Regulating the Media

Analyzes the role of the law in shaping the practices and standards of the media and implementing regulatory policies. The author discusses the relationship between commercial and constitutional objectives and priorities, the nature of impartial communication and other topics.

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The operation of the media, particularly bodies associated with news and political comment, is a controversial issue which has provoked much discussion on the practice and standards of journalists and broadcasters. This study is concerned with the role of the law in shaping the practices and standards of the media, and its relationship with informal methods of deciding and implementing regulatory policies. The author draws on economic and social science sources to identify criteria for evaluating these regulations. The text also discusses the relationship between commercial and constitutional objectives and priorities, the nature of balanced and impartial communication and the role of the state in influencing the media.