Regulation of the media

    AQA
    GCSE

    This study area examines the mechanisms through which media content and ownership are controlled, restricted, or influenced by the state, legal systems, and independent bodies. Candidates must analyse the tension between freedom of expression, the protection of the public (particularly vulnerable groups), and the maintenance of social order. The scope encompasses formal legal sanctions (Libel laws, Official Secrets Act), statutory bodies (Ofcom), and industry self-regulation (IPSO). Crucially, students must evaluate the diminishing efficacy of national regulation in an era of globalised digital media, analysing how supranational corporations challenge state sovereignty.

    0
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit accurate identification of regulatory bodies (Ofcom for broadcasting, IPSO for press, BBFC for film) and their specific powers.
    • Award marks for applying sociological perspectives: Pluralists viewing regulation as a democratic safeguard versus Marxists viewing it as ideological state apparatus.
    • Responses must distinguish between state censorship (D-Notices, Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee) and self-regulation.
    • High-level responses must evaluate the challenges new media and globalisation pose to traditional national regulatory frameworks.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit accurate identification of regulatory bodies (Ofcom for broadcasting, IPSO for press, BBFC for film) and their specific powers.
    • Award marks for applying sociological perspectives: Pluralists viewing regulation as a democratic safeguard versus Marxists viewing it as ideological state apparatus.
    • Responses must distinguish between state censorship (D-Notices, Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee) and self-regulation.
    • High-level responses must evaluate the challenges new media and globalisation pose to traditional national regulatory frameworks.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When discussing censorship, explicitly link to the 'Watershed' or the 'Official Secrets Act' as concrete evidence.
    • 💡For 12-mark 'Discuss' questions, ensure a balanced argument contrasting the Pluralist view (protection) with the Marxist view (control).
    • 💡Allocate 15 minutes for the 12-mark essay; spend 2 minutes planning to ensure theoretical concepts are integrated.
    • 💡Use contemporary examples (e.g., Leveson Inquiry context or social media regulation debates) to demonstrate AO2 application.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing the roles of Ofcom (statutory) and IPSO (independent regulator), or assuming the government directly runs the BBC.
    • Failing to distinguish between 'ownership' (economic control) and 'regulation' (legal/statutory control).
    • Providing a narrative of media history rather than a sociological analysis of power and control mechanisms.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Analyze
    Evaluate

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