ABSTRACT
For the past decade or so the differences between ‘the media’ and ‘the people’ have been breaking down. If you publish on a blog, or on YouTube – even if you publish comments on Twitter and forums – you are, effectively, part of the media: publishing, and distributing, information. That not only opens up a world of opportunities in terms of audiences and stories, but also means you are subject to the same laws as more traditional publishers and distributors.
The UK broadcast regulator Ofcom refers to its remit over the media as ‘regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications service’. This recognises the variety of ‘media’ over which it has regulatory authority. Whether viewed from a micro perspective of a local newsletter or from a macro perspective of an international news organisation or channel such as Reuters, CNN or Al Jazeera, the one unifying feature behind the term ‘media’ is a reference to communication – what’s being delivered, how it’s being delivered and who’s delivering it.
