More on Media Ethics

The ACMA is the government body responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications. Responsibilities include:

• Promoting self-regulation and competition in the communications industry, while protecting consumers and other users
• Fostering an environment in which electronic media respect community standards and respond to audience and user needs
• Managing access to the radiofrequency spectrum
• Representing Australia 's communications interests internationally.

I find that ACMA have a very strange role within the media. While they have a fair amount of power (and rightly so) to regulate and reprimand any media wrongdoing, they are also ultimately a government organisation. People don't really like the idea of their government controlling something like the media (just have to look at the censorship debates) so ACMA always has to be careful about when and how much power they exercise.

There's heaps more information on the website: http://www.acma.gov.au