‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. at

House Bill No. 2559
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution as well as the United
Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, certain civil and political rights are
guaranteed every person, among of which are the freedom of speech and freedom
of the press. This proposed bill seeks to further enhance these basic rights by
promoting the welfare and protection of journalism in the country.

Journalists, as purveyors of truth, risk their life and limb in order to make
people aware of the local, national and international events. They provide the
essential vehicle for the exchange of ideas between cultures and nations.
Considering these, it is necessary for the enactment of a law that will ensure a living
wage, an atmosphere conducive to productive journalism work, reiterate value of
ethics, provide for development programs that will deepen the practice of their
profession, and promote the defense and protection of freedom and human rights of
journalists and their organizations.

In view of the foregoing approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Why

RUFUS B. RODRIGWEZ

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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS. )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and

Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House BillNo. 2559

PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR JOURNALISTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for Journalists”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. \t is the declared policy of the state that workers
should be entitled to security of tenure, humane conditions of work and a living

wage.

Consonant with this principle, this Act shall have the following objectives:

(a)

(b)
(c)

To ensure that journalists shall be provided with comprehensive
benefits packaged at par with the current benefits enjoyed by those
in the labor force;

To motivate and encourage journalists to perform their duties as
truthful and responsible informers of the people; and

To ensure the creation of an atmosphere conducive to a productive
and fruitful journalism work

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following shall mean:

(a)

(b)

(o)

Journalism — The gathering, writing, editing, processing and
dissemination of news and production or publishing of newspapers
and such other publications such as magazines, and pamphlets
and other processes through wire or wireless broadcasting, and
online services. It means the gathering of news, features by
means of camera for airing on television or for broadcasting on
radio and wire, wireless broadcasting and online services;
Journalist / Wire Service Reporter — One who manages, edits,
gathers and writes news stories or articles for newspapers,
magazines or journals, or for airing in television or on radio, and
for wire or wireless broadcasting and online services;

Publisher - One who manages the production, advertising,
circulation of newspapers or magazines or online publications;


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Editor - One who goes over manuscripts, news stories, edits
these for publication in newspaper or magazines, or for airing in
television or on radio or for wire or wireless broadcasting and
online services also and who manages the editorial staff and news
coverage:
Reporter — A journalist employed by a newspaper, television or
radio station, wire or wireless broadcasting and online services to
gather and produce news for publication and broadcasting and
paid as a regular employee or under contract;
Correspondent — A journalist hired by a newspaper, magazine,
television or radio, wire or wireless broadcast enterprise or online
services to dispatch news stories or special reports and paid on a
per article basis or per day basis;
Local Correspondent — a journalist hired by a newspaper,
magazine, or other publications, television or radio, wire or
wireless broadcast enterprise or online services to dispatch
news stories or special reports from a specific beat not assigned
to a regular reporter such as those in the provinces or some
areas in the area where the hiring firm is based and paid on a
per article basis;
Foreign Correspondent — A journalist hired by an international
news organization or network to dispatch news stories or special
reports;
Stringer - A reporter working for an international news
‘organization, network or broadcast enterprise, wire or wireless
broadcasting and online services;
Freelance journalist / Contributor — One who writes for any
publication without being regularly employed by such publication,
television or radio, wire or wireless broadcasting and online
services;
Photo journalist - A person hired or commissioned to take
pictures for use in a publication, an international news organization
or network and online services;
Columnist - One who writes or airs commentaries on matter of
general interest;
Broadcaster — A general term applied to radio or television
journalist whose main task includes announcing and /or reading
and commenting on news reports;
Radio announcer — One who announces or reads news reports;
Radio correspondent — One who makes reports on news event
from his beat.
Blocktimer — One who buys airime in radio and television to
analyze or make commentaries on news events;
Radio news editor — One who gives assignment to field reporters
‘or radio correspondents on events considered newsworthy for
coverage or airing:
Field reporter — One who gathers news in his beat and reports
them to the desk or radio announcer.



SECTION 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all journalist as defined herein.

SECTION 5. Philippine Council for Journalists (PCJ). - There shall be
created a Philippine Council for Journalists (PCJ) that will serve as the development
center for journalism and at the same time act as a self-regulatory body for
journalists and the journalism profession.

(a) Composition of the Philippine Council for Journalists - The
body shall be composed of journalism organizations duly
recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
represented by the president or his representative. The following
organizations compose the PCJ

(1) National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC)
(2) Philippine Press Institute (PP!)

(3) Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)

(4) Press Photographers of the Philippines (PPP)

(6) Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC)

(6) National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
(7) Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI)
(8) Federation of Provincial Press Club (FPPC)

(b) Functions of the Council - The Council shall hold the following
responsibilities:

(1) to produce database or directory of accredited journalists from both
print and broadcast media to be updated regularly;

(2) to accredit journalists as defined herein;

(3) to conduct seminars, trainings and other related activities;

(c) Classification — Journalists shall be classified into two categories;
namely: 1) Accredited Journalists, and 2) Non-Accredited
Journalists.

Accredited journalists are those who passed the Professional Journalist
Examination for either print, television, radio and photo as given by the Philippine
Council for Journalists (PCJ). Accredited journalist shall be issued an Accreditation
Identification Card issued by the PCJ and shall be required to wear such at all times
when covering their beat or gathering news for special assignments. Accredited
journalists shall be entitled to all benefits and privileges that may be accorded to
them by law, by their employers and by the PCJ.

Non-accredited journalists are those who have not taken or failed to pass the
Professional Journalist Examination by the PCJ. They shall enjoy only those benefits
and privileges accorded to them by their employers. The absence of an accreditation
identification card shall in no way bar them from exercising their duties and rights as
journalists.

Journalists who have been in the practice for at least ten years shall be
exempt from the PCJ examination but shall be subject to interview by the PCJ prior
to the issuance of their accreditation.


The Professional Journalist Examination shall be given annually by the PCJ.
‘Separate examinations shall be given to print, broadcast and photo journalists.

SECTION 6. Salaries and Wages - In the determination of the salary scale of
journalists the following factors shall, inter alia, be considered:

(a) Comparable wages and income in other occupations
with the same degree of training and qualifications;

(b) Cost of Living;

© Imperatives of economic and social development.

SECTION 7. Code of Ethics. - A Code of Ethics (the code) for Journalists shall be
promulgated by the PCJ within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.

Violations of the said Code shall be a ground for appropriate sanctions as
may be determined by the PCJ after due process. Such sanctions include but not
limited to suspension or permanent withdrawal of accreditation, and suspension of
benefits and /or privileges accorded to accredited journalists.

Aside from suspension or revocation of the erring journalist's accreditation,
other penalties include the dropping from the roster of professional journalists.

The PCJ may motu proprio or through an offended party act on a compliant
regarding any violation of the Code. The PCJ shall have original jurisdiction over
cases involving violations of the provisions of the Code.

SECTION 8. Journalists’ Security and Protection. — Any warrant of arrest or search
issued against any journalist accused of any offense related to the practice of his/her
profession shall be served in coordination with the Philippine Council for Journalists
(PCJ) or the local media organization in the place where he/she operates

The Council or the appropriate media organization shall immediately be
informed of any journalist under custodial investigation, Said journalist shall have the
right to counsel.

Any citizen's arrest of a journalist pursuant to the provisions of the new Rules
of Court on the nature of the offense involved shall be immediately communicated by
the responsible Commanding Officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or any of the Departments of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) Task Force and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
to the PCJ, or their duly designated officers, or to the local media association, if
outside Metro Manila. The arresting element shall, with dispatch, inform the PCJ or
the local media organization of the details thereof, such as, but not limited to, the
place and time of the arrest, offense charged and place of confinement.

Any reported killing, abduction, or harassment of a journalist, regardless of
whether or not the suspect/s are law enforcers, shall be investigated with dispatch
and the result made known to the PCJ, or local media organization or his/her
employer media company.

‘Within the limits of the Constitution and existing laws, utmost cooperation and
courtesies shall be extended by law enforcers to ensure the unhampered media
exercise of their calling.


SECTION 9. Training Programs and Development. Seminars on journalism shall be
held by PCJ at least once a year to upgrade the skills and instill professionalism
among journalists.

Attendance of such seminars will be a pre-requisite for application for
accreditation with the PCJ

SECTION 10. Incentives. The PCJ shall hold activities aimed at upgrading the
journalistic profession through awards, cash incentives, scholarship grants,
‘exchange programs, and others.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The PCJ, in consultation with
other media groups, associations, publishers, guilds and concerned groups, shall
promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Act within six (6)
months from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 12. Inclusion in the Curriculum. The provisions of this Act and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations, as well as the Code of Ethics for Journalists
shall form part of the core subjects in the school curriculum on journalism.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, presidential issuances or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed amended, or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and
in effect.

SECTION 15. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,