LNWH

Digital radio regulation problems

Livingstone and Lunt

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LNWH, however, doesn't shy away from discussion of an adult nature. The show we listened to, for example, explored female menstruation taboos, with extensive discussion evidenced regarding period poverty. 

The show's late night scheduling slot (post watershed) ensures that taboo content of this nature reaches an adult listenership. The show's principle distribution mechanism as an iPlayer podcast, however, presents a bigger regulatory challenge in that vulnerable audiences can potentially access controversial material. 

Limited age checks are used on the iPlayer app but, problematically, are easily negotiated. 

Officially, OFCOM are tasked to regulate the BBC, who's broadcasting code is concerned with protecting vulnerable audiences, and, interestingly to ensure that the BBC provides both accurate and impartial programming content. 

Again, the impartiality of LNWH is constructed as a result of the varied nature of guests who are invited to contribute during discussions. In the Love Island episode we listened to, for example, great care is taken to evidence a range of views regarding the ethical direction of ITV's flagship reality show with guests scoping both the positives and the negatives of Love Island content.

Vulnerable audiences

Livingstone and Lunt suggest that the principle function of the independent bodies that regulate the UK's media is to protect children and other vulnerable groups from the harmful affects of media content. The limited protections offered to wider audiences by these bodies is widely criticized.

Media terminology used

OFCOM

The independent body who oversee the regulation of UK based terrestrial television and some streamed television services and radio. Netflix is not subject to OFCOM regulation because it is distributed from outside of the UK.

Self-regulation

A consumer-oriented regulatory system relies upon media regulators to control their own output in the absence of strict government controls.