what is regulation?

Why is there a need for the media industries to be
regulated?


There is a contradiction intrinsic to the notion of regulating what are supposed to be the free means of expression and information in a modern society. Regulation by its very nature sets limits to freedom, which is the most basic principle of democratic societies. At the very least, this means that there have to be clear and convincing reasons for regulation, and although we can give general justifications for regulation that help to reconcile it with principles of freedom and democracy, we cannot escape from this underlying tension.
There is no single or simple answer to the question `why regulate?' and often the surface reasons given conceal other purposes (especially the interests of the state). Even so, six general reasons for media regulation can be proposed, as follows:
  • The management of what is arguably the key economic resource in the emerging `information society', with a very high dependence on all forms of communication.
  • The protection of public order and support for instruments of government and justice.
  • The protection of individual and sectional rights and interests that might be harmed by unrestricted use of public means of communication.
  • The promotion of the efficiency and development of the communication system, by way of technical standardization, innovation, connectivity and universal provision.
  • The promotion of access, freedom to communicate, diversity and universal provision as well as securing communicative and cultural ends chosen by the people for themselves.
  • Maintaining conditions for effective operation of free markets in media services, especially competition and access, protection of consumers, stimulating innovation and expansion.

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