Self-regulation refers to members of a profession policing that profession. Certain media industries are largely self-regulated in many countries including the United States, Australia, and European Union member states, under the premise that these media should be free from state interference and control. This entry discusses how regulatory models differ across forms of mass media, then describes different self-regulation models, and looks at some challenges to self-regulation.

Different regulatory models apply to the print media, telecommunications, and broadcasting, with the latter perhaps being subject to a form of state control and censorship not generally applied to print media and online communications. Print media are often self-regulating, whereas terrestrial television is commonly regulated through licensing. Broadcast media regulation can also introduce content restrictions, such as the need ...