MEDIA REGULATION - OFCOM Case Study

 

OFCOM

The Office of Communications, also referred to as OFCOM, founded in 2003, is the United Kingdom's regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications, and postal sectors. OFCOM assists you in reporting problems with phone, broadband, postal, television, radio, and on-demand programming, interference with wireless devices, or something you saw on a video-sharing website. OFCOM does not regulate releasing content, instead investigates and penalize them after a number of customer complaints.

CASE STUDY: The Boondocks

"The Boondocks" is an American animated sitcom created by Aaron McGruder which aired from 2005 to 2014. Huey and Riley Freeman, two young African-American boys, and their grandfather, Robert Freeman, were portrayed as living in the fictional, white suburb of Woodcrest in the show. The program was best known for its controversial topics, which covered a wide range of sensitive subjects including racism, politics, and societal issues. These controversial and offensive content resulted in its ban from television. The show was criticized for its offensive representation of racial issues, political content, use of profanity, and depiction of violence. For example, the show's comedic portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan was criticized for being offensive and insensitive. The show's sarcastic portrayal of political figures and government regulations was additionally criticized for pushing a left ideology and being anti American. The controversy had two sides. On one hand, it was what separated the program from other animated sitcoms and gave it its own identity. Aaron McGruder, the show's creator, wanted viewers to think about important issues using the program. On the other hand, the show's content controversy got strong criticism and demands for its cancellation. Especially the show's portrayal of racial issues and political content, which was seen as offensive and trying to encourage stereotypes.