St.

Louis College of Bulanao

Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga 3800

This module is a requirement of the Saint Louis College of Bulanao in response to the implementation of
the Blended Learning way of Instruction.

The learning Material is a property of the College of Education- Saint Louis College of Bulanao, Tabuk
City. It aims to improve students’ performance specifically in their SPECIALIZATION.

Date of Development: August 2021

Resource Location: Bulanao, Tabuk City
Learning Area: Campus Journalism
Learning Resource Type: Module

GENERAL INTRUCTION/S:
The module will start with an introduction which will give a general background on the Campus Journalism.
Series of activities and discussions will encourage you to explore and learn about the topic. Through this module,
the following instruction/s should be followed.

a. This module is exclusively for SLCB students only.

b. Reproduction of this module for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.
c. You may use this module for any acceptable purposes.

NOTE:
 Encode your answer in a long bond paper, with a font size of 12, font style Times New Roman,
Margin 1”, Line Spacing 1.5.
 Do not forget to label your module. Ex. Module 1; Task 1
 Submit the soft copy of your requirement in the LMS using this code .
 Submit your activities on or before
 Copied answer in the internet will not be recorded.

DEVELOPED BY: JENNIFER BAUTISTA ABELLANIDA, LPT 1

 St. Louis College of Bulanao
Purok 6, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga 3800
PRELIMINARY COVERAGE

MODULE NO. 1
I. INTRODUCTION Journalism is concerned, primarily. with the collection and
dissemination of news through the print media as well as the
electronic media (http: entrance-exam. net/scope/journalism ).
This involves various areas of work like reporting, writing,
editing, photographing, broadcasting or cable casting news
items. It covers the printed media that comes in the form of
broadsheets, tabloids, newsletters and magazines.
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of this module, the students should be able to:
a. Compare and contrast journalism and literature; and
b. Critic the strengths and weaknesses of select articles.
III. COURSE CONTENT FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPT OF JOURNALISM
 Scope and Nature of Journalism
 Journalism vs. Literature
 Tenets of Journalism
 Killers of Balance Reporting
 Functions and Duties of Press
 Limitations of Press

IV. LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Scope and Nature of Journalism
Getting into the skills of' writing journalistic articles. anyone must have a fixed understanding of
the scope of modern day journalism. Huge as it is, journalism is everywhere. just as media takes an
integral part in all of our lives. Where there is media. Journalism exists.
As a field that is worth working, journalism is one of the most prestigious careers one can get
today. The tools of communication and technology are television. the printed media and radio. The
internet ii a recent addition to this list. Many students are getting attracted to this field nowadays
because a career in journalism can be challenging as well as highly rewarding.

As regards its etymology, journalism comes from the Latin word, diurnal, which means daily.
That is why there is the word journal — a daily register of one's activities. Hence, journalism is a
communication of day-to-day information, whether through sounds, pictures and words. Few places
where journalism may appear include newspapers, magazines, televisions, radios and the internet.

Newspapers are the oldest and most traditional format for the inclusion of journalism. They are
regularly scheduled publications containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse
features and advertising. Indeed, newspapers originally started life as 'journals', from which the word
'journalism' is derived. During the 19th century, American journalists relied on sensational stories that
were used to excite or anger the public, rather than to inform them. This form of journalism became
known as 'yellow' journalism. Accurate and fact-based reporting became popular again around the
time of World War Il, when the restrained style of writing gained resurgence.

Newspapers played a large role in the development of freedom of expression. Inside sources with the
ability to 'leak' stories to the press often choose newspapers first over any other medium due to the

DEVELOPED BY: JENNIFER BAUTISTA ABELLANIDA, LPT 2

perceived willingness of their editors to expose corruption and lies among otherwise respected
institutions.

Magazines, on the other hand, are publications containing a variety of articles that are generally
published on a regular schedule, whether it be weekly, monthly or quarterly. They usually take a much
more relaxed format than newspapers, with a more informal style to their writing. They are also
usually focused on a particular subject or area of interest, whereas newspaper articles can cover almost
any topic. First published in 1731 in London, The Gentleman's Magazine is considered the first
general-interest magazine. Its editor, Edward Cave (who wrote under the pseudonym 'Sylvanus
Urban'), was one of the very firsts to use the term 'magazine'.

Television news journalism, including radio, is known as news broadcasting and is produced locally
in a newsroom or by a broadcast network. It sometimes also includes such additional material as sports
coverage, weather forecasts, traffic reports, commentary, and other material that the broadcaster
considers relevant to the intended audience. Most major television channels offer regular news
broadcasts throughout the day.

Internet communications have excelled in the last decade or so, of course, taking the way news is
published with it. There are now an uncountable digitized number of reputable and not-so-reputable
sources of information on the internet. Everything from digitized versions of the very newspapers that
headed up the first print media movements hundreds of year ago, to independent bloggers reporting
their own stories from the comfort of their own laptops. Because of this, opinions are much easier to
come by, and users can seek out the same story from multiple sources to get more of a balanced view
more than they ever could in the past.
These make the scope of journalism to be very broad indeed, as almost every form of media these days
can be used as an expression of opinion or conduit of information.

Journalism versus Literature

All journalistic ventures are grounded on facts, on truth and on actuality. Redundant as it may,
facts are the foundation of all the ambits of journalism.
Journalism and literature are both forms of writing, consumed by the public and have relative
style. They may be guided by set rules. Literature is based on the wandering imagination of a
writer. It is categorized into prose and poetry. Journalism, on the other hand, has main genres that
include news, editorial and features. Journalistic genres follow the strict method of dividing ideas
through paragraphs while literature has a variety of forms and styles.

For instance, Jonas, a writer, wishes to come up with a story about ghosts. He now starts
imagining the appearance of the ghosts and creates a plot which includes the conflict, the climax
and the resolution of the conflict. Jonas is writing a literary piece.
Marla, on the other hand, also writes about ghosts. However, before she starts writing about them,
she interviews persons who have allegedly seen them. The appearance of ghosts, including the
persons' beliefs about them, is written into an entertaining way. Hence, the output is packed with
facts.
In this case, Jonas writes a literature, a short story in particular while Marla does a feature story, a
journalistic article. Jonas writes based on his imagination while Marla writes based on facts.

Tenets of Journalism
Going into the road of journalism entails not only knowledge but also responsibilities.
Hence, their journalists are bound by strict guidelines. Journalists have rights, but they must bear on
shoulders the duties to serve the interest of the public.

DEVELOPED BY: JENNIFER BAUTISTA ABELLANIDA, LPT 3

 1. Responsibility. Journalists should always be aware of their obligations to their readers to
write the truth whatever it costs. For this reason, journalists must be brave enough to defend
facts and the truth behind the news. In this sense, the journalists' main responsibility is to be
the transmitter of veracity in any issue, and that they are liable not to the company but to the
public.
2. Freedom of the Press. As a basic right, of the press should be by the people of media.
In this case, any topic under the sweltering heat of the sun may be written so long as there is no
infraction to the existing of the land.
3. Independence. Putting forward the life of one or two persons by slashing the welfare of the
general public is a clear violation of this tenet. It, therefore, means that the services of a
journalist should be committed to the interest of the general public and not driven by the
interest of money called "envelopmental journalism."
4. Objectivity, Truthfulness and Accuracy. Checking the veracity of data and information
before they are published is an example of being accurate and truthful Since facts are the
solid foundation of journalism, media men should not therefore conceal the truth by
fabricating facts and by publishing misquoted statements and erroneous statistics.
Objectivity. on the other hand, is simply avoiding conflicts of interest on the treatment of the
articles and on the way arguments and news are written.
Partisan news and biased interviews violate the ideals of journalism; ergo, a journalist should
know the difference between news and opinion. Readers and journalists alike. believe that newspapers
should be objective. Thus, reporters receive from those who know journalistic rules, and learn
to resolve whatever conflict they may have.

Teel and Taylor (1983), as cited by Pangilinan (2012), suggested guidelines to attain a balanced story
whenever journalists face controversial issues.
a. Stick to the facts.
b. Never insert your personal opinion.
c. Be discreet in the use of adjectives.
d. Avoid cheap shots.
e. Somebody with something to say deserves a forum.
f. Assess your alliances. Remember that you are an observer, not a participant.
g. Listen to your editor.
4. Fairness. The whole point in advocating objectivity is to be fair in presenting information in
any journalistic field. Remember, the public will see the topic according to the way journalists
present it; hence, reporters should exercise telling the truth and putting the information in the
right perspective.
In this vein, journalists should always present both sides of the coin, both sides of the
argument, both sides of controversial issues. They should set both avenues for the opposing parties
to ventilate their arguments and points of clarification. With this in mind, journalists, too, must
respect the privacy of individuals, unless, there is a warrant of a public right. In case there is a
mistake, true journalists should rectify the said error, thus the errata in newspapers.

Killers of Balanced Reporting

There are way concepts that notice journalists must be wary about. Concepts that kill balanced
reporting must be avoided.

DEVELOPED BY: JENNIFER BAUTISTA ABELLANIDA, LPT 4

 l . Yellow Journalism. This is simply sensationalizing a story or an Issue. It is a type of
journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-
catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news
events. scandal-mongering or sensationalism. Most showbiz stories are grounded on this type
of journalism which appeals to the curiosity of the readers and viewers.
2. New Journalism. The new journalists expanded the definition of journalism and of legitimate
journalistic reporting and writing techniques. They also associated journalism with fiction
when they described their work with phrases such as "nonfiction novel" and "narrative
techniques of fiction." In so doing, they ignited a debate over how much like a novel or short
story a journalistic piece could be before it began violating journalism's commitment to truth
and facts. This approach represents a return to the roots of social reporting which was used in
Charles Dickens' fiction.
3. Advocacy Journalism. This is a genre of journalism that, unlike propaganda, is fact-based but
supports a specific point of view on an issue. Advocacy journalists are expected to focus on
stories dealing with corporate business practices, government policies, political corruption and
social issues. Arguably, advocacy journalists serve the public interest in a way similar to
muckrakers or whistle blowers. Most advocacy journalists reject the supposed objectivity of
the mainstream press as a practical impossibility, and some others take the position that the
economic censorship exerted by corporate sponsors is no different from political censorship.
4. Stylistic Journalism. It emphasizes imaginative, stylized writing of stories and considers
newspapers as "the literature of immediate fact."
5. Editorializing. This is giving the reporter's opinion rather than the fact. It may also mean the
expanding of news about an insignificant happening to give publicity to a subject.

Functions and Duties of the Press

If you have fully made up your mind to go into the path of journalism and the media, you have to be
acquainted with your vast roles and primordial functions.
1. The quality of the newspaper must be reflected in the editorial policy. It is more than just a
business because it also reflects and influences the life of the whole academic community.
2. Newspapers must have integrity and readers' confidence.
3. Newspapers may educate, stimulate, assist or entertain. It is therefore a moral responsibility to
balance public interest and the gains.
4. The fundamental quality of the newspaper rests on the quality of the content and the kind of
editorial product. It is responsible for the rise of the readers' educational level and resurgence of
an articulate, active young generation.
5. Freedom of the press encompasses responsibility of the newspapers. Freedom of the press and
responsibility are inseparable. Responsibility of the press means truth in the news — truth
tempered with mercy, decency and humility.
6. The press must practice the principles of journalism without bias and self interest.

Limitations of the Press

Pulitzer prize-winning author David Broeder (USA Today, Aug. 12, 1987) as cited by Pangilinan
(2012), averred that reports are flawed. Hence, reports are not that complete and may bear mistakes. The
limitations of the press may be traced upon the timeframe within which an article should be submitted
for publication. Remember that journalism secures the freshness of the information. Therefore, when a

DEVELOPED BY: JENNIFER BAUTISTA ABELLANIDA, LPT 5

journalist is in a hurry to beat the deadline, he may not have enough time to reach all the sources of
information. Subsequently, reporters will be unable to present the story in as many perspectives as a
journalist should showcase.
This implies that readers or the information-consuming public should judge very critically the
articles, the reports, including the photos. Readers should know how to ask questions that are left
unanswered, in the same manner when journalists dig for facts and additional information.
Another limitation of the press is its proneness to be manipulated by the powerful, the elite and the
politicians. Broeder (1987) as cited by Pangilinan (2012) pointed ' ...every good politician will attempt to
work well with the press. If you live in a country where public opinion ultimately decides public policy,
any politician who is at all serious is going to ty to manage public opinion, and that means working with
the press. So they all do it."

A. ASSESSMENT
Task 1:
Using a Venn diagram, compare and contrast the nature of Journalism from the scope of literature.

Literature Journalism

Task 2:
Get three articles from a daily newspaper. Using the T-chart, assess the articles according to the tenents of
journalism.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

DEVELOPED BY: JENNIFER BAUTISTA ABELLANIDA, LPT 6