Definition of Defamation, Libel, Slander

Defamation: Is the communication of a false statement that harms the reputation of an individual, business, product, group, government, religion, or nation.For example calling someone, dishonest, corrupt, hypocritical, lazy, incompetent, criminal, unfaithful or financially troubled. It includes what ordinary readers or viewers see or hear.

Different Types:Slander: The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

Libel: When the media lies about someone. If they publish something that is untrue in a newspaper, radio, television, or other media then it is called libel and there are anti-libel laws in the constitution. Libel is extremely hard to prove.

Rupert Murdoch Case Study & The Leveson inquiry

Rupert Murdoch Case study:

In 2011, Australian-American media mogul and chairman and CEO of news cooperation, Rupert Murdoch faced the biggest public relations crisis in his career for more than 60 years. On July 10th 2011  following accusations of illegal phone hacking and police bribery, Murdoch stopped the production of the News of the World, a weekly British tabloid paper which started in 1843.
Some of the phone tapped victims were celebrities, politicians, high profile police investigation subjects and even the members of the British royal family. This was breaking the Journalism code of ethics and therefore it was major issue.

Criticisms of Murdoch: 

• His only concerns were to make as much money as possible and gain control of other forms of media.
• He contributed to a moral undermining of societies especially the United Kingdom, through the content and presentation of his newspapers and satellite channels.
• He represented an internalisation of media control which undermined national cultures, which was shown by his willingness to change nationality in order to acquire broadcasting in the United States. 

Some positive points may include that:

• He challenged the the political and social assumptions of the power and authority.
• He had the courage to challenge outdated restrictive practices in the newspaper and television industries.

Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15686679

Journalism Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics is there to guide you it is organised under 4 headings:

1. Seek truth and report it
2. Minimize harm
3. Act independently
4. Be accountable

Why is the code of ethics needed?
It is needed as a reminder to journalists to always put forth their best effort while being honest on the job. It reminds us of  the rules that we must follow in order to be good journalists. 
http://scrippsmediaethics.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/are-codes-of-ethics-really-needed-in.html

• Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
• Your staffs code of ethics should specify guidelines for ensuring accuracy, objectivity.
• Act independently, free of obligation to any interest other than the publics right to know.
• Journalists should not recieve favours/gifts from anyone. the public may percieve this.
• They are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.
• Minimize harm, encorouge sensitivity when covering emotional news.
• Respectful of peoples privacy.
• Be a respectful journalist. sources should be reliable, not annonymous.
• Fabrication is unacceptable
• Non offensive language should be used. 

I have listed in this presentation 12 code of ethics that Journalists must follow.

Source: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

Commercial Radio

Commercial Radio:
Commercial radio is a Radio that generates income by selling air time to companies, which are filled with commercial advertisements. The money from the advertisements create money to run the radio station and also creates profits.

Their Aims:

Their aims are to get the highest number of listeners possible, they play mainstream music which is popular and attracts the listeners. The BBC is a public service broadcaster and this means that they care more the needs of different audiences rather than the high amounts of viewers. In the UK the only commercial station nationwide is Classic FM, they are owned by Sky. However It is not the most listened to rather it is Capital radio which gets the most viewers in a week. Both Classic FM and Capital radio is owned by Global radio. The radio station Real radio are owned by Guardian Media group,a ll three of these are Commercial radio stations.

Public Service Broadcasting

PSB stands for Public Service Broadcasting. It refers to TV programmes that are broadcasted for the public benefit rather than for purely commercial purposes.
These programmes include local news coverage, arts programmes and religious broadcasts. For example BBC radio1inform and educate their audience by broadcasting the news, and they entertain by playing music that appeals to their target audience and talk about relevant things that will also appeal and entertain the target audience.

This means that the Public Service Broadcasting have to do three things which is to;

• Inform
• Educate
• Entertain

It consists of the BBC only they have a multitude of Radio stations appealing to as many target audiences as realistically possible.