Under the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution as well as the United 
Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, certain civil and political rights are 
guaranteed every person, among 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, safety and protection of journalists 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 effectively ensure a 
atmosphere conducive to productive journalism work, reiterate value 
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. 


Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mugna Carta for Journalists". 
- 
- 
-- 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State that workers 
shall be entitled to security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and a Iiving wage. 
Consonant with this principle, this Act shall have the following objectives: 
To ensure that journalists shall be provided with comprehensive 
I 
benefits package at par with the current benefits enjoye 1 by 
those in the labor force. 
To motivate and encourage journalists to perfom their duties as 
truthful and responsible informers of the people; and 
To ensure the creation of an atmosphere conducive to a productive 
and fruitfd journalism work 


,- 
- 
SEC. 3. Definifion of Terms . - For purposes of this Act, the following shall 
...,~ 
Jouwalisrn - The gathering, writing, editing, processing and 
dissemination of news and production or publishing of newspapers 
and other such publications such as magazines, and pamphlets 'nd 
other processes through wire, wireless broadcasting and o +e 
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, wireless broadcasting and online services; 
Publisher - One who manages the production, advertising, 
circulation of newspapers or magazines or on-line publications; 
Editor - One who goes over manuscripts, news stories, edits these 
for publication in newspapers or magazines, or for airing in 
television or on radio or for wire, 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, wireless broadcasting and online services to 
gather and produce news for publication and broadcasting and 
paid as a regular employee or under a contract; 
Con-espondent - A journalist hired by a newspaper, maga he, 
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 


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; 
Foreign Correspondenf - A journalist hired by an international 
news organization or network to dispatch news storie or 
special reports; 
ii) 
1 
(g) Shanger - A reporter working for an international news organizabon, 
network or broadcast enterprise, wire, wireIess broadcasting and online 
services; 
(h) Freelance journalist / ~ o ~ ~ r i b ~ t o r  
- One who writes for any 
publication without being regularly employed by such publication, 
television or radio, wire, wireless broadcasting and online services; 
(i) Photo journalist - A person hired or commissioned to take pictures for 
use in a publication, an international news organization or network 
and online services; 
0) Columnist - One who writes or airs commentaries on matters of 
general interest; 
(k) Broadcast&- A general term applied to radio or television journalists 
whose main task includes announcing and /or reading and 
commenting on news reports; 
(1) Radio announcm - One who announces or reads news reports; 
adio correspondent - One who makes reports on news ev 
from his beat; 


(n) Blocktimer - One who buys airtime in radio and television to analyze 
or make commentaries on news events; 
(0) Radio news editor - One who gives assignments 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. 
SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all journalists as defined here' . -I 
SEC. 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 foIIowing organizations compose the PCJ: 
National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC); 
Philippine Press Institute (PPI); 
Kapisan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP); 
Press Photographers of the Philippines (PPP); 
Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC); 
National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP); 
Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI); 
Federation of Provincial Press Club (FPPC). 
-c 
(b) Functions of the Councib The Council shall hold the following 


responsibilities: 
(1) 
to produce a database or directory of accredited journalists 
from both print and broadcast media to be updated 
regularly; 
to accredit journalist as defined herein; 
to conduct seminars, trainings and other related activities; 
(2) 
(3) 
(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 journalists 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 accord d to them 
by law, by their employers and by the PCJ. 
I 
Non-accredited journalists are those who have not taken or failed to pass the 
Professional Journalist Examination by 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 his duties and rights as 
journalists. 
Jourmdists 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 his accreditation 
The Professional Journalist Examination shall be given annually by the PCJ. 
Separate examinations shall be given to print, broadcast and photo journalists. 
SEC. 6. Salaries and 
journalists the following factors shall, inter alia, be considered: 
- In the determination of the salary scale of 
- 
.. 
”. . 
(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. 
SEC. 8. Journalists’ Security and Protection. - Any warrant of arres: 
SEC. 7. Code of Ethics. - A Code of Efhics (the Code) for Journalists shall be 
promulgated by the PCJ within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
or search 
Violation of 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 1 of accreditation, and suspension of benefits 
and/or privileges accorded to accredited journalists. 
.. . -- 
_L . 
Aside from suspension or revocation of the erring journalist’s accreditation, other 
penalties include the dropping from the roster of professional journalists. 
The Council or the appropriate media organization shaIl immediately be 
informed of any journalists under custodial investigation. Said journalists shall have 
right io 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 Department 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 


.. 
I 
Metro Manila. The arresting element shall, with dispalch, inform the PCJ or the local 
Any reported killing, abduction, or harassment of a journalist, regardless of 
whether or not the suspectjs 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. 
journalistic profession through awards, cash incentives, scholarship grants, 
programs, and others. 
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. 
exchange 
SEC. 9. Training rogvdms and Development. - Seminars on journalism shall be 
held by PCJ at least once a year to upgrade the skills and instill professionalism among 
journalists7 
- 
.. 
Attendance of such seminars will be a pre-requisite for application for 
accreditation with the PCJ. 
SEC. 12. Inclusion in the Cuwiculum - The provision 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. 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or other 


issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
I 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is 
the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
in effect. 
SEC. 15. Eflectivify. -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, 
.. 
. .. 
.".. 
.