Assignment 1 of Media Studies introduces 3 important topics of focus which are media policy and regulation, media and communication markets and media representation. Media policy is the first topic and it emphasises on how media regulated and controlled by using the 5 stages of policy processes and also discussing the laws that guide the practice of media in the Republic of South Africa. The second topic is media and communication markets focuses on economic concepts of demand and supply and on competition. The final topic is media representation and how it illustrates aspects of reality and how media works specifically on news as representation discussing news values.
2 MEDIA POLICY AND REGULATIONS.
2. 1 The nature of media and communication policy.
Communication policy requires steps and processes for the regulation and control of media. Policies are a combination of aims, means and time frames that an agent chooses in order to solve problems pertaining to media. There are 5 stages to the policy process starting from [CITATION Med08 l 7177 ].
Problem Development of Policy Decision Making Execution of Policy Evaluation of Policy.
2.1.1 Problem.
A problem is an existing communication issue or ongoing problem that is identified by the current undesirable situation (reality) as compared to the desired situation (norm). A degree of subjectivity is implied by changes in reality or by changes in our norms and ideals. An example would be regulations that are required when the internet presented new possibilities for the distribution of child pornography in order to protect the children and youth outweighing sexual freedom that used to be acceptable in the seventies. Three very important factors namely ideology, issue and agenda are key determinants before a problem becomes a policy problem and land on the political agenda.[CITATION Med08 l 7177 ] &[CITATION Stu08 l 7177 ].
2.1.2 Development of policy.