Ofcom uses these findings to assign language to one of three categories: mild, moderate and strong.
Words that fall into the first category are considered unlikely to trouble audiences, while moderate language has a greater potential for offence. Words ranked “strong” are perceived to be highly offensive and require a “clear and strong contextual justification for broadcast”.
Rather than acting as an outright censor, Ofcom gives guidance on how broadcasters should approach language then leaves them to make the decisions. If audiences are unhappy, they are entitled to complain to the regulator, as on occasion they have.
We’ll not make the law clear. It’ll be vague. But you can still be punished if some Party Member complains!
I wasn’t really paying attention at the time, but the 2003 Broadcasting Act has been an utter disaster and the worst aspect of it has been the pecksniff Ofcom, an office that needs incinerating along with the Advertising Standards Authority.
Strong languge? Well, that horse has fucking bolted. Unless they mean racial epithets, plenty of scope there for selective enforcement.
@Otto – your point is a rather universal one. Applies to any laws of the past 25+ years.
The (insert name of Blair/post-Blair legislation) has been an utter disaster and the worst aspect of it has been (briefly describe the misery caused by said legislation).
“Rather than acting as an outright censor, Ofcom gives guidance on how broadcasters should approach language then leaves them to make the decisions”.
“Guidelines”?
Like those during covid, where if you said anything which went against government propaganda could mean “the imposition of a statutory sanction”…….
Ah! The Ministry of Truth…. check…
There’s two parts to Ofcom. The technical side that looks after standards, spectrum and general technical issues and, at least when I dealt with them, was staffed by very competent engineers. They are needed in some form.
Then there’s the policy side that we’re seeing here. They are the ones that need scrapping because they have been taken over by the blob. They may be independent in name but they think like the blob and their independence is a fig leaf for politicians to get away with their pet censorship.
Ofcom is definately infested with Blob parasites:
Current CEO – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Dawes
One of the previous CEOs – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_White_(businesswoman)
“Guidelines”?
Like those during covid, where if you said anything which went against government propaganda could mean “the imposition of a statutory sanction”…….
Which, sacked by “Free Speech” GB News, Mark Steyn is still being persecuted for
Similar “Guidelines” have applied to the Global Warming scam since 2003