This is probably an unusual topic for a gaming community, but is something rather pressing for me right now. I am writing an essay about the board that regulates TV and radio broadcasting in Bulgaria. Here's their site, it should be in English:
http://www.cem.bg/r.php?sitemap_id=140On Nov 7th they released a statement that is supoposed to give clarity to the term Good Morals, or however it translates ino English. The term is refered to in the Constitution of Bulgaria in the section about right of speech. The sentence is something like "Right of speech cannot be limited, unless if it is of public interest or it contravenes with the good morals." So the bunch of guys'n'girls in the board decided that it is their job to interpret the Constitution and gave a definition of the so called good morals. to make sure they don't mess it up, they also checked the Radio&TV Law and Human rights convention and some other documents.
Their conclusion was that good morals, meant that no news about acts of violence was supposed to be broadcasted from 6 AM to 11 PM. This, they say, is because a lot of children are watching TV and it's going to have a bad infuence on them.
Naturally, the media made huge racket over it, despite the fact that the statement has no judicial power and whatsoever. The Prime Minister and peoples representatives defended the right of speech of the electronic media and so on. I think we even made it to CNN and other major news newtworks.
So, my profesor in Media law decided that it is a good idea for us students - to be burdened with the writing of a rather long assay on the statement. And I, being a very serious student, decided to check what the censure practices are in diferent countries. So I am turning to you all with a few questions. Please restrain from giving false statements:
1) Does you country have any sort of organ that regulates electronic media(Radio and TV)?
2) If yes, what powers does it have?
3) Are television networks allowed to show images of war, slaughter or anything related to them?
4) Do they show such images if they are allowed, or they prefer not to? (Like when TV networks didn't show dead bodies on Sept 11 or in last year's Tsunami)
5) Is there any sort of censure on the news and movies shown during the day time or in the evening?(like cutting scenes of sexual intercourse or heavy bloodshed)
6) Have there been any public discussions on the need of partial censure of news or on the media impact on the behavior of grown people or adolescents?
7) Have there been any scandals about movies or news buletins showing inapropriate visual or audio content?
If you decide to give an answer to any of the questiones above, please say what your country is and try to provide a few details. I thank you in advance for your colaboration.