Professional Codes of Practice
ASA - Advertising Standards Authority
The Advertising Standards Authority is the UK's independent regulator of advertising across all media, including TV, internet, sales promotions and direct marketing. They work closely with statutory regulatory partners, such as Trading Standards, the OFT and Ofcom. The types of marketing communications they deal with are as follows, print and press ads, posters, televison commercials, radio ads, internet ads; banners, pop-ups, sponsored search but not company websites, e-mail and text messages, direct mail, competitions, special offers, sales promotions, cinema commercials and teleshopping.
Their role is to ensure ads are legal, decent, honest and truthful by applying the Advertising Codes. The Advertising Codes lay down rules for advertisers, agencies and media owners to follow. The Advertising Standards Codes are separated out into codes for TV, radio and all other types of ads. There are also rules for Teletext ads, interactive ads and the scheduling of television ads. ASA do not write the advertising standards codes, these are written by the committee of advertising practice but what the ASA does do is enforce them and acts swiftly when marketing communications break the rules. Every week the ASA send out clear signals about what is and what is not acceptable in advertising across a wide range of sectors. As a result of their organization the vast majority of advertisements that we see day in and day out are legal, decent, honest and truthful.
NUJ - National Union of Journalism
Founded in 1907, the NUJ is among the biggest and best-established journalists' unions in the world, with 38,000 members. Members work across the entire industry – as staffers and freelances, writers and reporters, editors and sub-editors, photographers and illustrators. Members work in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, books, in public relations and in a variety of new media. The NUJ is known as 'the voice journalists and journalism'. They are a campaigning organisation seeking to improve the pay of their members. They protect and promote media freedom, professionalism and ethical standards in all media. The NUJ is an active union with our members taking part in campaigning, negotiating and lobbying, seeking to ensure they are properly rewarded for the skilled work they do. At the same time, when things do get tough at work, the NUJ is there to represent people and stand up for their own individual rights.
PCC- Press Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is an independent body which deals with complaints from members of the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines. All complaints are investigated under the editors' Code of Practice, which binds all national and regional newspapers and magazines. The Code - drawn up by editors themselves - covers the way in which news is gathered and reported. It also provides special protection to particularly vulnerable groups of people such as children, hospital patients and those at risk of discrimination. The PCC's main aim with any complaint which raises a possible breach of the Code of Practice is always to resolve it as quickly as possible. As well as dealing with complaints, the PCC deals with a substantial number of calls from members of the public about their service and about the Code.
Legal and Ethical Restrictions
Civil law mostly involves disputes between people, companies or other organisations. If you sue another person or a corporation, or if somebody files a lawsuit against you, your case will end up in a civil court. The most serious crimes fall under Criminal law, such as murder, assault, robbery and rape. These laws are enforced by the police and the courts, and if you break them you can face very serious consequences, including time in prison.
Health and Safety
1. The client should be extremely careful around studio lighting and projector equipment to minimise the risk of contact with hot surfaces or electric shock.
2. Fire exits will be pointed out at the beginning of the photo shoot
Libel Law
Defamation: publishing a false piece of information that places a negative image on a company or person that you claim to be true.
Libel: defamation by written or printed words, in a magazine, newspaper, or the internet.
Slander: Defamation by oral utterance, such as rumours.
Data Protection Act
An Act to make sure that the processing of information relating to individuals, including the obtaining, holding, use or disclosure of such information is regulated.
