Department for Culture Media and Sport
media regulation
We aim to foster fair and effective competition, promote high quality broadcasting from a diverse range of sources, provide a high level of consumer protection and safeguard freedom of expression.
We work closely with the industry and consumer groups as well as regularly consulting on key issues to help ensure these aims are met.
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.
Ofcom also reviews the media ownership rules at least every three years and makes recommendations to us on necessary reforms. We can intervene and prevent media mergers where we feel they are not in the public interest.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) deals with complaints from the public about editorial content of newspapers and magazines. Complaints are investigated under the editors' Code of Practice, which binds all national and regional newspapers and magazines, and was drawn up by editors themselves. The code covers the way news is gathered and reported, and provides special protection to particularly vulnerable people such as children, hospital patients and those at risk of discrimination.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ensures all advertising, wherever it appears, meets the high standards laid down in the advertising codes. Its website details the rules for advertising, lets you complain online, and explains how the ASA works to keep UK advertising standards as high as possible.
The Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) is the magazine industry's self-regulatory body which ensures that the sexual content of teenage magazines is presented in a responsible and appropriate manner.
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