CAMPUS JOURNALISM: ITS

LEGAL BASES AND ETHICAL

STANDARDS

Presented by: Jennifer Corpuz, Meredith Cas & Jelyn

Catabay
 INTRODUCTION
The evolution of the world towards modern information and communication technology has given
impetus to the advancement of journalism. Gathering information to be imparted to the listeners,
viewers or readers becomes easier, faster and less expensive. Parallel to this is the increasing rate of
man’s desire to widen his knowledge and skills in all aspects of life through journalism.
In the Philippines, the advancement of journalism starts in the campus, from elementary to
college. It is strengthened by the implementation of the Republic Act No. 7079, known as the Campus
Journalism Act of 1991. This law declares the promotion and protection of the freedom of the press
even in the school. It also promotes the advancement of campus journalism as a way of molding the
positive values, enhancing the critical and creative thinking and the development of moral character
and self-discipline of Filipino youth.
 The teaching and training of the young journalists are developed effectively not only
through the printing of the school paper, but also through the holding of yearly press
conferences in the division, regional and national level, both in the elementary and
secondary.
These yearly press conferences, which highlight the individual writing contests and
group contests through the entries of school papers, pose a great challenge to the young
campus journalists and school paper advisers. These maximize their efforts in perfecting
their crafts in the field of campus journalism.
Needless to say, campus journalism serves as a laboratory for discovering, molding, and
polishing the journalistic talent and skills of the students to become professional journalists
in the future.
 DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF
JOURNALISM
Journalism is an art of expressing different information,
which are of significance to the readers, listeners or viewers.
It is divided into three categories: written, oral and audio-
visual. These information are transmitted through the mass
media composed of print,broadcastand the electronic media.
 TYPES OF JOURNALISM

1. Objective journalism. The type of reporting events that confines itself when, to why,
facts and how answers the questions what, who, where,
2. Interpretative journalism. The type of reporting events which journalist attempts to
explain the significance of the event by expounding the why and how.
3. Adversarial journalism. It acts as “watchdog” that fiscalizes the three branches of
the government: executive, legislative, and the judiciary.
4. Development journalism. An opposite of adversarial journalism, it aims
at promoting the social, economic and political development of the country.
Some writers also called it “subservience journalism,” because journalists
write to support the government efforts in improving the quality of life of
the people, like in the effective delivery of social services.
5. Yellow journalism. It sensationalizes stories about crime and violence and
stories of immoral and indecent acts of celebrities.
 FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESS
Some of the basic functions of the press are the following:
1. To inform.
2. To influence.
4. To entertain.
5. To foster commerce and industry.
FUNCTIONS OF CAMPUS JOURNALISM

1. To serve as laboratory for young writers to develop their journalistic

writing skills.
2. To enhance the critical thinking of young writers.
3. To strengthen the values of discipline, cooperation, accuracy, tactfulness,
responsibility and leadership among student writers.
4. To serve as bridge, which foster cooperation among the school, the home
and the community.
5. To inform the readers of timely and factual events.
6. To influence public opinion through the critical evaluation and
interpretation of event or issue.
7. To educate not only the students but also the people in the community.
8. To act as guardian of students’ rights as it serves as the ears and eyes of
the readers.
9. To document significant events and worthwhile student accomplishments.
10. To entertain readers.
 TEN PRACTICAL TIPS FOR ASPIRING
JOURNALIST
Below are the practical tips for aspiring journalist earned and supplied by the wide range
of experience of Alito L. Malinao, author of the book, Journalism for Filipinos:

1. Be inquisitive. 2. Be constant in your purpose.

3. Be fair and balanced. 4. Be genuinely interested in people.
5. Seek the truth. 6. Be resourceful.
7. Have guts. 8. Master your grammar.
9. Know your medium. 10. Read.
 Criteria of a Quality Newspaper
Estelita Constantino-Panganiban in her book, Journalism Handbook,
enumerates the following criteria for a good newspaper:
1. Accuracy
2. Responsibility
3. Integrity
4. Leadership
 Sections of a School Paper and Their
Contents
A. FRONT PAGE/NEWS PAGE
1. Nameplate. It contains the name, logo and address of the school and may also be placed in reduced
size on the editorial box and folio of each page.
2. Ears. The little boxes on either side of the nameplate, which contains a picture, title and page of an
important article. For some school papers, they use it for their school logo or an important saying
relative to the theme of their issue.
3. Index. A slug line indicating inside page story and the page number where it is located.
4. Banner Story. The most important news placed on the front page of the news pages.
5. Streamer. A headline extending across the top of the page. If located above the nameplate, it is called
skyline or umbrella head.
6. Headline. It refers to the general term for the title of news story.
7. Deck. A subordinate headline immediately below its mother headline, also known as
bank or readout. It may also mean the number of lines of the headline.
8. Lead. The introduction of the news story, usually the first and the second paragraph.
9. News story. It is the whole story of an event composed of the lead and the text
elaborating the lead.
10. Column. A vertical section printed material.
11. Column rule. The vertical line that divides the page into columns. It is usually a
space one em wide, also known as the sunken rule.
12. Fold. The imaginary horizontal line that divides the newspaper page equally into
two parts.
13. Byline. The name of the writer placed below the headline.
14. Box. Any printed material surrounded, or partly enclosed, by a special border
line.
15. Cut. It refers to the plate reproducing photo or artwork, also known as cliche.
16. Cutline. The text accompanying the photo or artwork, better known as
caption. If it is written above the photo like the slug line, it is called overline.
17. Teaser. A tagline of several words in small type placed above the headline,
also known as kicker. If it is bigger than the headline, it is called as hammer.
18. Dateline. The line preceding an out-of-town story that gives the date and place
from which the story was sent.
19. Credit line. A line crediting the source of an item, photo or cartoon.
 B. EDITORIAL PAGE
1. Folio. It contains the page number, date of publication and the name of the newspaper, usually placed on top
of the page. It is also found in other inside pages.
2. Flag. The editorial box contains the reduced size of the newspaper logo, the names of the staff members and
their position, subscription rates, publisher and other pertinent data about the newspaper. It is also called as
masthead.
3. Editorial. A kind of journalistic writing written by any of the editors who give comment or opinion on behalf
of the staff or the whole paper on timely event or issue.
4. Editorial column. A timely and regular presentation of various kinds of editorial material by the same writer,
known as columnist.
5. Photo of the columnist
6. Editorial cartoon. It is an editorial in drawing or caricature.
7. Editorial liner. A short statement or quoted saying placed at the end of an editorial column or editorial to
emphasize a point.
8. Letter to the editor. A letter sent in by the reader giving his personal views on a particular issue.
 C. FEATURE PAGE D. SCIENCE AND
1. Feature story. A kind of journalistic TECHNOLOGY PAGE
writing not only designed to inform, 1. Science and technology news
but to entertain the reader. 2. Science and technology editorial
2. Regular feature. Columns like 3. Editorial cartoon in science and
entertainment, health, science and technology
technology and others.
4. Editorial columns of science and
3. Special features technology
4. Cuts and illustrations 5. Science and technology feature
5. Folio stories
6. Puzzle, maze and others 6. Pictures and illustrations related
to science and technology
 E. SPORTS PAGE
1. Sports news
2. Sports editorial
3. Sports editorial cartoon
4. Sports columns
5. Sports features
6. Pictures, illustrations and others
 Organizing the Staff of the School Paper
The following pointers are recommended for the selections of staffers:
1.The candidate should have at least one year of residency in school.
2.The candidate has attended seminar-workshops on campus journalism or similar training.
3.The aspirant has a satisfactory grade in language subjects.
4.The chief, associate and managing editors should not hold other main positions in school
organizations likethestudent body organization. This would not only make them out of focus and
give them more workloads, but as members of the campus press, they should be objective and
non-partisan.
5. The aspiring staff has satisfactorily passed the qualifying examination.
 Ceciliano-Jose Cruz in his book, Campus Journalism and School Paper
Advising, recommended the following qualifications of a school paper
adviser in the order of their performance:
• One with a degree in journalism bachelor, master or specialization.
• One with a degree in English bachelor, master or specialization .
• One with experience in newspaper work.
• One with more than ordinary experience in journalismor school paper
work.
• One who teaches social studies
 Duties and Responsibilities of the Staff
To maximize efficiency, by preventing overlapping of work, neglect ofsome aspects or
overburdening of other staffers, the following duties and responsibilities are formulated and adopted:
1. Editor-in-Chief 6. Layout Artist
2. Associate Editor
7. Photojournalist
3. Managing Editor
8. Circulation Manager
4. Section Editors
4.1 News Editor 9. Copy Editor
4.2 Feature/Literary Editor
10. Reporters
4.3 Sports Editor
 Legal Bases of Freedom of Expression
Freedom of expression is both a right and a responsibility. This right is embodied in the Universal Declaration
of Human rights that states “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any
media regardless of frontiers”.
In the Philippines, freedom of expression is guaranteed by law. Section 4 of Article III (Bill of Rights) of the
1987 Constitution states that “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the
press, or of the right of the people to peacefully assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
This is reinforced by Section 7 of the same Bill of Rights that states, “The right of the people to information on
matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents,and papers pertaining
to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy
development, shall be afforded to the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law”.
 Section 24 of Article II of the Philippine Constitution strengthen the importance of
freedom of expression for the development of the democratic society as it states, “The State
recognizes thevitalroleof communication and information in nation-building.”Thisisfurther
reinforced by Section 28 of Article II that says, “Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed
by law, the State adopts and implementsa policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions
involving public interest.”
Republic Act 7079, known as the “Campus Journalism Act of 1991,” also highlights
freedom of expression in its Section 2, Declaration of Policy, that states “It is a declared
policy of the State to uphold and protect the freedom of the press even at the campus level and
to promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening
ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and
personal discipline of the Filipino youth. In furtherance of this policy, the State shall undertake
various programs and projects aimed for promoting responsible and free journalism.”
All of the above constitutional and legal provisions are solid commitments of the
government in its desire to protecttherightofits citizenry to freedom of expression.
by Walter Williams
 The Journalist's Code of Ethics
I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth
by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive
errors promptly.
II. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of my calling.
III. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or
documents,andshall properly identify myself as a representativeofthepresswhenobtaining any personal interview
intended for publication.
IV. I shall refrain from writing reports which interestwill justifiesadversely it.Ataffectthe a same private time,
reputation I shall fight unlessvigorously thepublicfor public access to information as provided for in the
Constitution.
V. I shall not let personal motivesorinterestinfluencemeinthe performance of my duties, nor shall I accept or offer
any present, gift or other consideration of a nature which may cast doubt on my professional integrity.
VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.
VII. I shall not in any manner ridicule, cast aspersions on or degrade any person by reason
of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, and cultural and ethnic origin.
VIII. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I
shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases
so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.
IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.
X. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my
profession, invoking the "conscience clause" when duties imposed on me conflict with the
voice of my conscience
XI. I shall comport myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such
manner to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should by me
watchword.
 Code of Ethics of Campus Journalist
1. The student journalist should strive continuously to be unbiased and
accurate in his reports and should equip himself adequately with facts to
support his published statements. He should realize his personal
responsibility for everything he submits for publication.
2. The student journalist should reveal his identity as a representative of the
student press before obtaining any interview for publication.
3. The editor should not exclude a student point of view solely because it is
contrary to the editorial policy.
4. The editor should apologize in print at the first available opportunity for all
mistakes.
5. A student journalist should defend freedom through the honest of collection
and publication of news and facts and through the rights of fair comment and
criticism.
6. Student journalists should be familiar with the laws of libel and contempt of
court which exist in their country and should observe the onternational
copyright agreement unless this interferes with the freedom of the press or the
need to inform the public on vital matters. Every effort should be made to retain
the independence of all students from public relations, censorship, pressure or
undue influence from any outside body, political governmental, religious or in
the university. Official publications of a student union, however, have particular
responsibility to that union.
 Bribery in Media
Media is endowed with vast power. It can makeorunmakeaman. This is the very reason why some
persons who have insatiablegreed for fame, power and wealth bribe some media practitioners to concoct
stories in their favor. Some of these bribes are placed in envelopes, thus the so-called envelopment
journalism. There are also unscrupulous people, usually corrupt politicians, who hire journalists to attack
their political nemesis and defend them when they are also under attack in print or broadcast media. They
are the so-called ACDC (Attack and Collect, Defend and Collect) journalists. In some cases some
powerhungry people have the galls to just place the bribe not in envelope but secretly put it inside the
journalist’s pocket.
With the advent of technology, corruption in the field of journalism becomes hi-tech, too. There are
some public relation firms that keep a list of ATM numbers of top journalists in print and broadcast media.
These firms send press releases to print or broadcast journalists to publish or drumbeat in exchange of
money deposited in their ATM account. So from envelopmental journalism, corruption in media evolves
into the ATM journalism.
 Other Malpractices in Media
• Some malpractices of media in the Philippines according to Alito L.
Malinao include the following:
1. Shooting from the hip.
2. Abuse of source-based stories.
3. Misquotation.
4. Labeling.
5. Manufactured stories.
 Limitations of Press Freedom
Alito M. Malinao, in his book, Journalism for Filipinos, enumerates the following major
limitations to press freedom:
1. Libel as a Crime
2. Anti-obscenity law
3. Invasion of privacy law
4. Law on national security
5. Contempt of court
6. Copyright law
 Some Rules and Responsibilities of the
Journalist
1. Obscenity is against the law.
2. Stick to objective and unbiased reporting.
3. Be sensitive when printing pictures.
4. Stories must be serious and not vulgar or flippant.
5. Never call the suspect as criminal or murderer.
6. Use mature and impartial judgment in the public interest at all times.
7. Publish only stories on the basis of its significance and usefulness to the public.
8. Accent when possible reasonable amount of news which demonstrate the value of compassion,
honesty, self-sacrifice, heroism and patriotism.
9. Clearly attribute your sources of news materials and tell your
reader when a reliable source could not be identified.
10. Always respect the right of privacy.
11. Maintain professionalism and conduct yourself with dignity
and decorum when interacting with your sources.
12. Be brave enough in defending your stand on certain issues.
13. Be constructive in your criticism and do not destroy the
reputation of other people by using the power of your pen.
 JOURNALISM AS A CAREER
JOURNALISM is still considered one of the most glamorous careers in the Philippines
today. The practice ofjournalism is a challenging profession for the would-be members of the
“fourth estate.” This type of career is indeed attracting many young men and women to enter the
noblest profession in the world. Many contemporary journalists call this unique career
“development journalism” while communicators call it “development communication”.
The profession has actually created an atmosphere of mystery and romance of the lifestyles
of journalists. Because of such appeal to students searching for a challenging vocation, men and
women have practically flocked to the universities and colleges, particularly the University of the
Philippines Institute of Mass Communication, to study the rudiments and gamuts of this
interesting profession. More and more students, both boys and girls, are taking journalism as a
noble profession or a life-time career.
 What is journalism? Journalism is the science or the art of
writing or the business of managing, editing or writing for,
newspapers, journals or magazines collectively. The art of writing
is classified into five categories, namely: 1) newspapers, 2)
general magazines and reviews, 3) trade or professional journals,
4) weekly news magazines and 5) radio and television.
 Development Journalism
Development journalism is a deliberate resolve of a country's press to seek solutions to its
development problems.
• The attributes of development journalism are the following:
1. It is purposive.
2. It is relevant.
3. It reflects a scientific outlook.
4. It is mass-oriented.
5. It communicates knowledge of a technical subject matter area.
6. It is functional and operates through a network to attain the total development of a group of people.
 Journalism is an extension of history, something not taught in newspaper offices.
Journalism education does not end with the diploma. Upon joining the exacting
profession, the reporter or journalist keeps up with the changing conditions of society.
There is no denying the fact that a newspaper job is a time consuming and glamorous
occupation. Of course, the journalist scoffs at synthetic thrills, which are inherent in the
nature of the work. The reward of the journalist is “the satisfaction of going where things
happen, of becoming the first to know, of being an insider, then seeing the product of his
brain in print – perhaps under his own name - where it wins attention and moves the
minds and emotions of others. It is a kind of satisfaction no other craft can duplicate."
Moreover, a reporter is also expected "to walk like a newspaperman" to realize that he
is performing a public service of immense importance, and that in consequence the right to
get the news as protected by the Constitution and hallowed by long traditions. A
newspaperman always walks as though he had the right to be there, the right to go through
any door. No matter where it is, he has the right to be there and he knows it. No matter
what the door is, he has the right to go through and he knows it.
 THE REQUIREMENTS
There are other requirements of journalism as a career, namely: the journalist-to-be must have a "nose for
news," accuracy, judgment, speed, initiative, perseverance, objectivity, versatility, integrity, tact, nerve,
responsibility and so forth. Not all people who wish to pursue journalism as a profession can meet the requirements
of the vocation. Such qualities must be met because after the "four year grinding in journalism colleges, the new
reporter on the job is frequently called upon to witness painful and shockking happenings. These arouse emotions
which, as a newsman, he must be able to suppress in order to be able to get the true story.
If one is interested to become a journalist, newscaster, radio commentator, TV newscaster or a member of the
“noblest profession,” the prospective member must have to re-evaluate himself or undertake self-evaluation. One
must not think that a journalist is living a life of glamour, excitement and unlimited expense account. The fare of the
jourcan be glamorous and exciting, and he will spend hours on end tracking down hidden facts. Therefore, do not let
anyone deprive you of this happy illusion. Of course, the job of a journalist is rather routine and exacting that it
might be boring sometimes, but that is the calm before the story. Those very interesting news that break from time
to time when fast and furious work is required to meet the newspaper deadlines, will make up for any boredom.
 Functions of the Press
1. To inform
2. To influence
3. To entertain
4. To foster commerce and industry

The true crusading reporter must be exposed to all the “hardknocks” of mass communication
problems. This is primarily designed to sharpen his intellectual outlook, insight and perspective
in life. The journalist acquires breadth of vision and critical faculties and eventually his sense of
moral values tempered by daily exercise in judging men and also in evaluating events.
Qualifications and Attributes of a Journalist
Most of the attributes of a reporter are acquired instead of inherited. The best
qualifications for a writer are the ability to write for print – a flexible and sociable
personality, a nature that relishes a variety of experience, a temperament to work under
pressure of deadlines and a tolerance permitting objective observations of people and events.
The demands of the noblest profession are 1) skill, 2) intelligence, and 3) integrity. Skill
involves the mechanics, ability to write correctly and felicitiously. Good grammar, style and
readability are the sum of journalistic skills. With respect to intelligence, it is something else.
The rule is a good journalist mus be able to say something and make sense. The requirement
includes ability to observe, to learn, to reason and to be relevant - to have sense of things.
 A true journalist cannot stay aloof from and unaffected by the unhappy
condition of our time and place, our country and people. If he cannot feel
pique nor pain – nor compassion for what he sees and must report then he
has no business being a journalist. He does not help to solve the problem, he
becomes a part of it. He lacks the vocation.
Unless we accpet the postulate that journalism is a vocation joined to
lofty causes and noble aims, it would be hard put to restore and recapture
the old prestige, the glory and respectability it once enjoyed and richly
deserved.
 Factors in Choosing the Vocation
• Young men and women who are interested always in pursuing the noble
profession of journalism must always consider the following :
1. An interest in reading and writing.
2. The greatest incentive for growth of the neophyte journalist is the master-
apprentice relationship.
3. Journalism, by itself, is too shallow for today’s world.
4. In addition to the soaking in the social sciences, students must be immersed in
journalism.
 For purposes of self-examination, an aptitude for journalism may be described as consisting
of the following:
1. An interest in people and in particular an interest in pre-arranged or accidental happenings
that are known in newspaper circles as expected or unexpected news events;
2. Fondness for ferreting out the who, what, where, when, how and why of such events has
come within his province;
3. A facility for turning out a well-written story; and
4. A temperament that will enable the reporter to keep his head, in fact, go coolly on with his
work, whether it is unearthing the news or writing the story in the face of an onrushing deadline.
 The journalists, both men and women, can always set a high standard of devotion to their
calling, making great sacrifices in their private life and personal convenience, cheerfully
disciplining themselves to long hours, appalling working conditions and at times facing
considerable physical danger. Admittedly, after all the hazards, and sacrifices, there are also
“cheers and excitements” in the social world. The task of a journalist is to be ”able to know his
readers, to respect them, and in a sense, to love them.
In this field of specialization, sincerity is the hallmark of a good newspaperman or
journalist. The show-off, the writer who thinks he is better than any of his readers or other
writers, the double-talkers and the hypocrites have no business in a newspaper. Readers want
newspapermen with whom they can identify. Newsmen are people the reader would like to call
by their nicknames, if that is possible.
 The Challenging Opportunities
• Specifically, prospective graduates of journalism or those who have taken at least journalism
subjects may work or may be employed in the different mass media networks, such as :
1. In metropolitan or provincial newspapers either as reporter, copyreader, proof-reader, or
section editor-incharge of any such departments.
2. In the magazines, English or Pilipino, as reporter, copyreader, proofreader, researcher, short
story writer or editor or literary editor.
3. In the business press, as public relations officer, public information officer, editor or staff-
writer of house publications, trade journals, inside editors (those who edit reports, memoranda,
important letters, etc.) or promotions men.
4. In advertising, promotions and public relations officers as advertising men, copywriters, idea men of
promotion projects, writers or editors of publicity materials, researchers, public relations men,
accounts executives, etc.
5. In radio and TV, there is a big demand today for scriptwriters, advertising copywriters, gag writers,
jingle writers, researchers, news digest writers, sequence writers, arrangers of commercials, or other
related jobs, etc.
6. General free lance writing - short stories, features, articles, essays, researchers and fillers of various
types.

All the professional writing skills and public relations specialization for such jobs and/or
accomplishments are taught by experienced, well-known and competent instructors.
At the same time, newspaper work is a pathway to a successful career in the creative or semi-creative
writing field. Reporters undoubtedly profit by their first-hand contacts with real life, their intimate
knowledge of human beings whom they see with the masks off.Theylearnto write by actual daily
writing, even if they chafe the while under the restraints of routine news-gathering and or news writing
technique.
 Journalism Training Is Necessary for
Minsupala
In the of Philippines, there is an urgent need for prospective members of the
journalistic profession to undergo effective training in various institutions for
journalism. Students who are seriously thinking of joining the fourth estate as a
vocation must start early. Statistics show that out of the thirty (30) schools and colleges
offering journalism and communication courses in the country today, all the institutions
are located in Manila and one in the City of Dumaguete. Majority of the mass media
are also concentrated in Greater Manila area, while Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan are
still “grouping in the dark” for national oneness with the medium. In fact, the
Minsupala region is far behind in the revolutionary development of the mass
communication media.
 The Regional Needs of the Muslims
In the region, what is needed for the Muslims and other Christian students are the following :
1.A cross-disciplinary instructional program which will provide the student training core
which rest on broad general education base and which treats communication as a science, an
art and a service;
2.A cross-disciplinary research program which will give thestudent, practitioner and the
policy-maker, a thorough understanding of the complex nature of communication process and
how communication (including journalism) can be used to accelerate economic development
of the region; and
3.A continuing educational program which will providepublic service to practitioners and
policy-makers in terms of training and public information service.
 Effective Training Methods
Professional training for journalists (which is what everybody in this
business except advertising men and publicists called themselves before they
became mass communicators) should be approached from three angles:
1)Training before entry;
2)Training in the field or on-the-job-training and
3)Training for specialized skills.