film then the rating is usually increased to a 15. This is because BBFC believe that to hear this sort of language you must be of this age or older. The order of the BBFC certifications go like this :

• Universal - Anyone and everyone can see it 
• PG (Parental Guidance) - Some material may not be suitable for children, so bring your parent.
• 12A - You must be over 12 years old unless accompanied by an adult.
• 12 - Must be 12 or over.
• 15 - Must be 15 or over.
• 18 - Must be 18 or over.
• R18 - Aspecial and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas.

These areas do not effect me or my music video as the BBFC currently do not regulate music videos and would doubtedly be put into that area in the future. As they have just had video games taken off of them due to its broadness being too narrow then they may introduce a European music video censor.

 I believe that our Music video would not need a rating due to its relaxed nature but with the ending being a suicide I don't believe that it will be suitable for children to watch on there own. It will still be allowed viewings from all ages as their is not an age ratings system put in place for the music video industry. They could make advisories to me to make sure that it would not effect or influence children under the age of 18 if it does then they would put an age limit of over 18 on the video to make it illegal to download over iTunes and also put a restriction on it over YouTube.