Radio Planning Session 12 - The Ofcom Code

The final part of most planning for the media units you are doing usually entails looking at the legal and ethical side of the media - i.e what you can and can't get away with on-air or in print, and what 'trade-body' or organisation regulates the media. You know that IPSO are the regulator of the press. You might know that Ofgen regulate the energy industry. Ofsted regulate education. Who regulates the radio industry? Ofcom. Recently a few people have fallen foul of Ofcom's rules. Have a look at these stories.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/28/ofcom-bans-iman-fm-radio-station-al-qaida-anwar-al-awlaki

https://radiotoday.co.uk/2017/08/russell-brand-puts-radio-x-in-ofcom-breach/

I want you to tell me about Ofcom, and what strictures/rules you should obey when putting together your show. Do this as follows.

1. Open up a new blogpost. Call it 'RADIO PLANNING: OFCOM'.

Add the heading 'Who are Ofcom?'

Find the Ofcom site, and see if you can find a pdf of their ‘Broadcasting Code’. Tell me who Ofcom are, what powers they have, and what they do (look for an 'about us' or 'F.A.Q' section and quote from it). Paste in a link to the code, explaining what the code is and who it applies to.

2. Pick out AT LEAST TWO parts of the code that are relevant to your show. Remember the code is for TV and Radio so pick only from those elements that are about Radio. Quote from them. With each quote or part of the code you're talking about tell me how you're going to make sure you stay the right side of the code. Are you playing any music /saying anything that isn’t appropriate for under 18s? If so when should your show be scheduled? Are you having competitions (refer to your content plan)? What does the code say about that? So long as you can pick a couple of bits from the code, quote them, and say how you'll make sure you don't break those aspects of the code, I'll be happy.

WHAT YOU SHOULD END UP WITH 

A post telling me who Ofcom are, what powers they have, what the Ofcom code is and telling me what parts of the code might apply to your proposed show.

WHAT YOU COULD NOW BE DOING 

You're done with the planning! You could start scripting your links . . . .