CAMPUS JOURNALISM: PRINCIPLES, POLICIES, LEGAL BASIS

ORIGIN OF CAMPUS JOURNALISM

On a 4” x 6” sheet of paper, Samuel Fickle Fox penned the first issue of The Students Gazette
on July 11, 1777 at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, USA. Published
continuously until August 1778, when the British soldiers closed the school, The Gazette is
recognized as the first student publication in the English-speaking world.

In the Philippines, The University of the Philippines started publishing its magazine College
Folio in October 1910 and printed the works of the first promising writers in English. In
1912 the graduates of Manila High School published their English writings in The Coconut.
The following year, 1913, the Philippine Normal School introduced its publication, The
TORCH.

The UP Writers Club which was organized in 1927 had its literary organ, The Literary
Apprentice which became the most prestigious college literary publication in the country.
At about this time UST’s Varsitarian began to see publication.

JOURNALISM IN GENERAL

Definition of Journalism

The word journal comes from the Latin word diurna which means “daily.” In ancient Rome,
short bulletins of battles, fires, and elections compiled by government officials were posted
up in public places. These were called acta diurna which meant “daily events.”

Other definitions of journalism:

• The occupation of writing for publication in newspapers and other periodicals. –
Noah Webster
• Something that embraces all forms in which or through which the news and
comments on the news reach the public. All that happens in the world, if such
happenings hold interest for the public, and all the thoughts, actions, and ideas
which these happenings stimulate, become basic materials for the journalist.-
Fraser F. Bond
• Enjoyable co-curricular activity of the school paper staff in collecting, organizing,
and presenting news; in writing editorials, columns, literary articles, and features;
in copyreading, proofreading, dummying, and writing headlines – all for the
purpose of putting out a school organ. – School Paper Advisers of the City Schools
of Manila

Scope of Journalism
• Journalism may be divided into three areas: written, oral, and visual
• Periodicals such as newspapers and magazines fall under written
journalism. A periodical, defined broadly, is a publication that comes out at
regular intervals – daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, bi-monthly,
quarterly, annually, etc.
• A newspaper, compared to a magazine, prints more news, has no special
cover, and is printed on a special paper called newsprint. News is printed
on the front page as well as on the inside and back pages.
 • A magazine, on the other hand, prints more features and human interest
stories, has a special cover usually with a big cut on it, and is often printed
on bookpaper. If ever news is printed, it is brief, featurized, and found in
the inside pages.
• Periodicals, brochures, journals, books, and graphic arts are classified
under print media. Radio falls under oral journalism, while television,
movies, and documentaries are under visual journalism.
• Radio and television are examples of broadcast media while movies and
documentaries are examples of film media.

FUNCTIONS OF MODERN CAMPUS PAPERS:

• Aid to students- provides opportunity for interesting writing

• Watchdog –guards the rights of the students
• Aid to School and Community
• Laboratory –serves as internship program
• Information-keeps the reader updated
• Documentation-keeps the record of the school’s accomplishments and
achievements
• Education –enlightens readers about controversial and tabooed issues
• Entertainment-keeps the reader company
• Opinion-making a stand about issues affecting students’ lives
• Developmental-helps in nation building

THE CHARTER OF STUDENT PRESS RIGHTS

The following conditions are essential for a free student press:

• The student press, in accordance with the right of the United Nations
(Draft) Convention on Freedom of Information, should be free from
regulations by any organ of the government or by the university
authorities;
• The student press, except where it is an official organ of a student
organization, should be free from regulations by other student
organizations;
• The student press should be free from all pressures, financial and other
external groups;
• The student press should have a free access to information and the same
rights and privileges as afforded to regularly accredited journalists.

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES: AIMS OF STUDENT JOURNALISTS

The International Student Press Conference, considering

*That journalism plays one of the most essential roles in the life of man, i.e. the
expression of thinking;

*that student journalism as a means of expressing thought tends to strengthen unity,

understanding and friendship among all the students of the world;
 *that through a mandate of the press conference, it is the duty of the student press
to take a position on current problems based on the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and on the Charter of the Student Press;

*that in order to define the responsibility of the student press in a Code of Ethics, it
is necessary first of all to establish the duties and obligations of the student journalist
and make a declaration of principles containing the aims and objectives to be
implemented by the student press, resolves to declare as fundamental principles
to be implemented by the student journalists the following:

1. Culture: Student journalism must be a means of propagating culture in all its

forms;

2. Freedom of the Press: it is necessary in order to insure the very existence of

journalism that full freedom of the press exists in the country in which student
publications are issued because the freedom of the press exactly reflects the
liberty of opinion and expression in any democratic country;

3. Freedom of Culture: As the exchange of ideas and opinions is an effective means

of obtaining understanding between all students of the world it is
indispensable for such understanding that all men have full freedom of
thought, conscience and religion.

4. Totalitarianism, Colonialism, Imperialism: Student journalists should pursue

and condemn totalitarianism, colonialism, and imperialism in all their forms
as these are systems opposed to the highest aspirations of students around the
world;

5. Student Dignity: Student journalism, recognizing its responsibility as a medium

of expression and orientation, declares that it will try to be effective in favor
of student and human rights in accordance with various resolutions of the
International Student Press Conference which says that:

“… all people should have access to an education enabling them to realize

their full potentialities and available equally to all without regard for color,
economic circumstances, sex, political or religious convictions and social
standing; that all people should be free to develop their educational systems
in keeping with their own culture and traditions.”

THE CODE OF STUDENT PRESS ETHICS

Believing that all student publications throughout the world should respect the basic
principles of human rights and that they should maintain good quality workmanship and a
high standard of conduct, the following Code of Ethics for observance by student journalists
is recommended:
• The student journalist should strive continuously to be unbiased and
accurate in his/her reports and should equip himself adequately with facts
to support his/her published statements. He/She should realize his/her
personal responsibility for everything he/she submits for publication.
 • The student journalist should reveal his/her identity as a representative of
the student press before obtaining any interview for publication.
• The editor should not exclude a student point of view solely because it is
contrary to the editorial policy.
• The editor should apologize in print at the first available opportunity for
all mistakes.
• A student journalist should defend freedom through the hones collection
and publication of news and facts and through the rights of fair comment
and criticism.
• A student journalist should respect all confidence regarding sources of
information and private documents. He/She should not falsify information
or documents or distort of misrepresent the facts.
• Student journalists should be familiar with the laws of libel and contempt
of court which exist in their country and should observe the international
copyright agreement unless this interferes with the freedom of the press or
the need to inform the public on vital matters. Every effort should be made
to retain the independence of all students from public relations, censorship,
pressure or undue influence from any outside body, political, governmental
religious or in the university. Official publications of a student union,
however, have a particular responsibility to that union.

Reference:

De Asis, C. (n.d.) “Campus Journalism.” Academia, Retrieved from:

https://www.academia.edu/36779636/CAMPUS_JOURNALISM?email_work_c
ard=view-paper