Media Ethics

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• Media Ethics
• Protection of Minors
• Self Regulation
• by RADIO TELEVISION SUPREME COUNCIL
• (RTÜK)
• TURKEY

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Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK)

• In 1994, Radio and Television Supreme Council
  was set-up with the Law number of 3984
• ? composed of 9 members, elected by Parliament,
• ? responsible for the regulation of all radio
  and television broadcasters all across Turkey in
  both technical and content issues
• ? frequency allocations
• ? licencing
• ? content monitoring

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Broadcasting market in general

• ?? Turkey has a great number of radio and
  television channels (national, regional, local,
  cable, digital and satellite). There are
• ?Television 23 national, 16 regional, 7
  public, 212 local
• ? Radio 35 national, 99 regional, 948
  local
• ? Satellite 102 tv, 50 radio channels
• ? Cable 70 tv channels
• ? Digital 2 digital platforms

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Broadcasting market in general

• ? So in total presently together with cable and
  satellite there are approximately 1300
  broadcasters in Turkey.
• ? Also there is a promising digital market. At
  present there are 2 digital platforms operating
  in Turkey. They give numerous channel packages,
  movie channels, pay-per-view channels,
  interactive services.
• ? Recent researchs show that adults watch 5
  hours, young viewers 3 hours tv per day.

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Programs in general

• ? The vast majority of private television
  channels are considered generalist in terms of
  their output.
• ? In recent years, there has been a rise in the
  number of thematic channels.
• ? There are several news, music, documentary,
  sports, children and entertainment channels.

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Broadcasting Principles

• Turkish broadcasting Law no 3984 foresees that
  broadcasts shall be conducted
• ? within a spirit of public service,
• ? in compliance with fundamental rights and
• freedoms and
• ? general moral values.

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Broadcasting Principles

• Turkish broadcasting law have principles
  regarding
• ? Protection of minors,
• ? Human dignity,
• ? Privacy,
• ? Right of reply,
• ? Rules regarding advertising,
• ? Rules regarding political broadcasting,
  election times,

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Policy Priorities-1

• ? Given the number of channels and broadcasters
  (app.1300) how to monitor is an issue?
• ? RTÜK - a new concept of regulation with
  development of self-regulatory mechanisms

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Policy Priorities-2

• ? Besides the solid legal framework already in
  broadcasting Law no 3984, regarding content
  monitoring and sanctions procedures, RTÜK is
  committed to the introduction and development of
  self-regulatory mechanisms.

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Policy Priorities-3

• ? With regard to Protection of Children
  Mechanisms introduced aim to develop analytical,
  critical thinking in young people
• ? With regard to Viewers and Broadcasters
  Development of more Interactivity is aimed

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Self- regulatory mechanisms introduced by RTUK

• ? Step 1 Launch of Smart Signs system on 23
  April 2006 at National Day
  for Children
• ? Step 2 Launch of Viewer Representation
  system at 29 September 2006
• ? Step 3 Launch of Media Ethics project at 3
  July 2007

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• SMART SIGNS

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Step 1 Smart Signs System

• ?Smart Signs
• ? is designed as an informative classification
  system,
• ? for television audience,
• ? about the content of the programs,
• ? with regard to protection of minors against
  harmful content.

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How it works?

• ?Smart Signs
• ? was at first valid only for national
  broadcasters,
• ? progressively it has extended to the regional
  and local ones,
• ? shall be applied to all programmes excluding
  news bulletins, musical clips, advertisements.

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Background

• 2 main reasons that led RTÜK for development of
  a classification system can be stated as
• ? increasing complaints of parents on the
  content,
• ? requirement of relevant legislation
  harmonization
• with EU.

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How it works?

• Smart Signs is based on 7 categories
• ?? 4 age categories
• ? suitable for all,
• ? suitable for ages 7 and up,
• ? suitable for ages 13 and up,
• ? suitable for ages 18 and up
• ?? 3 content categories
• ? violence/fear,
• ? sex and
• ? negative behaviours
• (tobacco, alcohol, drugs, bad language)

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Age and Content Categories
Violence /fear
Sex
Negative behaviours
General audience
7 and plus
13 and plus
18 and plus
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How it works?

• ?? Smart Signs system for television programs
  consists of totally seven pictograms that are,
• ? easy to be learned,
• ? easy to be recalled and
• ? informative.

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Follow-up Survey Studies

• ? Research studies conducted by RTUK has been a
  helpful tool to evaluate the application of
  Smarts Signs System.
• ? According to the surveys ¾ of the viewers
  expressed that they approved Smart Signs and
  that it was effective in their choice of
  programs.

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• VIEWER REPRESENTATION

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Step 2 Launch of Viewer Representation in
National tv Channels

• ? In September 2006 Supreme Council has
  initiated viewer representation in national tv
  channels.
• ? This practice, on voluntary basis, with no
  compulsory or legal obligation is solely based on
  Supreme Councils collaboration with national
  television channels aiming to contribute to the
  establishment and development of self regulatory
  mechanisms in broadcasting.

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How it will work ?

• ? Each television channel will designate a
  viewer representative.
• ? RTUK representative will come together with
  viewer representatives on a regular basis and
  communicate on the complaints coming for relevant
  channels.

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How it will work ?

• ? Also complaints coming to Supreme Council s
  new hotline RTÜK Communications Center 444 1 178
  will be forwarded to the relevant channels, thus
  enabling the broadcasters to take into
  consideration the opinions of the viewers in
  their broadcasting policies, in their
  productions.
• ? System will contribute to the establishment of
  direct interactivity between television channels
  and viewers.

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How it will work?

• ? Television viewers will have the chance of
  communicating their complaints to the relevant
  channels if they want to.
• ? Channels will be able to follow the opinions
  and complaints of viewers immediately.
• ? Viewers will be able to follow whether their
  opinions are taken into consideration by
  broadcasters.

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• MEDIA ETHICS

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Step 3 Media Ethics

• ? Further to studies carried by RTUK in close
  co-operation with Television Broadcasters
  Association and academicians, Broadcasting
  Ethical Principles are signed between RTÜK and
  broadcasters.
• ? This study has been another part of
  self-regulatory approach of RTUK after the launch
  of Smart Signs system and Viewer
  Representation system.

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Aim of the study

• ? Broadcasting ethical principles consist of 12
  fundamental principles such as to be respective
  to human dignity, to fundamental rights and
  freedoms which are already existing in Turkish
  Broadcasting Law No 3984.
• ? The idea behind this study is to develop self
  regulatory approach, channels abiding these
  principles on a voluntary basis not on an
  obligatory basis.

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Media Ethics Principles-1

• Text of the Broadcasting Ethics Principles
  signed between RTÜK and broadcasters reads as
  follows
• ? Being aware of the public importance and
  responsibility of broadcasting Turkish radio and
  television broadcasters have declared their
  commitment to the principles below

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Media Ethics Principles-2

• To be respectful to human dignity, fundamental
  rights and freedoms,
• To broadcast events and facts impartially,
  accurately and completely in the framework of
  freedom of expression and right of information,
• Not to use broadcasting for unfair aims and
  interests,
• To pay attention to the protection of plurality
  and diversity of opinions,

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Media Ethics Principles-3

• Not to discriminate, humiliate or be prejudiced
  against race, language, religion or sex in our
  broadcasts,
• To be respectful to right of reply and
  rectification,
• To act in common sense in times of events or
  crises that could cause fear or unrest in public,
• To pay attention not to encourage or to
  rationalize violence,

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Media Ethics Principles-4

1. To be respectful to private life,
2. To be sensitive towards womens problems and
   being cautious of objectification of women,
3. To pay attention to protection of children and
   young people from harmful content,
4. To pay attention to needs, tastes and
   sensitivities of viewers and listeners.

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Media Ethics

• ? In collaboration with broadcasting
  organisations, professional organisations and
  academicians, a guidance booklet will be prepared
  by RTÜK for the use of broadcasters, in order to
  establish common standards.
• ? This booklet will be submitted to the use of
  all parties in the sector.

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• ? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION