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.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                           )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus 8. Rodriguez
House Bill No.  E315
AN ACT
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.  ri.I/e. This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carla for Joun]a/i.sis".
SECTION  2.  Dec/araf/.or} of Po//.cy.  It 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)
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. Der/.n/.f/.on of Terms.  For purposes of this Act, the following shall mean:
(a)
(b)
(e)
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;
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;


(f)
(9)
(h)
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;
i)           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;
ii)           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;
tEL,              R:g:: :::roeusnpcoenrd_e:tn: :hnoea#::u::ek::rr:epaodrtssnoenw:::pso:;:nt from
his beat.
(n)                   Blocktimer -One who buys airtime in radio and television to analyze or
make commentaries on news events;
(o)                  Radio  news  editor -One who  gives  assignment to field  reporters  or
radio correspondents on events considered newsworthy for coverage or
airing;
(p)                  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 E. _Philippine Council for Journalists (PCJ). -There shall be creatled 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)
C.oTp.osition  Of tpe  _P_hilipp!ne  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 (Ppl)
(3)  Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)


(b)
(c)
(4)  Press Photographers of the Philippines (PPP)
(5)  Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC)
(6)  National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
(7)  Publishers Association of the Philippines,  lnc. (PApl)
(8)  Federation of Provincial Press Club (FPPC)
Funcfi-ons   of  the   Counc/`/  -  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/ass/.ffcafi.on  -   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. Sa/ar7-es and Wages - ln 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;
(c)                  Imperatives of economic and social development.
SECTION   7.   Code  of  Efh/.cs.   -  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 mofu proprt.o 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. Joun7a/i.sts' Securr.fy and Profecfi.on. - 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  (NBl) to the  PCJ,
or their duly designated  officers,  or to the  local  media  association,  jf 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  suspecvs  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.  Trar'n/.ng Programs and Deve/apmenf.  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.  /ncenfi.yes.  The  PCJ  shall  hold  activities  aimed  at  upgrading  the journalistic
profession  through  awards,  cash  incentives,  scholarship  grants,  exchange  programs,  and
others.
SECTION  11.  /mp/emenfi.ng  Ru/es  and  Regu/afi.ons.  The  PCJ,  in  consultation  with  other
media groups,  associations,  publishers,  guilds and  concerned  groups,  shall promulgate the
lmplementing   Rules   and   Regulations   (lRR)  of  this  Act  within   six  (6)   months  from   the
effectivity of this Act.
SECTION  12.  /nc/usi'on  /.n  the  Cwm.cu/un.  The  provisions  of this Act and  its  lmplementing
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.  Repea/i'ng C/aL/se.  All  laws,  decrees,  presidential  issuances or parts thereof
inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  Act  are  hereby  repealed  amended,   or  modified
accordingly.
SECTION   14,   Separabi./i.fy  C/ause.   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.     Effecfi.vv-fy.  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,