Law - media campaigns

Law - media campaigns

1. Mass communication that involves the internet, the television, magazines or newspapers, social media and so on.

2. Daily telegraph exposed MPs for what they really claim expenditures for

   • Parliament had to tighten the rules. MPs only allowed to claim £1,450 for rent on second house and no more mortgage assistance

3. Daily mail and daily express published extreme headlines about EU membership and how immigrants are taking UK jobs and increasing crime percentage

   • People wanted to leave the EU so Britain had a referendum and decided to leave. We are currently triggering article 50.

4. Panorama looked into student visas and found people entering U.K. With student visas we're working more than they were studying

   • Parliament declared if you have entered the uk with a student visa you are not allowed to work and must return back home once your course has ended.

5. Media published picture of a six year old attacked by a dog and continued to publish similar material

   • Resulted in the dangerous dogs act 1991 which banned breads such as pit bull terriers, Japanese torso and argintian dogos.

6. Daily mail did a campaign for Stephen Lawrence ( who was murdered) for 15 years. Starting in Feb 1997 they posted pictures of his 5 killers ensuring no one would forget they walked away innocent when they were guilty.

   • Lead to the double jeopardy act which enable killers to be tried again to due to new and compelling evidence. 2 of the 5 were found guilty.

7. Advantages of media campaigns

   • Support pressure groups by giving them a voice and enable their message to reach thousands
   • Raise public aware to issues of concern such as the MPs expenditure.
   • Represents public opinion and can be very persuasive. Example Stephen Lawrence case

8. Disadvantage of media campaigns

   • Can be biased as newspapers are not required to remain politically neutral like public funded organisations like BBC. example- Rupert Murdoch who owns the sun used his newspapers to portray his opinion about the EU. and immigrants. Can affect and shape public opinion
   • The reason behind media taking individual campaigns can be commercial meaning they are chasing profits such as the name and shame campaign. Not due to justice.
   • Can create knee jerk legislation such as the dangerous dogs act 1991 which is heavily criticised as it didn't solve the problem.