Stereotypical Censors…BBC whinges at Graham Norton lesbian quip

Read more TV & Radio News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from news.bbc.co.uk

The BBC has reprimanded Graham Norton’s chat show for perpetuating potentially offensive stereotypes of lesbians. The corporation upheld a complaint about a show in which the star made comments about a patent application. Referring to a woman used to illustrate the application, Norton said: I don’t know why they’ve got some strange lesbian to be the model. After the comments, guest Ruth Jones, the star and co-writer of sitcom Gavin and Stacey, scolded Norton, saying: She may not be a lesbian, come on now . She went on to say people should not be judged by their appearance, asking the host: What does a lesbian look like? Indicating the illustration, Norton replied: That. He also stressed: Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with being a lesbian . One viewer complained to the BBC about the episode, broadcast on BBC Two in March. The BBC’s Editorial Complaints Unit agreed with their comments: Although the initial references might have been inoffensive if considered on their own, they prompted an exchange with one of the programme’s guests which gave the references the appearance of perpetuating or reinforcing a potentially offensive stereotype. The programme team were reminded of the need to avoid any possibility of being seen to endorse offensive sexual stereotypes.

Blessed with Powers to Mislead…ASA unimpressed by unsubstantiated claims about anointing oil

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Based on article from asa.org.uk

A poster, for spiritual support from Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), included a testimonial, from a woman, who said My son was born with a heart problem. After a party he started bleeding from the mouth. I rushed him to hospital and the specialist said he had 16 loose arteries. He went into a coma, his heart stopped and both his lungs collapsed. Doctors and specialists expected him to die. At the UCKG I was given some blessed oil to anoint my son with. Now that his heart and lungs are better I thank the UCKG for all the spiritual support I received. Further text stated: The Holy Anointing This Sunday at 9.30am. A footnote stated In accordance to the CAP Code, point 50.3, the UCKG HelpCentre’s spiritual advice is to be seen as a complement to scientifically proven treatment you may be receiving. The UCKG does not claim to heal people but believes that God can through the power of faith. Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Issue 1. The British Humanist Association and two members of the public challenged whether the UCKG could substantiate the implied medicinal claim. The ASA challenged whether: 2. the ad was irresponsible and likely to discourage people from seeking qualified medical advice by offering advice on the treatment of a serious medical condition; and 3. the reference to the CAP Code was an implied endorsement of the ad. ASA Assessment 1. Upheld The ASA noted the testimonial explained the medical difficulties experienced by the woman’s son and that the medical staff involved in his treatment expected him to die. Although we considered that that made clear that proper medical treatment had been sought, we noted the testimonial also emphasised that UCKG had provided blessed oil to anoint the child with before he subsequently recovered. We noted the UCKG argued that the ad made clear, in both the testimonial and explicitly in the footnote, that they offered only spiritual support and noted UCKG had previously sought CAP Copy Advice over the use of the term. However, although we considered that it was a reasonable way to describe the support UCKG offered, the surrounding claims also went further. We considered that some readers were likely to infer from the ad as a whole that anointing oil had played some role in the sons recovery. Because UCKG had sent no evidence to support such an implication, we concluded that the ad was likely to mislead. 2. Upheld We noted the ad referred to a serious medical condition. Although the testimonial explained that the woman had sought medical treatment for her son’s condition, we considered that, because some readers were likely to infer from the ad as a whole that anointing oil had played some role in his recovery, the ad could discourage people from seeking essential treatment by implying that the oil had a curative effect. We therefore concluded that the ad breached the Code. 3. Upheld We noted the footnote stated In accordance to the CAP Code, point 50.3 … and considered that readers were likely to infer from that that the ad complied with that CAP Code clause. We considered that that was likely to be seen as an endorsement by CAP, which was a breach of CAP Code clause 14.6, and concluded that the ad breached the Code. The ad must not appear again in its current form.

Better Standards in Soundbiting…Mediawatch-UK appoint Vivienne Pattison as director

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Thanks to Dan Based on article from mediawatchuk.org.uk

Mediawatch-UK have issued a press release about their new director, Vivienne Pattison: Mediawatch-uk, the campaigning organisation which fights for decency and standards in the media, announced today that it has appointed Vivienne Pattison as its new Director. Vivienne, previously an Account Director at Midas Public Relations, will be building on the work of her predecessors and providing an independent voice for those concerned about taste and decency issues. She will ensure that mediawatch-uk maintains its reputation for principled protest, informed comment and reliable research mediawatch-uk monitors broadcast output, publishes reports about programme content and responds to Government and other consultations on broadcasting policy, as well as arguing for parliamentary accountability for broadcasters and greater public involvement in broadcasting policy issues. mediawatch-uk plays an important role in promoting media literacy and in initiating discussion and debate. mediawatch-uk Acting Chairman, John Milton Whatmore said: I am in no doubt that in a media environment, the technology of which is changing faster than ever before, the need for mediawatch-uk is more apparent than at anytime during the last 50 years. I believe that, in Vivienne Pattison, mediawatch-uk has the person to meet the challenges of ensuring that the Media is responsible for what it produces, and in safeguarding what the general public can reasonably expect from such sources . Vivienne Pattison said mediawatch-uk performs a vital role in creating good media values and seeking to protect the young and vulnerable from offensive and harmful material. Gordon Brown has expressed personal concern about the violence and pornography that children and young people are easily able to access and I am looking forward to working with government and regulators to press for better standards in broadcasting. Outgoing mediawatch-uk Director, John Beyer said: I am delighted that Vivienne has taken over the role of Director. It remains essential that there is an effective voice speaking up for the viewer and listener in the digital age. I believe that Ofcom is failing to represent the interests of consumers and that is why mediawatch-uk will remain a crucial organisation in the future. The Melon Farmers welcome Vivienne to her new role and look forward to being amused by continued sound bite nonsense. John Beyer will be a tough act to follow, setting the highest standard of puerile ideas such as ASBOs for TV and imprisoning porn viewers for 3 years.

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Thanks to Dan Based on article from mediawatchuk.org.uk

Mediawatch-UK have issued a press release about their new director, Vivienne Pattison: Mediawatch-uk, the campaigning organisation which fights for decency and standards in the media, announced today that it has appointed Vivienne Pattison as its new Director. Vivienne, previously an Account Director at Midas Public Relations, will be building on the work of her predecessors and providing an independent voice for those concerned about taste and decency issues. She will ensure that mediawatch-uk maintains its reputation for principled protest, informed comment and reliable research mediawatch-uk monitors broadcast output, publishes reports about programme content and responds to Government and other consultations on broadcasting policy, as well as arguing for parliamentary accountability for broadcasters and greater public involvement in broadcasting policy issues. mediawatch-uk plays an important role in promoting media literacy and in initiating discussion and debate. mediawatch-uk Acting Chairman, John Milton Whatmore said: I am in no doubt that in a media environment, the technology of which is changing faster than ever before, the need for mediawatch-uk is more apparent than at anytime during the last 50 years. I believe that, in Vivienne Pattison, mediawatch-uk has the person to meet the challenges of ensuring that the Media is responsible for what it produces, and in safeguarding what the general public can reasonably expect from such sources . Vivienne Pattison said mediawatch-uk performs a vital role in creating good media values and seeking to protect the young and vulnerable from offensive and harmful material. Gordon Brown has expressed personal concern about the violence and pornography that children and young people are easily able to access and I am looking forward to working with government and regulators to press for better standards in broadcasting. Outgoing mediawatch-uk Director, John Beyer said: I am delighted that Vivienne has taken over the role of Director. It remains essential that there is an effective voice speaking up for the viewer and listener in the digital age. I believe that Ofcom is failing to represent the interests of consumers and that is why mediawatch-uk will remain a crucial organisation in the future. The Melon Farmers welcome Vivienne to her new role and look forward to being amused by continued sound bite nonsense. John Beyer will be a tough act to follow, setting the highest standard of puerile ideas such as ASBOs for TV and imprisoning porn viewers for 3 years.

Betty Page Ungagged…Previously banned Betty Page documentary passed by the BBFC

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Thanks to bleach

Betty Page: Bomdage Queen is a 1998 documentary by Thomas Blackstone. The BBFC passed the 2009 Digital Classics DVD 18 uncut. Previously the BBFC rejected the 1999 Visual Entertainment video, The Classic Films of Irving Klaw Vol 1 (of 2), which forms part of Betty Page: Bondage Queen The BBFC stated that this video was rejected on the grounds that the Board’s guidelines state that mild fetishism may be represented, but in Irving Klaw we have scenes of women trussed, bound, gagged, spanked, shackled, handcuffed, slapped, tethered and suspended. Such sequences of bondage, restraint and gagging (proffered as masturbation material) are very extensive and unacceptable. The distributor of this material has decided to re-edit two versions of Betty page’s work by photographer Irving Klaw that will not breach our guidelines. We are awaiting their resubmission. Review from US Amazon: Queen of Curves The new DVD : Betty Page Bondage Queen will be a desirable addition to any Bettie Page fan but I suppose that I was expecting the whole disk to be unpublished shots of the Queen of Curves as the title suggests. The several short movies presented are black and white films taken of some of Irving Klaw’s models in their undies, being bound and gagged by Klaw’s sister. Betty appears in a few and in many stills. The exclusive commentary by Bettie Page is a short written page or two, not the audio file I hoped for. I enjoyed the movies of the models in their bras and panties, dark nylons and ultra high heels as they tried to walk in them but a more truthful title for the DVD would have been Irving Klaw’s Bondage and Fetish models, Featuring Bettie Page.

The Most Tender Cuts…Old cuts to Motel Hell

Read more Latest Cuts Info on MelonFarmers.co.uk The uncut region 0 DVD is available via UK Amazon The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon

Motel Hell is a 1980 US horror film by Kevin Connor The 2002 ILC Prime DVD was passed 18 uncut by the BBFC. Previously the BBFC cut 2s from the 1986 18 rated Warner video From cuts details on IMDb: Cut to remove a close up shot of a chainsaw wound during the climax. The 1980 cinema release was passed X uncut. Review from UK Amazon: Brutally observed spoof horror A horror story set in a motel has to compete with the masterpiece – Psycho. Motel Hell, of course, doesn’t come close, but then it doesn’t try to. What we have is a delicious little parody of the horror genre, outrageous in places, ironic in others. Rory Calhoun plays the owner of a financially failing motel, but rather than being ruled by his mother, he is ruled by his mother’s recipe for smoked meats. He and his sister run a hugely popular business selling jerky and sausage. It’s famously delicious, and people come from miles around to sample Farmer Vincent’s produce. While the household is locked in to an evangelical television programme, cannibalism and the morality of murdering and eating others is never an issue for them. Farmer Vincent, you see, is a highwayman Sweeney Todd, harvesting unwary travellers at night. Well, you have to wonder what gives his cooked meats such a unique flavour. The whole operation is based on his techniques for tenderising the meat and the produce of his secret garden. It’s a brutally observed spoof horror, well shot, highly entertaining, and very funny. There’s satire, there’s farce, there’s irony, there’s some visceral humour, and there’s a chainsaw duel! What more could you ask for? Funny, enjoyable production which contrasts nicely with the run-of-the-mill bloodletting of 80’s cult horror.

Censor On…VRA 2 Set in Progress

Thanks to DoodleBug
From bbfc.co.uk

Read more BBFC News on MelonFarmers.co.uk

The BBFC have now added to their website comment:

The Government has set in train the actions necessary to remedy this situation as soon as possible and, as part of that process, have notified the Commission of the new draft Act and the Labelling Regulations deriving from it.

The Government has made clear to the BBFC that, once the process of re-enacting the VRA is complete, all video classification certificates issued by the BBFC since 1984 will be valid, and the legal consequences of non-compliance with the classification regime will be re-instated and enforced as vigorously as previously. Any video recording containing an unclassified video work which has been released in the interim period will need to be withdrawn from sale once the new Act is in force, unless the work can claim exemption.

The Government has therefore urged the industry in the interim to comply with the provisions of the VRA on a voluntary and best practice basis. The BBFC will continue to classify video works submitted by distributors on a voluntary basis for this period.

F**K the ASA…ASA whinges at SMS ad with the text ‘F**K’

Based on article from asa.org.uk Read more Advert Censorship on MelonFarmers.co.uk

A text message from the Ruby Lounge and Cellar 35 venues stated F**K EXAMS! FREE ENTRY B4 11:30, FREE SHOT b4 12 wit [sic] text, TONIGHT! @ Ruby Lounge & Cellar 35. £1 vodkamxr, Sambuca. Rm1. Pop & Rnb. Rm2. House & Electro. Pass it on. A complainant, who was 17 years old and the recipient of the text message, challenged whether: it was irresponsible, because it was sent to under 18-year-olds the text “F**K” was offensive it had been sent unsolicited. ASA Assessment: Upheld The ASA was concerned by Ruby Lounge’s lack of response and apparent disregard for the Code, which was a breach of CAP Code clause 2.6 (Non-response). We reminded them of their obligations under the Code and told them to respond promptly in future. 1. Upheld The ASA understood that the complainant was concerned that the nightclub had used alcohol as an incentive for their free entry offer because he was 17 years old and, therefore, under the legal drinking age. We noted the text message referred to FREE SHOT and £1 vodkamxr, Sambuca following free entry into the nightclub and were concerned that it had been sent to someone under the age of 18. We reminded Ruby Lounge that the Code required marketers to take all necessary steps to ensure that marketing communications were suitable for those targeted and, in the absence of any satisfactory explanation from them, concluded that the message was irresponsible. On this point, the ad breached CAP Code clauses 2.2 (Responsible advertising) and 43.2 (a) (Database practice). 2. Upheld We understood that the complainant was concerned that the text “F**K” could cause offence, particularly to minors. We considered that, in the context of an unsolicited text message, it was likely to cause offence. On this point, the ad breached CAP Code clause 5.1 (Decency). 3. Upheld We referred to the CAP Code, which specified that the explicit consent of consumers was required before marketing by SMS text transmission. We understood that the complainant had not been asked for or given consent for his telephone number to be used by Ruby Lounge for marketing purposes and concluded that the message had therefore breached the Code. On this point, the ad breached CAP Code clause 43.4 (c) (Database practice).

Pay Per Click…Ministry of Justice consults on reining in online libel

Based on article from pressgazette.co.uk Read more UK Government Censorship on MelonFarmers.co.uk

Proposals for radical changes to UK libel laws aimed at updating them for the internet age have been published. Online publishers currently face the prospect of fresh legal action every time an article is downloaded, even if many years have passed since it first appeared. Newspapers and civil liberties campaigners complain the effect is to drastically limit freedom of speech. Changes to the law could involve the abolishing of the 160-year-old multiple publication rule, which allows for a new libel claim with every click, providing it is made within a year. That could be replaced with a single publication rule, allowing only one court action against defamatory material, to prevent open ended liability. A consultation paper published by the Ministry of Justice also suggests increasing the limitation period of claims to three years after discovery of the article. Publishers of online archives and blogs might also be given a defence of qualified privilege against offending article after the year time limit had expired. They would face action only if they refused to publish a correction on the offending web page. Media lawyers say the effect of the multiple publication rule has been to make London the libel capital of the world with litigants claiming here against publications based all over the world on the basis of web-based literature.

Ham Fisted Cuts…Old cuts to Fist of the North Star

Thanks to Bleach Read more Latest Cuts Info on MelonFarmers.co.uk

Fist of the North Star is 1986 Japanese anime by Toyoo Ashida The BBFC cut Volume 2 of the 1999 Manga video by 1:03s for an 18 rating At 59 mins – Remove use of chainsticks in fight sequence. All other fighting in this sequence may remain. The BBFC cut Volume 4 of the 1999 Manga video by 4s for a 15 rating Cut to remove throwing stars

Stabbed in the Back…Old cuts to Hell Night

The uncut region 2 DVD is available at UK Amazon The uncut region 1 DVD is available at US Amazon Read more Latest Cuts Info on MelonFarmers.co.uk

Hell Night is a 1981 US horror by Tom DeSimone The BBFC cuts were waived for the 2002 Odyssey and 2003 Prism DVDs rated 18. Previously the BBFC cut the 1986 Apex video and 1992 MIA video by 1s for an 18 rating From cuts details on IMDb: Video versions suffered a brief one second edit to shorten a scene of a body being punctured by spikes from a fence. And before that the BBFC passed the 1981 cinema release rated X uncut. See review from IMDb: Suspense instead of nudity & gore Group of coeds for pledge night have to spend the night in a manor that local legend says a father went insane and murdered all of his family. The lone survivor, his deformed son, is rumoured to be haunting the premises living in the underground tunnels and killing off unwelcome visitors. Guess what, the legend is true as the coeds start to disappear one by one. Spooky teen slasher builds up a good amount of atmosphere and delivers suspense instead of the usual nudity and gore. It also takes the time to build up characterizations for some of its characters. Linda Blair (a highly underrated actress) turns in a very appealing, strong & sexy performance and is supported by a better then usual cast, including Peter Barton. The finale is especially exciting.