CAMPUS
JOURNALISM
BSED 3A
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
a. elucidate how the campus journalism started in the Philippines;
b. explain the content of the Campus Journalism Act of 1991;
c. rationalize the functions of a campus paper and
d. evaluate the limitations of a Campus Paper.
Topic Outline
1. History of the Newspaper
2. Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (R.A. 7079)
3. Functions of the Campus Paper
4. Code of Ethics for Journalists
The History of Campus Journalism
➢ Samuel Fickle Fox penned the first issue of
The Students Gazetteon on July 11, 1777
➢ University of Santo Tomas published El Liliputiense
in 1890
➢ University of the Philippines published The College Folio in 1910
which is known as The Philippine Collegian
➢ The Torch of the Philippine Normal University,
The Guidon of the Ateneo de Manila University and
The Varsitarian of the University of Santo Tomas published El Liliputiense
in 1890
The History of Campus Journalism
➢ The Coconut which was published in 1912 by Manila High School,
now Araullo High School
➢ In 1923, The La Union Tab of La Union High School in Ilocos Norte
was published
➢ The Leytean of Leyte High School in 1925, The Pampangan of Pampanga
High school in 1925, The Rizalian of Rizal Hugh School in 1926, The
Coconut of Tayabas High School in 1927, The Volcano of Batangas High
School in 1927, The Toil of La Union Trade School in 1928, The
Samarinian of Samar High School in 1928, The Melting Pot of Tarlac
High School in 1929, The Granary of Nueva Ecija High School in 1929,
The Torres Torch of Torres High School in 1930 and The Cagayan
Student Chronicle of Cagayan High School in 1931.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF
CAMPUS JOURNALISM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known and referred to as the "Campus Journalism
Act of 1991."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the 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 at improving the journalistic skills of
students’ concerned and promoting responsible and free journalism.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 3. Definition of Terms. –
(a) School. – An institution for learning in the elementary, secondary or tertiary level
comprised of the studentry, administration, faculty and non-faculty personnel;
(b) Student Publication. – The issue of any printed material that is independently
published by, and which meets the needs and interests of, the studentry;
(c) Student Journalist. – Any bona fide student enrolled for the current semester or
term, who was passed or met the qualification and standards of the editorial board. He
must likewise maintain a satisfactory academic standing.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
(d) Editorial Board. – In the tertiary level, the editorial board shall be composed of
student journalists who have qualified in placement examinations. In the case of
elementary and high school levels, the editorial board shall be composed of a duly
appointed faculty adviser, the editor who qualified and a representative of the Parents-
Teachers' Association, who will determine the editorial policies to be implemented by
the editor and staff members of the student publication concerned.
At the tertiary level, the editorial board may include a publication adviser at the option
of its members.
(e) Editorial Policies. – A set of guidelines by which a student publication is operated
and managed, taking into account pertinent laws as well as the school administration's
policies.Said guidelines shall determine the frequency of the publication, the manner
of selecting articles and features and other similar matters.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 4. Student Publication. – A student publication is published by the student
body through an editorial board and publication staff composed of students selected
but fair and competitive examinations.
Once the publication is established, its editorial board shall freely determine its
editorial policies and manage the publication's funds.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 5. Funding of Student Publication. – Funding for the student publication may
include the savings of the respective school's appropriations, student subscriptions,
donations, and other sources of funds.
In no instance shall the Department of Education, Culture and Sports or the school
administration concerned withhold he release of funds sourced from the savings of the
appropriations of the respective schools and other sources intended for the student
publication. Subscription fees collected by the school administration shall be released
automatically to the student publication concerned.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 6. Publication Adviser. – The publication adviser shall be selected by the
school administration from a list of recommendees submitted by the publication staff.
The function of the adviser shall be limited to one of technical guidance.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 7. Security of Tenure. – A member of the publication staff must maintain his
or her status as student in order to retain membership in the publication staff. A student
shall not be expelled or suspended solely on the basis of articles he or she has written,
or on the basis of the performance of his or her duties in the student publication.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 8. Press Conferences and Training Seminar. – The Department of Education,
Culture and Sports shall sponsor periodic competitions, press conferences and training
seminars in which student-editors/writers and teacher-adviser of student publications
in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels shall participate. Such competitions,
conferences and seminars shall be held at the institutional, divisional, and regional
levels, culminating with the holding of the annual national elementary, secondary or
tertiary School Press Conferences in places of historical and/or cultural interest in the
country.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 9. Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education, Culture and Sports,
in coordination with the officers of the national elementary, secondary or tertiary
organizations or official advisers of student publications, together with student
journalists at the tertiary level and existing organizations of student journalists, shall
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this
Act.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 10. Tax Exemption. – Pursuant to paragraph 4, Section 4, Article XIV of the
Constitution, all grants, endowments, donations, or contributions used actually,
directly and exclusively for the promotion of campus journalism as provided for in this
Act shall be exempt from donor's or gift tax.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 11. Appropriations. – For the initial year of implementation, the sum of Five
million pesos (P5,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be charged against the savings
from the current appropriations of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.
Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act.
CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991
REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079
Section 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation.
FUNCTIONS OF CAMPUS
PAPER
FUNCTIONS OF CAMPUS PAPER
FUNCTIONS OF CAMPUS PAPER
FUNCTIONS OF CAMPUS PAPER
INFORMATION FUNCTION
This is the news functions of the campus paper: to inform. Since information
dissemination is the maid purpose of the campus paper, this is the function most likely
performed by any campus paper. It gives the readers information concerning the things
around the community and within the school.
OPINION FUNCTION
Through the editorials and editorial columns, the editor has the chance to post his
opinion regarding current events inside the school and the community. The main
purpose for this is to persuade to reader toward a certain point of view.
EDUCATION FUNCTION
Tabooed topics such as sex, sex education, family planning and the like are
extensively and intensively discussed by writers of campus papers. This is one of the
most important functions of the campus paper: to educate.
WATCHDOG FUNCTION
The school paper serves as an eye for the readers to see what is happening in the
school and to guard the right of the young ones.
LABORATORY FUNCTION
It serves as the teaching tool for budding journalists. Neophytes pattern their new
experience from the existing and past papers.
DOCUMENTATION FUNCTION
Important school events and worthwhile student accomplishments and achievements
are recorded in the campus paper for posterity’s sake. Most present day stories are
researched from old newspapers.
ENTERTAINMENT FUNCTION
The school paper, like an interesting book, keeps the reader company especially when
he is alone. Most human interest stories are stimulating to read.
DEVELOPMENTAL FUNCTION
In developing a country like the Philippines, scholastic and commercial journalism has
been given greater and nobler significance. The sources of new journalists are school
also. Journalists in campus publications are most likely to be the journalists of the
future. The young journalist whose news deals with club activities, school elections
and campus activities will eventually become a better one whose news deal with
activities of the nation, national elections and national concerns. The developmental
function of the campus paper doesn't only have implications on the young one himself
but also on the school as a whole. School administrators and staff may reflect their
performance on the school paper and see what improvements must be done.
Limitations of
Campus Journalism
Limitations of
Campus Journalism
Some limitations of Campus Journalism were discussed by Pachico Seares in his April
2018 column in Sunstar.com.ph.
1. The Campus Journalism Act fails its goals because of the following reasons:
(1) publication of at least one student publication by a school is not mandatory
(2) funding for the student paper depends largely on school owners, and
(3) no effective rules guarantee independence of campus journalists.
2. The Campus Journalism Act pays tribute to independence of student journalists, yet
requires an advisory board that effectively controls the paper.
Limitations of
Campus Journalism
3. Campus journalists must be taught and honed on skills of communication. Also,
they need to be prepared for the reality such as (1) freedom is limited by laws and
ethical norms and (2) a journalist at times has to deal with compromises on his
freedom.
4. School administrations are understandably protective over its public image. There is
a conflict of interest between the real function of journalism and the protection of
school.
The Philippine Journalist’s
Code of Ethics
1. 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.
2. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of
my Calling.
The Philippine Journalist’s
Code of Ethics
3. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news,
photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative
of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.
4. I shall refrain from writing reports which will adversely affect a private reputation
unless the public interests justifies it. At the same time, I shall write vigorously for
public access to information, as provided for in the constitution.
The Philippine Journalist’s
Code of Ethics
5. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the 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.
6. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.
The Philippine Journalist’s
Code of Ethics
7. I shall not in any manner ridicule, cast aspersions on or degrade any person by
reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.
8. 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.
The Philippine Journalist’s
Code of Ethics
9. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.
10. 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.
11. I shall comport myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in
such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency
should be my watchword.
QUESTIONS
?
