Rights & Responsibilities of the Media (Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

Media rights and responsibilities in the UK

Rights of the media

• The UK media have strong rights that allow them to investigate and report stories that are in the public interest

• Journalists can look into issues involving government, public authorities, businesses and individuals, as long as they follow the law

• Key rights include

  • The right to investigate and publish public-interest stories

    • UK law protects the media’s ability to report on matters that affect the public, such as wrongdoing, government failures or threats to safety.

  • The right to access information

    • The Freedom of Information Act (2000) gives citizens and journalists the right to request information from government departments and public bodies

    • It supports investigative reporting by increasing transparency

Recent investigations that have led to change

• ITV’s 2024 investigation into the Post Office Horizon scandal exposed how more than 900 sub-postmasters had been wrongly accused or convicted of theft

  • Public pressure after the broadcast pushed the government to overturn their convictions

• News of the World’s campaign for “Sarah’s Law” (2000) helped create the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme

  • This allows parents and carers to request information from police about known offenders in their area

Responsibilities of the media

• The media play a powerful role in shaping what the public knows and understands

  • Because of this influence, journalists and broadcasters must follow clear responsibilities

Key media responsibilities

• Media organisations must report fairly, accurately and responsibly, as inaccurate reporting can harm individuals and mislead the public

  • E.g. In 2024, several newspapers issued corrections after misreporting details about the Post Office Horizon scandal

• Broadcasters have a legal duty to ensure their coverage is balanced and impartial, especially on political issues

• The media should consider the impact of their reporting on individuals, communities and wider society

  • Coverage of the recent cost-of-living crisis included guidance on support services and avoided panic-inducing language

• They must avoid actions that could break the law, breach privacy, or create misinformation

  • After the rise of misinformation online during the recent Israel–Gaza conflict, UK broadcasters and newspapers emphasised fact-checking and avoided publishing unverified claims

Regulation and censorship

Media censorship

• Censorship refers to preventing or limiting publication

• In the UK, censorship mainly applies in areas where content may cause harm, break the law or breach standards

  • Self-censorship is where media organisations sometimes choose not to publish sensitive details to protect individuals or avoid legal risks

  • Regulator-led censorship can occur when rules are broken

    • E.g. Ofcom recently ruled that a BBC documentary about Gaza breached broadcast rules in a “serious” way - the documentary was later removed from BBC's iPlayer

• In addition, although the media can report on crimes, strict legal rules prevent them from publishing information that could identify victims, influence a trial or put someone in danger

  • Examples include

    • No naming of children involved in crimes (victims, witnesses or defendants)

    • No reporting of details that could prejudice a jury, such as previous convictions before a verdict is reached

    • No identifying victims of sexual offences, who have lifelong anonymity

    • Restrictions during ongoing investigations to avoid harming police work

    • Court orders can stop the media from naming people or publishing certain facts

• These rules protect fairness, safety and privacy while still allowing the public to stay informed

Media regulation in the UK

• Even though media organisations have strong rights, they must also follow legal and ethical obligations to protect the public and are trustworthy in their reporting

• Several bodies oversee different areas of the media

  • Ofcom

    • Regulates TV, radio and on-demand broadcasting through its Broadcasting Code

    • Under the Media Act 2024 and the Online Safety Act, Ofcom also regulates certain aspects of social media and online platforms

  • IPSO and Impress

    • These independent regulators oversee most of the print press, including newspapers

    • They handle complaints, set standards for journalists and can require corrections or apologies

  • Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)

    • Acts on complaints about adverts and can ban those considered misleading, offensive or harmful

    • E.g. recent Zara adverts were banned after concerns that models were shown as “unhealthily thin”