‘ RECEIVED
2 ofl 2 5 Hy a

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS ) Time, ER cay
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

“Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez —
2741

House Bill No.

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.

Joumalists, 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.

il Ye
RUFYS B. ROI UI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2 - Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
House Bill No.
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. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for Journalists”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 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)

(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)

(c)
(a)

(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;


0)

(g)

(h)

0
(k)

0)
(m)

(n)
(0)

(p)

ii)

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 airtime 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:

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


(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, 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;

© 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,