Media Standards and Regulation

TV and Radio
Office of Communications (Ofcom) is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services. The Ofcom Broadcasting Code covers radio and television and deals with a range of topic including programme standards, harm and offence, privacy, fairness and sponsorship.	The BBC Trust has replaced the Board of Governors. It's purpose"is to work on behalf of licence fee payers, ensuring the BBC provides high quality output and good value for all UK citizens, and it protects the independence of the BBC". The BBC Editorial Guidelines outline the standards the BBC expects of all BBC content on TV, radio and online. The BBC also produces a regular Editorial Policy Newsletter.
Press	Film
Press Complaints Commission (PCC) deals with complaints from the public about editorial content of newspapers and magazines. Complaints are investigated under the editors` Code of Practice, which binds all national and regional newspapers and magazines, and was drawn up by editors themselves. The code covers the way news is gathered and reported, and provides special protection to particularly vulnerable people such as children, hospital patients and those at risk of discrimination.	British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-governmental body, which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912, and videos since the passing of the Video Recordings Act in 1984. Its website sets out the thinking behind the classification categories for films and videos. Local councils still have statutory powers on film. They may overrule any of the BBFC's decisions including altering categories for films exhibited under their own licensing jurisdiction.
Advertising	Magazines
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ensures all advertising, wherever it appears, meets the high standards laid down in the advertising codes. Its website details the rules for advertising, lets you complain online, and explains how the ASA works to keep UK advertising standards as high as possible.	Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) is the magazine industry`s self-regulatory body which ensures that the sexual content of teenage magazines is presented in a responsible and appropriate manner.
Internet
The members of the Broadband Stakeholder Group and Ofcom have developed a code designed to give parents more information about the suitability for children of audiovisual content available on the internet and mobile phones. The code is available under the title Audiovisual Content Information: Good Practice Principles

Media standards and regulation