Which statement reflects Curran and Seaton's view that self-regulation requires an industry watchdog with real power?

Which statement reflects Curran and Seaton's view that self-regulation requires an industry watchdog with real power?

• A. Self-regulation will only work if an industry watchdog is involved that has the power to not be ignored at will.
• B. The idea that consumers are the best judges of what is in their own interests, and that industry regulation should create conditions where the consumer has the most control.
• C. Regulation should be implemented by government censorship to control content.
• D. The belief that media should be fully state-owned and controlled.

Answer: (A)

Self-regulation only works if there’s an independent industry watchdog with real enforcement power. Curran and Seaton argue that media power can be concentrated and influence shapes outcomes, so voluntary codes by the industry alone won't constrain behavior unless a regulator outside the industry's control can actually enforce rules and sanction non-compliance. An external body with teeth—backed by law and capable of meaningful action—provides the accountability that self-regulation alone lacks, making standards credible and enforceable. The idea is that such a watchdog must not be easy to ignore; it needs real authority to compel compliance and protect public interest. The other ideas—leaving regulation to consumer choice, government censorship, or full state ownership—don’t fit their emphasis on a powerful, independent regulator to curb industry power.

Self-regulation only works if there’s an independent industry watchdog with real enforcement power. Curran and Seaton argue that media power can be concentrated and influence shapes outcomes, so voluntary codes by the industry alone won't constrain behavior unless a regulator outside the industry's control can actually enforce rules and sanction non-compliance. An external body with teeth—backed by law and capable of meaningful action—provides the accountability that self-regulation alone lacks, making standards credible and enforceable. The idea is that such a watchdog must not be easy to ignore; it needs real authority to compel compliance and protect public interest. The other ideas—leaving regulation to consumer choice, government censorship, or full state ownership—don’t fit their emphasis on a powerful, independent regulator to curb industry power.