FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 896 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 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. 
Senator 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 8 9 6 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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 ". 
SEC. 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. 
mean: 
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; 
(b) 
To motivate and encourage journalists to perform their duties 
as truthful and responsible informers of the people; and 
(c) 
To ensure the creation of an atmosphere conducive to a 
productive and fruitful journalism work. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following shall 
(a) 
Journalism - The gathering, writing, editing, processing and 
dissemination of news and production or publishing of 
newspapers and other such publications such as magazines, 
and pamphlets and other processes through wire, 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; 
(b) 
Journalist I 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; 
(c) 
Publisher - One who manages the production, advertising, 
circulation of newspapers or magazines or online pUblications; 
(d) 
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, wireless broadcasting and 
online services also and who manages the editorial staff and 
news coverage; 
(e) 
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) 
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 are where the hiring firm is based and 
paid on a per articles basis; 
ii) 
Foreign Correspondent -
A journalist hired by an 
international news organization or network to dispatch news 
stories or special reports; 
(g)' 
Stringer -
A reporter working for an international news 
organization, network or broadcast enterprise, wire, wireless 
broadcasting and online services; 
(h) 
Freelance journalist / Contributor - One who writes for any 
publications 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; 
G) 
Columnist - One who writes or airs commentaries on matter 
of general interest; 
(k) 
Broadcaster - A general term applied to radio or television 
journalist whose main task includes announcing and/or reading 
and commenting on news reports; 
(I) 
Radio announcer -
One who announces or reads news 
reports; 
(m) 
Radio correspondent -
One Who makes reports on news 
event 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 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. 


SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all journalists as defined herein. 
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 
following organization shall compose the PCJ: 
(1) National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) 
(2) Philippine Press Institute (PPI) 
(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 Journalist 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 journalist as defined herein; 
(3) to conduct seminars, trainings and other related activities; 
(c) 
Classification -
Journalist shall 
be classified into two 
categories; namely : 1) Accredited Journalists, and 2) Non-
Accredited Journalists. 
Accredited journalist are those who passed the Professional Journalist 
Examination for either print, television, radio and photo as given by the Philippine 
Council for Journalist (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 journalist 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 journalist are those who have or 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 his 
duties an.d rights as journalists. 
Journalists who have been in the practice for at least ten (10) 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 Wages - In the determination of the salary scale of 
journalist the following factor 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. 
SEC. 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 lor 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. 
SEC. 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 he/she 
operates. 
' 
The Council or the appropriate media organization shall immediately be 
informed of any journalist under custodial investigation. Said journalists shall 
have 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 Philippines 
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 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 suspectls 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. 


SEC. 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. 
SEC. 10. Incentives. The PCJ shall hold activities aimed at upgrading the 
journalistic profession through awards, cash incentives, scholarship grants, 
exchange programs, and others. 
SEC. 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 
(JRR) of this Act within six (6) months form the affectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 12. Inclusion in the Curriculum. 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, presidential issuance or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
amended, or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 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,