PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION ETHICS
Communication involves an exceptionally high standard
of ethics. Whenever we communicate, we ought to
consider whether our words and actions are beneficial or
harmful to others.
What is Ethics?
Ethics is a methodical approach to evaluating and
judging what is right and wrong. Equally outstanding
and miserable. An ethics framework involves an
established set of moral principles. It addresses the
behavior of people's values, which include the
appropriateness and inappropriateness of particular
actions, as well as the positive and negative aspects of
the motives and ends of such actions. The study of what
is good for an individual as well as society as a whole is
known as ethics. The Greeks were the first to develop
the notion of ethics. They stated that courage, morality,
and right behavior were the requirements for individual
morality and ethics. The virtues of wisdom, justice, and
temperance were also included on the list. Ethics refers
to the value system that a person uses to decide what is
right or wrong, fair or unfair, just or unjust. It reveals
itself in certain situations through moral behavior. The
activities of an individual are judged not only against his
or her conscience but also against a socially,
professionally, or organizationally determined standard
of acceptable behavior. In today's society, ethics has
grown to symbolize the capacity to differentiate between
what is good and what is harmful, what is ethically
justifiable and what is not. It also refers to the ability to
choose the best option from a variety of alternatives, all
of which may be ethically acceptable. It is the ability to
articulate these things that is important. People have
choices that reflect ethical and logical thinking, and
these choices must be translated into action. A reporter
may be challenged to make numerous considerations or
ethical choices about the source of his story, his
colleagues, and the public who reads or sees it when
writing a story for a newspaper or television. If he makes
the right judgment, it will not offend or injure any of the
parties involved.
The Difference Between Morals and Ethics
Morals and ethics guarantee that we remain disciplined;
without these standards of conduct, norms, or rules that
govern our behavior, our world would be in chaos.
 Morals are a personal set of norms that no one
else feels forced or driven to follow.
 Ethics are socially acceptable and empowered
rules that are enforced on everyone.
What is Communication Ethics?
The ethics of communication is the study of the manner
in which one's morals guide one's actions and how they
impact the way we communicate with others. Ethical
communication, as a collection of principles,
acknowledges that one's thoughts must be delivered and
presented properly and clearly, and that the ensuing
actions or consequences will possibly be based
exclusively on how the message was communicated.
Ethical communication is based on legal concepts,
including being open, concise, and
accountable with one's words and the actions that follow.
Simply stated, ethical communication involves
expressing oneself in a concise, straightforward, truthful,
and responsible manner. However, in a profession with
no specific set of norms, it might be difficult to tell the
difference between right and wrong. However, similarly
to how the medical business has its own set of
regulations and ethical standards to follow,
communication professionals should follow an unwritten
rule of ethical conduct that serves as the foundation of
our communications strategy and a vital virtue of
professionalism. The ethics of interpersonal
communication pertains to the principles regulating
communication, the right and wrong elements that make
up it, and the moral-immoral components pertinent to
Interpersonal communication. Establishing the proper
balance of speaking and listening, the credibility of fear
and emotional appeal, and the appropriate level of
criticism and admiration. A death or overdose from
either of the variables could have negative implications.
The notion of honesty ought to be implemented equally
on both sides due to any measure of insincerity from
either the listener or the speaker would be undesirable.
4 Principles of Interpersonal Communication
1. Interpersonal communication is inescapable -
It is difficult to avoid communication. The desire
to avoid communication exposes something. We
continuously communicate with those
surrounding us using tone of voice, gesture,
posture, and facial expression. We are
continually receiving contact from others across
different methods. You communicate regardless
of whether you are sleeping. The basic idea of
communication is that "individuals are not mind
readers." This means that "individuals judged
you by your behavior, not your intent."
2. Interpersonal communication is irreversible -
You cannot take back something you stated. The
impact of what you say must eventually remain.
According to a Russian saying, "once a word
leaves your mouth, you can never swallow it
again."
3. Interpersonal communication is complicated
- There is no such thing as an easy way of
communication. Even basic searches are highly
complicated due to the quantity of variables
involved. Theorists point out that each time we
communicate, at least six people are involved:
(a) who you think you are; (b) who you think the
other person is; (c) who you think the other
person thinks you are; (d) who the other person
thinks he is; (e) who the other person thinks you
think he is; and (f) who the other person thinks
you think he is. We don't sincerely exchange
ideas. We barter symbols that represent ideas.
This also makes communication more difficult.
Words have no inherent meaning. We merely
employ them in specific ways. No two people
use the same term exactly the same way. Osmo
Wiio provides certain communication principles
that are equivalent to Murphy's law (Welin-
Goos, 1978). (a) If communication can fail, it
will; (b) If a message can be understood in
different ways, it will be understood in the way
that triggers the most harm; (c) There is always
someone who knows better than you do about
what you meant by your message; and (d) The
more communication there is, the more difficult
it is to succeed. These are not actual values.
They only serve as a reminder of how difficult it
is to communicate accurately.
4. Interpersonal communication is contextual -
In this sense, communication does not occur in
an atmosphere of silence. There is a
psychological context, which is your identity
and what you contribute to the conversation. The
psychological context is made up of your needs,
desires, values, and personality; (b) relational
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
context, which is concerned with your reactions
to the other person; and (c) situational context,
which is concerned with the psycho-social
setting in which you are talking. Interaction in a
classroom will be significantly different from
one in a bar; (d) environmental context, which
deals with where you are physically;
communicating. Examples of environmental
context factors include (e) cultural environment,
which covers all taught practices and regulations
that impact the relationship, such as furnishings,
location, noise level, temperature, season, and
time of day. For example, if you come from a
culture where it is considered impolite to make
long, direct eye contact, you should avoid
making eye contact with others. If the other
person comes from a society in which long
direct eye contact denotes trustworthiness and
you avoid long direct eye contact because you
are from a different culture, this cultural context
will lead to misunderstanding.
Fundamentals of Ethical Communication
As numerous others have pointed out, the fundamental
concept of ethical communication is honesty. This
essential objective of giving information in the most
dependable and factual way possible is reflected in the
factors. The ethical principle of "honesty" in
communication has an unbreakable connection to two
other basic principles: consistency and responsibility.
This requires that the information offered to various
parties be consistent, as well as that short-term and long-
term goals be met. Honest communication will have
long-term repercussions.
It is accepted as one's obligation. Ethical communication
is also important.
assumes that information communicated is always
presented (and
heard by the listener).
Principles of Ethical Communication
1. The most fundamental ethical principle is
Truthfulness and honesty communication.
This indicates that telling the truth 99 percent of
the time while throwing out one percent of the
information is not ethical communication,
considering eliminating any detail (intentionally
or unintentionally) changes the situation. The
manner in which a listener perceives an event.
2. Consider any potential roadblocks. When
interacting with another party, fully ethical
communication requires consideration. A
potential aspect that can impact how the
communication is understood or received by the
recipient.
Example:
 Language Usage: Obviously, ethical
communication requires that presenters use the
language that their audiences comprehend. It
would be absurd to give a business presentation
in English to a non-English speaker. The target
audience is Chinese.
 Jargon: Every sector has its own lingua franca.
When speaking to a layperson, it is ethical to use
basic, easy-to-understand language while
avoiding jargon. Usage of jargon, resulting in
parts of the presentation or communication
being incomprehensible to some of the audience.
 Language Proficiency:
Ethical communication considers
take into consideration the level of fluency as
well as
the language used by listeners
that the communication's recipients
(either verbal or written) are
capable of fully comprehending what is being
said communicated.
3. Technology accessibility. In this information
and digital age. Some people perceive
accessibility to advanced technology as being
taken for granted. For example, while
smartphones are easily accessible, and although
there are many apps available, not everyone can
use them. to gain access to such programs or
platforms. If a company wishes to present
specific pieces of data to an While anticipating
the crowd to translate it into their local
language, there could be a language via an
application. be perplexed. As a result, the ability
to access particular technology as well as the
know-how on how to use specific applications
may be a stumbling block when it comes to
talking with a person in an ethical manner with a
specific audience. It is crucial that there are no
misconceptions or confusions when Businesses
strive to build relationships both within their
own organization and with other business
organizations, clients, and customers. To achieve
this, ethical communication guidelines must be
followed to guarantee that all parties hear the
same message and understand what has to be
done and how it should be done.
4. Development of Relationship. People can
express themselves through communication in
order to build relationships. This can be an
employee speaking with a manager, executives
engaging with stakeholders, or managers
conversing with other business representatives.
There are numerous key principles related to
ethical communication, beginning with the core
value of honesty, which underpins all other
values. However, there is a value that underpins
honesty (in terms of ethical communication).
That is, emotional intelligence or empathy is the
forerunner of all soft skills, allowing all staff to
be understood and interact effectively with
others. Within emotional intelligence, the ethical
foundation of communication enables one to
comprehend others' needs and address those
needs in the most effective way possible, as if
you were in their shoes.
 Be Truthful and Honest - Being honest means
demonstrating to all listeners what is known to
be true (only 100 percent of the facts), with no
aim to deceive or offer only portions of the truth.
It also implies remaining as objective as
possible, which means not altering the narrative
to what the speaker wants the listener to believe.
Allowing the listener to accept objectively
offered evidence and believe what they want to
think is a basic goal of ethical communication.
Ethical communication should be founded on
correct information and facts - in other words,
do not deceive.
 Active Listening - Hearing somebody and
paying attention to them are not the same thing.
It is required for ethical communication to be
effective for the receiver to eagerly listen to the
speaker, rather than just hear what they want to
hear or hear only portions of the discourse. This
also includes asking clarifying questions when
any topic is unclear. For the sake of clarity, I
totally understand.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 Speak Non-Judgmentally - Communicating
ethically and clearly entails speaking in a
nonjudgmental manner with each recipient,
avoiding unneeded conflict, which generally
leads to a breakdown in communication and
misconceptions. Needless conflict is never
beneficial to business, and such conflicts usually
originate from unethical interactions, with
judgmental, accusatory, and overly critical
statements frequently being the cause for such
communication breakdowns.
 Speak from Your Own Experience -
Integrating your own experiences into a
conversation with business listeners is essential
for offering real support for your views.
 Consider the Receiver’s Preferred
Communication Channel - If you use a
communication channel that is not favored by
your target receiver, you could lose an audience.
Use the most preferable communication method
with your listeners, whether it's face-to-face,
email, conference call, phone call, messenger
app, etc.
 Strive to Understand - While proactive
listening is essential, listeners should also
attempt to completely absorb what is being said
before replying. While asking for clarification or
confirmation of a topic is acceptable, many
questions posed by listeners have already been
addressed.
 Avoid a Negative Tone - Ethical
communication expects that the speaker will
avoid being disrespectful, will be polite and
professional, and will use tact. The ethical
communicator understands that it is crucial not
only what you say but also how you express it.
Tone is one of the most important aspects of
communication. If the tone is off, the listener
may misinterpret the meaning entirely, which
can lead to unimportant conflicts that reduce
company efficiency.
 Do Not Interrupt Others - Empowering others
to speak is essential for creating a civil and
effective working atmosphere. Disturbing others
leads to misunderstandings, not-needed
arguments, and a breakdown in professional
communications, all of which hampers and
generates problems for the company.
Interrupting people not only demonstrates a lack
of respect, but it also prevents the listener from
fully comprehending what is being said, which
frequently leads to inaccurate assumptions.
 Respect Privacy and Confidentiality - Most
organizations should include a provision in their
code of ethics outlining the definition of proper
customer and employee confidentiality and
privacy.
 Accept Responsibility - As has been said,
taking responsibility for the behaviors that come
from one's words, whether good or poor, is a
basic component within any ethical
communication norm. This encompasses both
the immediate and long-term effects of one's
communications. Owning one's words
emphasizes the significance of practicing ethical
communication.
4 Approaches to Ethical Decision-Making
1. Utilitarian Ethics - A significant ethical system
that focuses mostly on the results of ethical
decisions in order to achieve the most beneficial
effects on the largest number of people.
Concentrates on the outcomes and whether or
not they would be helpful to the majority.
Utilitarianism is concerned with the implications
of every action or decision. In this method, the
moral quality of an action is determined by its
outcomes. This approach to ethics, as articulated
by Jeremy Bentham, argues that morally
acceptable decisions are those that produce the
greatest amount of happiness while minimizing
harm.
2. Moral Duty - The righteousness of an action
relies not on the benefits we develop for
ourselves but on the rule or responsibility that
controls it. This approach differs from
utilitarianism in that it focuses on the rule or
obligation that regulates our actions rather than
what we gain from them. Humans live under
formal laws that must be followed. Furthermore,
the approach requires everyone to respect the
dignity of the human person.
3. Virtue Ethics - rather than laws or
consequences, fosters an individual's cognitive
virtue, character, and sense of honesty. Dealing
with moral character sets greater emphasis or
importance on a person's worth and humanity's
role in nurturing one another. It focuses on
character rather than obligation or consequence.
Rather than laws regarding the acts themselves
or the effects they have, this approach highlights
an individual's character as the main part of
ethical thought. Virtue ethics, widely associated
with Aristotle, divides the virtues into moral
virtues and intellectual virtues, claiming that
each moral virtue is a golden mean, or ideal
middle ground between two unpleasant extremes
or vices.
4. Common Good Approach - considers all
individuals to be integral parts of the wider
community and believes that each individual's
well-being matters to the well-being of the
community. is a concept that may be traced back
to Plato's, Aristotle's, Socrates', and Cicero's
writings. More recently, current ethicist John
Rawls developed the concept in his work
"Theory of Justice." In this method, we
emphasize making certain the social policies,
social systems, institutions, and systems of
justice are all in place and that the environments
on which we rely are helpful to everyone.
How to be an ethical communicator - Richard
Johannessen 2017:
1. Audience analysis is an important part of the
communication process for an ethical
communicator. Our attitudes toward our
audience determine how we persuade others.
Respecting others, regardless of their culture or
beliefs, is critical to the process.
2. Respect for the truth is crucial for an ethical
communicator.
3. An ethical communicator makes proper use of
information.
4. A person who is an ethical communicator does
not fabricate information.
What does each of the guideline tell us about
how to become an ethical communicator?
 Respect the Audience.
 Respect the Truth.
 Use Information Properly.
 Does not Falsify Information such as plagiarism.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
A real, effective communicator understands how to
respect the individual with whom they are conversing.
They speak honestly, supply information and use it
correctly, and do not fabricate information.
Law Governing in Communication at 1987
Constitution:
Section 3:
1. The confidentiality of communication and
correspondence shall be protected unless ordered
by a court of law or in cases where public safety
or order dictates otherwise, as provided by law.
(Similarly, we keep all personal information
confidential. When something is confidential to
a person, it generally means that it is special and
sensitive to them. As a result, information
privacy refers to our power to govern how our
personal information is gathered and used.)
2. Any evidence gathered in violation of this or the
preceding provision is rejected in any
proceeding for any reason.
Media Ethics
There is an ethical code or set of standards that regulates
how we communicate and broadcast information in the
media. To be a professional communicator, you must be
proficient with media ethics in mass communication if
you are a writer, journalist, news broadcaster, or social
media content creator. Given the industry's set of values
and ethics, media ethics shapes how we handle our
responsibilities in the context of mass communication.
For example, especially when it comes to news
coverage, media ethics addresses issues such as fairness,
objectivity, balance, bias, confidentiality, and the public
interest. The term "media ethics" relates to ethical
concerns about how the media should use public-
supplied words and images. The discipline of media
ethics is concerned with the specific ethical norms and
principles of media, including broadcast media, film,
theater, the arts, print media, and the internet. The
discipline covers a wide range of complex and
contentious topics. Media ethics includes promoting and
upholding moral concepts such as respect for all life, the
rule of law, and legality. The identical First Amendment
liberties that allow U.S. media organizations to report
without fear of government interference also make
imposing a standard of ethics or professional practice for
journalists extremely impossible. There is no institution
that certifies journalists, and there is no uniform
mechanism for regulating unethical activity.
Nonetheless, professionals in the sector often take
considerable pleasure and responsibility in their work,
and organizations such as the Associated Press and the
Society of Professional Journalists provide
comprehensive and valuable ethical rules. In general,
ethical issues in the media can be classified into a few
major categories. The points below synthesize and
simplify several critical ethical concerns raised by the
Associated Press and the Society of Professional
Journalists. Media ethics is an aspect of applied ethics
concerned with the unique ethical principles and
standards of the media, which encompasses broadcast
media, film, theater, the arts, print media, and the
internet. From war journalism to advertising, the field
covers a wide range of topics that are frequently
contentious.
ACCURACY
1. To avoid errors, double-check the accuracy of
information from all sources.
2. Subjects of news stories should always be given
the chance to reply to any claims of misconduct.
3. When errors occur, they must be fully and
promptly corrected.
4. Headlines, news teases, and promotional
materials, including images, video, audio,
graphics, sound bites, and quotations, should
never misrepresent, oversimplify, or highlight
situations that are not in context.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
1. Cite sources wherever possible so that the
audience has as much information as possible to
judge the reliability of the sources.
2. Keep any promises made in exchange for the
source's assistance.
3. Only ensure a source's anonymity if the source
requests it, if he or she delivers critical
information, if there is no other means to receive
that information, and if the source is informed
and trustworthy.
4. Make an effort to quote sources accurately and
in the appropriate context.
AVOIDING BIAS
1. Differentiate between advocacy and news
coverage. Analysis and opinion should be
labeled and should not be used to mislead facts
or context.
2. Distinguish between news and advertising, and
avoid hybrids that combine the two.
3. Examine your own cultural values before
forcing them on others.
4. Avoid categorizing people based on their color,
gender, age, religion, ethnicity, region, sexual
orientation, handicap, physical appearance, or
social standing.
5. Support the free flow of ideas, even if they are
unpleasant to you.
PREVENTING DISTORTION
1. Never intentionally include false information in
material intended for publication or broadcast.
2. Never change the substance of a photograph,
video, or image.
COLLECTING INFORMATION
1. Except when standard open procedures will not
give information that is essential to the public,
avoid using undercover or other covert means of
acquiring information.
2. Any non-traditional techniques of information
collection should be explained as part of the
story.
3. When obtaining facts for an article, rely on the
most recent and accurate research.
4. Never, ever plagiarize.
REDUCING HARM
1. Compassion for individuals who may be harmed
by news coverage, particularly young people and
inexperienced sources or subjects.
2. When seeking or using interviews or images of
people affected by tragedy or sadness, exercise
caution.
3. Recognize that private individuals have a higher
expectation of privacy than public authorities
and others seeking power, influence, or
attention.
4. Be cautious when identifying child sex crime
suspects or victims.
5. Be cautious when naming criminal suspects
before formal charges are filed.
AVOIDING INTEREST CONFLICTS
1. Avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest.
2. Stay away from affiliations and actions that
could jeopardize your integrity or undermine
your credibility.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
3. Never accept gifts, favors, fees, free travel, or
preferential treatment.
4. Avoid secondary jobs, political activity, public
office, or community service if it jeopardizes
your journalistic integrity.
5. Declare any unavoidable conflicts.
6. Advertisers and those with special interests
should not be given preferential treatment.
7. Be careful of sources who give information in
exchange for favors or money.
Importance of Code of Ethics in Media
 Media ethics must be adhered to in order to
sustain an appropriate reputation in your field,
provide balanced material in media, and follow a
code of ethics that aligns with your company's
beliefs. By following these criteria, you will be
able to develop trust with your audience and
increase brand exposure.
 Media ethics is critical if you desire to maintain
a reputable reputation in your area, generate
objective media material, and follow an ethical
code that is consistent with your organization's
beliefs. Following these guidelines may boost
brand recognition and help your audience create
trust in you.
 Media ethics determines how we conduct our
obligations within the context of mass
communication because of the compilation of
principles and ethics within this industry. For
example, media ethics addresses issues such as
fairness, objectivity, balance, prejudice, privacy,
and public interest in news coverage.
 The ethical standards for the media are aimed at
providing the most reliable news reporting to the
public, thereby achieving the objective of timely
information distribution in the service of the
public interest. To a considerable extent, the
codes and canons emerged as a result of the
observation and response to previous ethical
violations by journalists and publishers. Today, it
is typical for employment terms to require
compliance with such rules, which apply equally
to staff and independent journalists. Journalists
are sometimes fired because of ethical
shortcomings. Maintaining professional
standards also improves a news organization's
reputation and credibility, which increases the
number of audiences it serves.
 Ethics is more crucial in journalism since it
establishes criteria for journalists to follow,
which prevents people from being uneven or
excluded. They are also fundamental in ensuring
that the media remains true and in assisting
journalists in maintaining a feeling of equality.
Reasons for Ethics in Journalism
Following ethical principles is critical since journalists
must exercise a variety of responsibilities.
 Legal Impact - Individuals have rights, and
journalists must consider this while publishing
every piece of content.
 Social Responsibility - Journalists have an
ethical obligation to deliver information in a fair,
balanced, and trustworthy manner. Journalists
should avoid sensationalizing any media
incident for personal gain.
 Professional Responsibility - Journalists must
provide a reliable account of events as they
happen. They must just offer the facts and not
promote their thoughts as facts.
Guidelines of Ethics
In addition to giving useful information to those who
read and knowing their constraints, there are several
fundamental and highly significant aspects of
journalism.
Journalists should:
 Seek and report the truth. Journalists must be
truthful, impartial, and fearless. One of the most
important obligations of journalists is to ensure
the factual accuracy of their reports and to tell
the truth. To prevent misrepresenting
information, journalists must express the facts in
all formats and provide context. Ethical
journalists, for example, should avoid clickbait
titles that oversimplify or misinterpret the truth.
Along with providing clarification, journalists
should always verify sources and ensure their
dependability and neutrality.
 Reduce the amount of injury. Ethical
journalists ought to view all sources, subjects,
and colleagues as humans. Journalism ethics is
based on the concept that humans deserve to be
treated with dignity and truth. Journalists must
be compassionate and avoid inappropriate
intervention. They must also get legal access to
information while respecting a person's consent
and right to refuse information. When covering
sensitive themes, including children, crime
victims, or working with inexperienced or
vulnerable communities, journalists have an
even greater obligation to minimize harm.
 Take responsibility. Journalists must respond to
their readers, subjects, listeners, viewers, and
peers. When journalists release their articles,
they have an ongoing obligation to respond to
the public and swiftly fix any errors.
Furthermore, journalists must be willing to
provide follow-up information, clarification, and
answers to the public's questions. A journalist's
job does not end when their content is published;
it continues as the audience consumes and
reviews it.
 Act on your own. Journalism is meant to help
the general population. Journalists who are
ethical must behave freely and avoid conflicts of
interest. Dr. Mortiz investigated how conflicts of
interest can jeopardize a journalist's integrity and
impartiality in the sports gambling case study.
Journalists must refuse gifts, fees, and
preferential treatment, and they must avoid
political actions that could affect their reporting.
Standard Ethical Principles for Journalists
 Honesty. Journalists have a responsibility to
seek out and convey the truth as accurately as
possible. This involves diligence: making every
attempt to gather all necessary facts for a story.
Journalists should also seek confirmation from
different sources.
 Independence. Journalists should avoid
adopting political positions and should not
represent special interest groups. Any political
ties or financial investments that could create an
imbalance of interest in the subject matter
should be disclosed to
 editors and readers. Some organizations call this
approach "objectivity," whereas others,
particularly non-profit civic journalism ventures,
reject it since they are openly on the side of
public interest.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 Fairness. Journalists must be unbiased and
balanced in their reporting, in addition to being
independent. Most news stories have multiple
sides, which journalists should document.
However, they should not put two opposing
viewpoints on an equal footing when one is
unsupported by evidence. Opinion writing, as
well as "gonzo" journalism and creative
nonfiction, are exceptions to the impartiality
norm.
 Accountability to the public. News
organizations should pay attention to their target
audience. Journalists should write under their
own bylines and assume responsibility for their
comments in order for the public to hold them
accountable. When news organizations publish
factual inaccuracies, they must release a
correction.
 Harm reduction. Not every fact that can or
should be published should be. If the degree of
harm that could befall private individuals—
particularly children—as a consequence of
exposure outweighs the public good, news
outlets may choose not to publish the story.
When it comes to public figures, this is less of
an issue. It is significant, however, in matters of
national security, where lives may be at stake.
 Keeping libel at bay. This is both a legal and a
moral requirement for journalists. Journalists are
not permitted to publish false comments that
harm a person's reputation. True remarks cannot
be defamatory in most jurisdictions; therefore,
journalists may defend themselves by
thoroughly examining the facts.
Appropriate attribution. Journalists must
never plagiarize their work. If they take
information from another media organization or
journalist, they must credit the source.
Journalists Ethics
Journalistic ethics are the values that all reporters share.
They give forth both the goals and the responsibilities
that journalists, editors, and others in the field should
have in order to do their jobs appropriately. Over time,
journalism ethics have developed. Most news
organizations, as well as professional membership
associations, have established codes of ethics.
Professional journalists and news organizations that
violate these ethical norms will lose credibility.
Journalists play an essential role in discovering and
communicating the truth to the public. Journalism is
more democratized, interactive, and instantaneous than
ever before as we undergo a media revolution in the age
of digital-first news. Anyone with access to the internet
can open Twitter and post a comment that others may
interpret as true. As a result, professional journalists
have an even greater obligation to advocate the truth,
debunk fake news, and fact-check trending narratives to
guarantee that the public has access to trustworthy
information online.
Media Code of Ethics
To assist journalists in dealing with moral challenges,
media codes of ethics are produced as guides through
various issues, such as conflicts of interest. The norms
and canons provide a framework for journalists to self-
monitor and self-correct while seeking professional
responsibilities. While journalists in the United States
and Europe have led in the formulation and adoption of
these standards, such codes can be found in news
reporting organizations in most countries with press
freedom. The written codes and practical standards differ
somewhat from country to country and organization to
organization, but there is a significant overlap among
mainstream publications and societies. Ethics are
standards relating to conduct that distinguish between
acceptable and improper behavior. It is concerned with
whether something is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or
unfair, responsible or irresponsible, required or
acceptable, praiseworthy or blameworthy. Journalism
ethics and standards are the concepts of ethics and good
practice that apply to the specific issues that professional
journalists encounter. Traditionally and currently, these
ethical standards are commonly referred to by journalists
as their professional "code of ethics." In recent years, it
has almost become the norm that most renowned
professional journalism associations and individual print,
broadcast, and online news organizations have issued
their own set of basic ethics codes to serve society. The
main goals of these journalistic ethical rules are to
provide the public with news, opinions, comments, and
information on issues of public importance in a fair,
accurate, unbiased, sober, and decent manner. To that
end, the press is expected to follow certain
internationally recognized standards of professionalism.
These internationally accepted rules are intended to be
applied with proper judgment and adaptability to the
different circumstances of each case, which will
undoubtedly assist journalists in self-regulating their
conduct. The recent surge of code writing indicates that
editors and newsrooms are taking ethics seriously. The
process of writing, rewriting, discussing, and applying
the codes is helpful in and of itself. Even better,
newspapers with clearly articulated beliefs and
proclaimed values, along with excellent ethical decision-
making skills, can better serve their readers and the
public interest. There is an important link between
believability and this. Codes of ethics can help
journalists make smart decisions and build journalistic
credibility in the face of the many ethical issues they
may face in their profession. There are numerous
organizations and associations worldwide related to
journalists, and the majority of these relationships have
their own set of codes of ethics. The principles of these
national and international journalistic codes of ethics
serve as guidelines through multiple challenges to assist
journalists in dealing with ethical dilemmas. The norms
and canons provide a framework for journalists to self-
monitor and self-correct while seeking professional
responsibilities.
MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and
Classification Board)
The Movie and Television Review and Classification
Board is a legislative as well as a development
organization. It has the authority to assess and categorize
motion films, television shows, and promotional
materials, as well as to exercise all authorities and
privileges associated with such tasks. The MTRCB, as a
Regulatory Board, aims to provide the public with
outstanding film and television exhibitions with the goal
of promoting the production of globally competitive
movies and exhibitions that are both engaging and
artistic, with the objective of improving the standard of
art for the general public.
The MTRCB is a government agency organization in
charge of rating television and movies in the Philippines.
The board has legal criteria, regardless of how
thoroughly they were designed, based on one's liberal
preferences (Yuson, 2011). The chairman, vice chairman,
and 30 board members make up the regulatory board.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND
REGULATIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL
DECREE NO. 1986
The movie and television review and classification board
(mtrcb), henceforth called the board, therefore enacts,
and promulgates the following rules and regulations as
guidelines in accordance with Section 3(a) of
Presidential Decree No. 1986.
BOARD: Established by Presidential Decree No. 1986,
the Movie and Television Review and Classification
Board (MTRCB).
Motion Picture: A series of images expressed on a
screen in rapid succession to create the photographic
effect of a constantly moving picture in which things
move, whether in black and white or color, silent or with
accompanying sound, on whatever medium, mechanism,
or equipment they are projected for instant showing.
Television Broadcast: The public display of images
(video) and sounds (audio) via free television on Very
High Frequency (VHF) or Ultra High Frequency (UHF),
including cable television and other limited audience
distribution.
THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION: The public
exhibition of motion images in theaters, movie houses,
or other establishments that charge admission.
Publicity Materials and/or Promotional Materials:
Any material that fosters public interest in a motion
picture or television program, including television
commercials, movie, and television trailers, print
advertisements, still photos, photo frames, leaflets,
posters, and billboards, as well as other related media.
Live TV Show: A television program that is broadcast
while it is being performed.
Taped TV Show: A television program that has been
recorded before it is broadcast.
General viewing: is the viewing of motion films by the
general public, whether through theaters, film libraries,
or other similar institutions.
REVIEW: the procedure of previewing motion
pictures, television programs, and associated publicity
materials to figure out whether they are fit for
importation, exportation, production, copying,
distribution, sale, lease, and exhibition in theater or non-
theatrical distribution networks, based on legal
standards; and to classify the material.
NEWS: Distinguishes pure and impartial news reporting
from news analyses, commentary, opinions, and
editorials.
NEWS ANALYSIS, COMMENTARIES, OPINIONS,
AND EDITORIALS: Refer to SUBJECTIVE POINTS
of VIEW, whether of the speaker or the network.
Non-theatric distribution: a public exhibition of a full-
length or short-feature motion picture using mobile or
stationary projection equipment with no entry fee. Full-
length and short-feature motion movies, containing
juvenile, educational, documentary, cultural, scientific,
journalistic, industrial, sales, public relations, and
instructional films, are shown solely to civic
organizations, societies, clubs, and other similar groups.
Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property (IP) law is concerned with the
development and protection of intellectual creations such
as innovations, designs, brands, artwork, and music.
Patents (typically for technical inventions), trademarks
(for goods and services), copyright (music, art, and
literature), and designs (items and logos) are used to
establish, protect, enforce, and promote these rights.
Intellectual property law is concerned with laws that
guarantee the protection and enforcement of the legal
rights of creators and owners of intellectual property,
such as inventions, writings, music, designs, and other
works. Copyright, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets
are all examples of intellectual property. Writing, music,
drawings, paintings, photography, and films are all
protected by a plethora of federal and state regulations.
This area of legislation is known as "intellectual
property" law, and it encompasses copyright, trademark,
and patent laws, each of which is relevant in different
contexts and has its own set of technical regulations.
When requesting permission to use creative works, you
are primarily concerned with copyright law. However,
when permission to use specific sorts of works is sought,
trademarks, trade secrets, and publicity and privacy
rights may come into play.
Copyright: Original creative works like paintings,
writing, architecture, film, software, photography, dance,
and music are all protected under federal copyright law.
To qualify for copyright protection, a work must adhere
to certain minimal conditions. The term of protection
also varies based on when the work was created or
published for the first time. The laws protect the work's
owner if others copy, present, or show it without
permission.
Trademark: Trademark rules protected brand names
such as Nike and Apple, as well as logos, slogans, and
other features that identify and differentiate between
products and services. Unlike copyrighted works,
trademarks appreciate varying degrees of protection
based on a variety of factors, such as consumer
knowledge of the trademark, the sort of service and
product it denotes, and the geographic area in which the
trademark is used.
Patent law: Protects new innovations, which might be
products, processes, or designs, and provides a method
for the invention's protection. Patent law fosters the
sharing of new advancements with others in order to
drive innovation. The owner of a patent has the right to
prevent others from making, using, distributing, or
exporting the protected item. A patent is essentially a
property right that can be licensed, sold, mortgaged, or
assigned.
Trade secrets: are commercial techniques, formulas,
designs, or processes that are employed in a business to
create a competitive advantage. An "outsider" to the
company is unlikely to be aware of these trade secrets.
Coca-Cola's formula is one example of this. Trade
secrets are protected without registration, and the owner
should make proper efforts to prevent breaches of
confidentiality.
Publicity right: A complex set of state laws known as
the right of publicity protects a person's image and name.
These rules protect against the illegal commercial use of
a person's name or image, such as the use of your
photograph on a box of cereal. The level of this
protection varies by state.
The right to privacy: Despite not being part of
intellectual property laws, state privacy laws protect
everyone's right to privacy. When somebody publishes
or publicly exploits knowledge about another person's
private issues, this is considered an invasion of privacy.
Privacy laws prohibit you from invading someone's
privacy, publishing private information about them, or
intentionally portraying them. If the subject is a public
figure, such as a celebrity or politician, the scope of this
protection may differ.
 Counseling, protecting, and enforcing are the
three basic categories of intellectual property
practice. Client counseling focuses on how to
protect the intellectual property that the client
owns or wishes to acquire. In trademark law, the
lawyer will do searches on the client's proposed
trademarks and advise the client on their
availability. When a customer has already
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
invested time, work, and money in a mark and a
prior usage in a similar industry is discovered,
conversations with the client may include
changing or even abandoning the client's mark.
In order to satisfactorily understand the client's
patent and determine its validity or possibility of
patent infringement, the lawyer must have a
technical background.
 Intellectual property protection involves setting
up a trademark, patent, or copyright to get the
most rights available for the client's asset. In the
case of a trademark or patent, the process
requires the preparation and filing of an
application with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office (PTO), as well as reacted to
PTO activities until the trademark or patent is
registered or issued. Furthermore, intellectual
property enforcement entails defending the
owner of the intellectual property against
infringement. This may result in a federal court
lawsuit.
 Other aspects of practice may include licensing,
carrying out due diligence when dealing with
mergers or acquisitions, and developing
strategies for international and domestic
intellectual property protection. Communication
skills, both written and oral, negotiation skills,
and business acumen are all beneficial for IP
lawyers. Domestic and foreign factors are
typically present in intellectual property law.
Human Rights Law
Human rights are rights that we have due to the fact that
we are human; they are not provided by any state. We all
have these universal rights, no matter what our
nationality, gender, national or ethnic origin, color,
religion, language, or any other status. They span from
the most basic, the right to life, through to the things that
make life valuable, such as the rights to food, education,
labor, health, and liberty.
 The universal concept of human rights is the
foundation of international human rights
legislation. This means that we all have equal
access to our human rights. This idea, initially
highlighted in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, has been repeated in other
international human rights accords, declarations,
and resolutions. Human rights are fundamental.
They should not be taken away unless there are
special circumstances and a proper process is
followed. For example, if a person has been
found guilty of a crime by a court of law, their
right to liberty may be restricted.
 All human rights are interconnected and
indivisible. This means that one set of rights
cannot be completely exercised in the absence of
the other. Making advancements in civil and
political rights, for example, has made it easier
to exercise economic, social, and cultural rights.
Similarly, violations of economic, social, and
cultural rights can have a negative impact on a
variety of other rights.
 Article 1 of the UDHR states that "all human
beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights." Freedom from discrimination is what
ensures this equality, as stated in Article 2. Non-
discrimination applies to all aspects of
international human rights law. All major human
rights accords include this fundamental
principle. It is also the major issue of two key
documents: the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination and the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women.
 Therefore, under international law, states have a
duty and an obligation to respect, preserve, and
fulfill human rights.
 The commitment to respect requires states to
take steps to prevent meddling with or
restricting the exercise of human rights.
 The commitment to protect obligates states to
provide protection for persons and groups
against human rights violations.
 The commitment to fulfill emphasizes that states
must take proactive steps to promote the
enjoyment of fundamental human rights.
 Being individuals, we have a responsibility to
protect our own rights, but we must also respect
and defend the human rights of others.
Duterte Foul Mouthed 2016
The most striking aspect of 2016 is that it was the start
of the year in which the country experienced virtually
daily doses of President Rodrigo Duterte's heated
remarks. These remarks were frequently filled with
profanity and vulgarity that have contributed to Duterte's
reputation. The Philippine president has used a broad
range of insulting words (can you guess which one is his
favorite?) against a number of organizations and
persons, including US President Barack Obama, the
European Union, Senator Leila de Lima, and even
priests. His nasty language has resulted in a broad range
of reactions from his audience, with reactions ranging
from awkward laughter to complete revulsion. Duterte
may have understood the consequences of his curse
words since he joked that God threatened to bring his
plane down if he didn't clean up what was in his mouth.
Rodrigo Duterte's first 100 days as President of the
Philippines have been nothing short of remarkable. Over
the last three months, he has continued to follow through
on the election promise he made to eradicate the
country's drug trade, a campaign that has resulted in the
deaths of over 2,400 individuals and the surrender of
thousands more. Human rights groups and other
governments have been horrified by Duterte's public
encouragement of civilians to take matters into their own
hands, as well as his alleged employment of hidden
murder squads. He has proven to be a man of the people
and for the benefit of humanity. Yes, he is crude, foul-
mouthed, and speaks exactly what he believes. He is
nevertheless sincere, truthful, and diligent, and he cares
for the poor and the weak. He also has an excellent sense
of irony. Despite his harsh words and sloppy behavior,
he is educated and clever, and he thinks and plans
intelligently. Although drugs are a concern in the
Philippines, not everyone agrees on how the matter is
being treated. When confronted with objections to his
drug-war program, he has and continues to provide
evidence of horrible, unstatesmanlike behavior. His
blabbering verbal bombastic manner clearly
demonstrates his ineptness. Worryingly, his attitude that
he is above reproach appears to be creating a culture of
impunity within the troops fighting his drug war for him.
October 20, 2016 (Beijing, China)
 The morals, values, and appropriateness of
behavior in multicultural settings are referred to
as communication ethics. An effective
communicator requires a commitment to ethics
that allows them to transmit information quickly
and effectively without offending anyone. We
noted in the accompanying video that President
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
Duterte did not follow ethical principles or
effective communication guidelines.
 At the start of his address, he recognizes the gap
between China and America, where the latter has
received countless harsh words and has been
painted in a poor manner. His words, as we have
come to expect, are highly insulting and
dismissive of Americans.
 However, he also included a whole bunch of
dark humor, critical words, and yet another nasty
swear remark. He concluded his remarks with
lighthearted humor and gratitude to China.
 We can identify countless unprofessional
remarks in his entire speech, citing his
inappropriate behavior and damaging attacks on
America. His comments generated a poor
atmosphere in which the United States was
portrayed in an excessively negative light, which
can be classified as rude and inconsiderate
behavior, especially given that he is in a
multicultural situation. Furthermore, his crude
words and bold assertions have no place in the
international world, and his honest opinions
should be expressed in a way that does not
degrade a nation. Furthermore, he is not precise
with his issue, and his freestyle idea construction
resulted in ineffective communication. Despite
the fact that his humor may be tempting to
China by providing unfavorable criticism from a
former ally, the international community may
see our country's leader as a vulgar, unethical,
and ineffective communicator.
 Moving back to the goal of ethics and its
recommendations for efficient communication,
we learned that moral values should be our
highest guide in order not to upset people of
different backgrounds and to establish a
respectful, courteous, and open-minded
environment among cultural variety.
Furthermore, when speaking on an international
platform, we must be concise and straight-
forward in giving our speech. Overall, we
should use the video to enhance our speech
production while keeping ethical considerations
in mind in order to become more effective and
efficient communicators.
Freedom of Communication
 Everyone has the freedom to express his or her
views and opinions, as well as spread
information in all the forms it may take. This is
known as freedom of expression in the context
of human rights. It forbids the state and other
members of society from censoring, and it can
only be restricted for very serious reasons.
Freedom of Expression & Democracy
 Freedom of expression is a fundamental human
right that is necessary for a democratic society. It
provides for the free flow of ideas, opinions, and
information, allowing individuals in society to
establish their own perspectives on public
matters. Freedom of expression promotes public
debate, a free and independent press, informed
citizenship, and the efficient operation of the
state.
Restrictions
The right to free expression is expansive, but it has
limitations and can be limited. This occurs when one
person's freedom of expression affects the rights of
another or the principles of society as a whole. In such
cases, the state has the legal authority to regulate or
punish harmful expressions. Private life violations,
defamation, hate speech, obscenity, pornography, public
order, national security, classified information, trade
secrets, or copyright violations are examples of this.
Media
 The media has specific rights and duties under
freedom of expression. The media informs
society about issues of public concern and
provides an essential platform for public debate,
scrutiny, and reflection. As a result, independent
media and high-quality journalism are regarded
as the "watchdogs" of a democratic society.
Media Freedom
 In view of their unique role as a "watchdog" in a
democratic society, the media has separated
rights, freedoms, and duties.
Role as a “watchdog”
 The media is entrusted with a critical role: to
inform society about critical issues and to
provide an open environment for public debate,
reflection, and examination. As a result of this
duty, independent and high-quality media are
regarded as the "watchdogs" of any democratic
society.
Special rights, Freedoms & Protection
 The media serves the entire society by keeping
the public informed and allowing the public to
gain insight into the work of the government,
lawmakers, and other people who play key roles
in society. As a result, they have more freedom
and protection. They may, for example,
implement harsher language in their critique in
order to protect their sources.
 Given that the media is seen as the "watchdog"
of a democratic society, it is provided with
specific rights, liberties, and protection.
 The media has been regarded as a "public
watchdog" in democratic societies. Therefore,
the media's role is to inform society about issues
of public interest and to provide a forum for
public debate and reflection. As a result, when
executing its function, the media comes with
specific protection and rights.
Reporting on matters of public interest
 The general public has a right to be informed
about issues of public interest. What forms "the
public interest" is not well defined and, to some
extent, has to do with the environment in which
a certain topic is debated.
Example: According to the report about the manner in
which a minister abused his or her position of authority
by manipulating the results of public tenders, an
illustration of tensions in society between different
ethnic or religious groups, or criticism of errors in a
police investigation of a murder case would all be
subjects of public interest.
Protection
 While reporting on subjects of public
importance, journalists have access to the
highest level of security. This implies they have
more freedom to criticize and disseminate facts
that would otherwise violate the rights of others.
Even in these instances, press freedom is not
unconditional; however, any restrictions must be
carefully considered. This protection comes with
responsibilities and duties known as a standard
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
of professional behavior, which the media is
supposed to follow.
Reporting on other matters
 The rights of the media are also secured when
they report on subjects that are not considered to
be of public interest, such as entertainment.
However, because such reports have no broader
public interest or relevance, the media is going
to be given less freedom to criticize or publish
facts or comments that may violate the rights of
others, such as the right to privacy.
Duties & Responsibilities
 However, these exceptional rights and liberties
are not limitless, and they are accompanied by
obligations and responsibilities. Journalists have
a specific obligation to society to publish
accurate and verifiable information. A
journalist's freedom of expression may also be
limited if he or she violates the privacy and
reputation of others. For example, by publicizing
private facts that are irrelevant to public debate
or claims that lack factual support.
 The media's specific rights, freedoms, and
protection also come with special duties and
responsibilities.
More freedom is granted to the media on the condition
that they act in good faith, base their reports on correct
facts, and deliver trustworthy and precise information
while sticking to journalism's ethical principles.
In this section, you can learn about the media's
responsibilities to:
 Deliver accurate information and check the
sources' accuracy.
 Easily distinguish between news and opinions.
 When it is not acceptable avoid using highly
abusive language toward an individual.
Truthful and Verified Information
 Journalists have a responsibility to give accurate
information and to check their sources'
authenticity. The more serious the allegation, the
more precise and trustworthy the facts must be.
Example: If a journalist reports that someone has
committed a crime or done something illegal, he or she
must ensure that their sources and facts are forthright
and credible.
Journalists should not simply assume that anonymous
letters or statements from people personally involved in
the reported dissatisfaction are accurate. Journalists are
expected to verify their facts in certain circumstances,
for example, by reviewing other available sources or
getting comments from the individual in question.
Exception: If they base their publishing on official
reports or other material provided by public
organizations, the media is not required to verify their
sources or do an independent investigation. For example,
public information could include court decisions,
statistical data provided by official organizations, or
statements made at a press conference.
Separation of News and Opinions
 Journalists must distinguish between reporting
news and expressing opinions. This is necessary
so that the reader may form their own opinion
about the subject.
 News - Facts and statistics that can be verified
are included in the news. A news broadcast
should thus be genuine, and the information
provided should be validated and supported by
evidence.
 Opinions - Opinions express media firms',
publishers', or journalists' thoughts, ideas,
beliefs, or value judgments. Opinions can be
presented in a variety of ways, such as
comments on general ideas or statements on
current events.
Considering that opinions are always subjective,
it is impossible to determine if they are true or
appropriate. However, this does not exclude
critical sentiments about a specific person from
having a factual basis. Opinions that lack a solid
factual basis may be considered excessive and
go beyond the bounds of free expression.
 What constitutes a sufficient factual basis is
determined by the gravity of the allegations in
each case. The more serious and specific the
charge, however, the more exact and dependable
the factual basis should be.
Example: If a journalist makes a significant charge that a
certain politician is a child abuser, he or she must have a
solid factual basis to back up his or her claim.
Grossly Offensive Language
 Journalists should avoid using unnecessarily
offensive words to communicate their
dissatisfaction with the article. When reporting
on problems of public concern, they are given
the freedom to be controversial and even use
foul language if appropriate in the context of the
story.
Example: A journalist would not usually refer to
someone as "an idiot." However, this could be
appropriate in a publication in response to a member of
parliament's public celebration and denial of crimes
committed by an invading authority during WWII.
Protection of journalistic sources
 Journalists have the right not to publicly disclose
their sources' identities.
The right not to reveal journalistic sources
 Among the most important rights that journalists
have is the right to maintain the confidentiality
of their sources as they seek to exercise their
freedom of expression and fulfill their role as a
"public watchdog."
 Without these types of protections, journalists'
sources may refuse to assist them in carrying out
their duties. This right applies to journalists
regardless of whether their sources received the
information legitimately or illegally.
 The right not to disclose their sources shields
journalists not only from specific orders to
reveal the source's name but also from actions
by the police or any public authority that could
lead to the source's identification.
Example: The police cannot require a journalist to give
papers containing information that could contribute to
the identification of the source, nor can they listen in on
a journalist's phone conversations or search his or her
home or data storage devices.
However, journalistic source confidentiality is not
absolute and can be limited in extraordinary
circumstances:
Restrictions
 Only in extraordinary circumstances, such as to
preserve a critical interest, may a journalist be
obliged to expose his or her sources.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
Example: The necessity of identifying the person
(source) who disclosed a company's confidential
corporate strategy or information in a highly sensitive
criminal case would not automatically be judged to be in
the overriding public interest, justifying journalistic
sources' disclosure.
Any attempt to compromise the confidentiality of a
journalist's sources must be treated with extreme caution.
Adequate legal safeguards should be in place to prevent
the government from misusing such exclusions.
Only an investigative judge in criminal proceedings
should issue an order requiring the disclosure of a source
after a thorough evaluation of all concerned interests.
The judge should examine the following factors while
determining his or her decision:
 whether the requested information is connected
to a serious criminal offense, such as child
abuse, and can lead to the identification of the
perpetrator.
 whether there are no alternative avenues
(sources) for locating the culprit.
In his or her decision, the judge is responsible for
clarifying why an interest in determining the source of
information overcomes the journalist's freedom of
expression and the confidentiality of their sources.
How to complain
If you believe the investigative judge's judgment to
reveal a source is inappropriate and does not balance all
of the parties' interests, you have the right to appeal to a
higher court. The decision has to include the appeal
mechanism and time restrictions.
Within 10 days, the higher court should conduct a
written examination of your complaint. The higher
court's decision is final.
Access to information
 The right to have access to information is a
component of free expression. It grants you the
right to access information that others are
willing to provide. You also have the right to
access at least some information on state
management decisions of public interest.
Being able to access information is critical for two
reasons:
1. It is connected to freedom of expression and
citizen participation in public life. Individuals
would not be able to obtain alternative
perspectives on societal issues and governmental
policies if they did not have access to
information, such as the printed press, radio and
television, or social media. This makes it
necessary for people to establish their own
opinions and discuss matters.
Because of this, access to information is critical
for the media to create an environment for
public debate and contribute to the discussion of
public affairs.
2. Access to information is essential for
guaranteeing that the state administration is
transparent and open to the public and that it
acts in the highest-quality interests of society.
Society can expect the government to make at
least some information available that helps to
explain and justify its policies and actions. For
example, why did the government opt to sell a
state-owned enterprise or to explain and provide
additional information on how a proposed
garbage factory will impact the environment.
Request information from state institutions
 As a citizen, you are accorded the right to at
least receive information on state management
decisions of public relevance.
Public information
 Whether it is categorized as restricted or not, all
information maintained by governmental entities
should be made freely available to the public.
Restricted information
 Restricted information is designed for a limited
number of people who need it to do their jobs,
and they usually have exclusive access to it. The
disclosure of such information may jeopardize
the functioning of state institutions or jeopardize
the rights of others.
Access to certain information can be restricted by:
Law
 For example, information on an individual's
private life, confidential material about criminal
investigations, or classified documents about
state security.
Head of the state institution
 In this scenario, the institution's head should
explain why access to information must be
restricted. Heads of state institutions can only
restrict access to information for one year before
reviewing whether they need to restrict it further.

Request
 If you ask state entities for publicly available
information, you are not required to explain why
you require the information. You can request
public information from a state organization in
any way you like, including orally, in writing, or
online.
Time
 If your request for information does not
necessitate any further activity on the part of the
institution, it shall be responded to within 15
days of receipt. The information can be
delivered orally, in writing, or, when practicable,
by electronic communication.
Fees
 If your request does not require any further
operations from the state institution, the
information should be delivered free of charge.
However, the state may force you to pay the fees
associated with locating or copying the
information you want. In any instance, the fee
for the information cannot exceed the
institution's expenses for fulfilling your request.
Refusal & Explanation
 State entities cannot refuse you access to the
public information that they hold. If an
institution partially or completely refuses you
access to public material that it has, it must
make a written decision explaining why:
 the motivation, outlining the reasons for
restricting access to the sought information.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 the legal basis for such refusal, including a
citation to a provision of law or government
regulation.
 If you disagree with this decision, the procedure
and time constraints for appealing.
Criteria
 When a state institution or a court considers
whether or not access to information ought to be
granted or rejected, your rights and interests
must be balanced against other interests
protected by the concealment of the information.
As a result, they must assess:
 The public must be given the information they
would like to receive.
 Your goal and reasons for requesting the
information.
 The possible harm that disclosure of the
information could cause to other people's rights
or other critical interests.
Example: State authorities may grant an environmental
NGO access to basic information about a proposed wind
power plant but may deny access to technical
information in order to protect industry secrets.
However, in this circumstance, an absolute prohibition
of access to information would be manifestly
disproportionate.
Freedom of Communication and Discharge
 There are regulations on freedom of
communication and freedom of procurement in
the Freedom of Press Ordinance (TF) and the
Freedom of Expression Foundation (YGL).
Freedom of communication and freedom of
procurement
 Every citizen has the right, but not the
obligation, to give information on any topic for
publication, including dissemination in the legal
media. The right to privacy extends to a certain
degree to confidential material, such as
information from non-public documents. The
right to obtain information for the purpose of
making it public or publishing it might be
viewed as an extension of the right to
communicate.
 There are also exceptions to the freedom of
communication between the TF and YGL, as it
is not authorized to disclose information if it
involves certain significant offenses against the
country's security or some other crimes intended
against the state.
Prohibition of investigation and prohibition of
retaliation
 The investigation ban stipulates that authorities
or other public organizations may not investigate
anyone who has left a message in the media in
favor of free expression. A recipient of such
information guarantees confidentiality of the
informant's identity, and a violation of the
investigation ban is penalized. Additionally,
there is whistleblower protection for public
employees, which takes effect when
communication freedom is utilized. This entails
a so-called restriction on retribution for the
employer to punish the employee who has
exercised his or her right to communicate.
Communication and Freedom of Expression
 The concept of free expression is founded on the
proposition that certain types of communication
are entitled to specific protection under our laws.
Institutions and laws. This particular treatment
involves, in large part, an exception from
political restraint, but it also includes various
forms of encouragement and assistance. The
main issues are not so much technical ones of
communication method and efficiency as
semantic ones of interpretation or meaning, as
they are matters of political and societal control
over the effects of communication. Nonetheless,
it is useful to analyze the entire subject of free
expression as a system. In a similar meaning to
how the term is used in other areas of
communication theory.
 The system of freedom of speech consists of a
set of fundamental rights, constitutive principles,
operating rules, and social institutions that
operate together to accomplish certain purposes
in our society. Essentially, the individual's rights
are those to share ideas, opinions, feelings, or
facts on any subject of interest. to him, whether
by speech, writing, music, art, or any other
media, whether in matters of politics, religion,
culture, or otherwise. To some extent, the rights
may be seen to encompass more than
"communication" in a restricted sense. They
additionally include certain rights to
communication methods, to receive
communications from others, and to collect
information on which to base judgments or
engage in communication. Furthermore, while
the rights are ultimately those of the individual,
they include the right to engage in interactions
with other people in order to obtain or enhance
the impact of communication.
 These rights are embedded in constitutive
principles, which are moral, philosophical, or
legal in nature and which identify the right,
supply its justification, and indicate its
restrictions. The principles are translated into
practical regulations, most of which are legal in
character, and are then implemented through
numerous social institutions meant to make the
basic rights a reality in practice. Rights, values,
rules, and institutions all work together to
achieve particular goals.
 The system of free expression as it has evolved
in the United States is intended to serve four
distinct but connected goals. The first is personal
gratification. The freedom to express oneself is
critical to realizing one's true character and
potential as a human being. Through self-
expression and dialogue with his peers, man
lives, evolves, and finds purpose in life.
Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression
 The right to freedom of expression refers to the
freedom to have opinions without hindrance and
is not subject to exceptions or restrictions. The
right to free speech embraces all forms of
communication, including written and spoken
communications, the media, public protest,
broadcasting, artistic works, and commercial
advertising. The right to be a human being is not
absolute. It carries specific duties and may be
restricted for a variety of reasons. For example,
limits could apply to blocking access to specific
websites, inciting violence, or categorizing
artistic material.
We considers the right to freedom of opinion and
expression. You must consider the right to free
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
expression if you are working on legislation, a policy, or
a program that:
 Imposes restrictions on the content of any
speech, publication, broadcast, display, or
promotion.
 Restricts the structure or manner of any kind of
expression (for example, requires prior
authorization for public demonstration or limits
the use of sites where protest action may occur).
 Controls or reduces media coverage, particularly
coverage of political issues item must be
approved before it can be published.
 Imposes criminal or civil penalties for the
dissemination of thoughts or information.
 Controls or limits access to information,
especially access to the internet imposes
censorship or requires entertainment content to
be classified, or controls commercial expression
(for example, advertising).
This list is not intended to be thorough.
 When developing a measure that restricts
freedom of expression, consider whether it can
be justified according to the permitted grounds
for restriction, whether it will be efficient in
achieving the desired ends, whether it affects
freedom of expression to a greater extent than is
necessary, and whether there are less restrictive
means of achieving the desired ends.
 The necessity to prevent incitement to hatred as
well as incitement to discrimination imposes
legal limits on freedom of expression. If you are
working on legislation, a policy, or a program
that restricts offensive speech or the publication
or broadcast of offensive content, you need to
look into the requirement.
Law Governing the Media
 Every citizen has certain legal responsibilities.
According to Day, the value of these obligations
is determined by their level of relationship with
one another.
 Why does the subject matter of justice's duties
not always coincide with the sphere of legal
obligations?
 Given that a law cannot encompass all that has
to do with justice,
 Given the fact that some civil laws are unjust,
As a result, there are three forms:
 Legal and ethical
 Ethical is greater than legal.
 Ethical does not imply legal.
The Philippine Constitution
 Section 24 of Article II:
 The government recognized the importance of
communication and information in nation-
building.
Section 3 of Article III
 The privacy of communication and
correspondence shall be protected unless ordered
by a court of law or where public safety or order
dictates otherwise, as provided by law.
 Any evidence gathered in contravention of this
or the preceding provision is inadmissible in any
proceeding for any reason.
Recap…
In the previous meeting, we discussed ethics and ethical
communication. Ethics is a structured approach to
evaluating and judging what is right and wrong, and
ethics are generally accepted and empowering principles
that are implemented in every individual. Ethical
communication, on the flip side, involves talking about
your business values, having the ability to be open to
other individuals' opinions, or acceptable
communication.
11 Scope of Freedom of Expression
1. Political Discourse - When we say discourse,
we mean oral or written communication between
individuals, particularly a serious debate about a
certain issue. Political meaning refers to how
power is obtained and wielded in a country or
culture. According to what I have researched, it
pertains to the discourse practices that are
undertaken by everyone who takes part in a
political process, ranging from politicians and
organizations to citizens. Political discourse,
according to Baranov, is "the sum of all speech
acts used in political discussions, as well as rules
of public policy sanctified by tradition and
verified by experience." Both the speaker and
the audience are taken into account in the text
and conversation of professional politicians or
political institutions, such as presidents and
prime ministers, as well as other members of
government, parliament, or political parties, at
the local, national, and worldwide levels.
2. Teaching Discourse - Discourse means verbal
or written conversation between individuals.
Discourse in education allows students to
communicate with one another and express their
opinions while also overcoming difficult
dilemmas. There would be nothing to learn if
there was nothing to talk about, since ideas must
be exchanged and studied for learning to occur.
Classroom discourse is traditionally defined as
the language (both spoken and written) used in
the classroom by teachers and students to
communicate. While discussion may not be
unique to school, the classroom model has
evolved over time. One of the roles of discourse
in education is to enable teachers and professors
to convey academic topic material to learners.
Educators must be able to describe and discuss
the ideas and concepts they are to convey to
students, whether they are primary school
reading skills or university-level astronomy.
They must be able to communicate with
children, listen to them, and respond to their
queries. This can be done either verbally or in
writing.
3. Journalism - Journalism is the collecting,
analyzing, producing, and presenting of news
and information. These actions have had an
impact on it. Certain characteristics and
practices differentiate journalism from other
activities and products. Thus, the goal of
journalism is to supply citizens with the
information that is needed to make the wisest
choices possible about their lives, communities,
societies, and governments. Journalism is the
obtaining, preparation, and dissemination of
news and related commentary and feature
materials by means of the use of electronic and
print media such as newspapers, magazines,
books, blogs, webcasts, podcasts, social
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
networking and social media sites, and e-mail,
as well as radio, film, and television.
4. Commentary on Public Affairs - Public affairs
can be thought of as an organization's efforts to
track, interact with, and organize its external
business processes. Public affairs is concerned
with issues that directly influence the public, in
the form of legislation or public administration.
5. Commentary on One’s own Affair - Once we
said commentary on one's own affair, we meant
that we condemned the way they conducted
themselves, their effectiveness, style, and
creativity. In other words, we critiqued or
evaluated the way they presented themselves or
any piece of art they created.
6. Human Right Discussion - Human rights can
be regarded as the fundamental norms required
for a life of equality and dignity, and their
universality originates from the reality that all
humans are equal in this sense of the word. We
should not and cannot make boundaries between
them. Human rights have been established to
protect and preserve each individual's humanity,
ensuring that each individual has the opportunity
to live a life of dignity and worth as a human
being.
7. Anti-Trafficking - Anti-trafficking laws, efforts,
and programs are designed to prohibit unlawful
trading, such as trading in drugs, people, or
illegal weapons. The recruitment, shipping,
exchange, harboring, adoption, or receipt of a
child for the purpose of exploitation, or when
the adoption is facilitated by any form of
consideration for exploitative purposes, shall be
considered "trafficking in persons," regardless of
the fact that it has nothing to do with any of the
above-mentioned means.
8. Labor Issues - Any tension that results between
a worker and an employer, or between a trade
union and employers, related to the application
of law, collective agreement, work rules,
employment contract, or customary rules, as
well as any disputes resulting throughout
collective bargaining or in connection with a
collective agreement, is referred to as a labor
dispute. International labor concerns are abuses
of workers' rights that occur on a regular basis
around the world. Workers' legal rights, which
protect them from employer abuse, differ from
country to country. Exploiting workers with
excessive hours, poor working conditions,
unpleasant conditions, no living wages, and so
on are just a few of the issues workers face
around the world.
9. Cultural and Artistic Expression - Musical
arts, dancing, artwork, layouts, titles, signs and
symbols, performances, festivities, architectural
forms, handicrafts, storytelling, and many more
creative or expressive forms of culture are
examples of traditional cultural expressions
(TCEs). Artistic expression has evolved in every
culture around the world in order to offer a form
of expression for thoughts, feelings, traditions,
and beliefs. Art can be both traditionally
anchored and a motivating force for cultural
change. Many notable pieces of art are religious
in nature.
10. Religious Discourse - Religion discourses are
types of social engagement that take place when
one's relationship to religion is stressed. This
could be due to the religious nature of the setting
or specific elements of the social interaction. A
sermon on a religious or moral issue, usually
delivered during a church service and based on a
Bible chapter.
11. Commercial Advertisement - A commercial
advertisement is a communication created for
distribution using motion picture film or video
media in order to captivate consumers' attention
or have an impact on consumers' attitudes
toward a specific product, service, event, or
cause. Advertising has three main goals: to
inform, convince, and remind. Informative
advertising raises brand, product, service, and
concept awareness. It publicizes new products
and initiatives and provides information to
people about the features and benefits of new
and existing items. Commercial activity, such as
selling furniture through a storefront or a
restaurant, is for profit. Commercial activity can
be defined broadly as the sale of commodities,
services, food, or materials.
New Civil Code of the Philippines
 The Civil Code of the Philippines is the result of
the Philippines' formulation of private law. In
the Philippines, it is the general law that controls
family and property relations. The Civil Code
establishes the legal status of individuals, legal
persons, and other subjects, as well as their
rights and obligations related to their private
lives and assets in civil, marriage and family,
business, commerce, and labor relations (from
this point on referred to as civil relations
collectively). The Civil Code is responsible for
defending persons' lawful rights and interests,
organizations, state interests, and public
interests; guaranteeing legal equality and safety
in civil relations; making a contribution to the
creation of conditions for meeting people's
material and spiritual needs; and promoting.
Human Relations
 It exists to set forth the standard of behavior for
all the things we must observe, follow, or abide
by while dealing with other humans—the
limitations of our rights and the causes of our
acts.
Article 19: “Every person must, in the exercise of his
rights and in the performance of his duties, act with
justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty
and good faith”.
 Took use of rights abuse.
 Aimed at everyone — two kinds of people:
natural people (human beings) and artificial
people (made by law).
 The University of the Philippines, the Kidney
National Institute, and the PAGCOR are all
legally recognized organizations that have the
right to enter into contracts, file complaints,
open bank accounts, and perform other functions
normally reserved for natural individuals.
States that every person should do three things:
1.) Act with
justice
2.) Give everyone
his due
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
3.) Observe honest
and good faith
1.) Act with
justice
2.) Give everyone
his due
3.) Observe honest
and good faith
1. Act with justice.
2. Give everyone his due.
3. Observe honest and good faith.
Also known as the principle of abuse of rights, it
conveys to us the reality of the limitations of our rights
and how they should be exercised.
 So, for instance, when we nurture dogs, we have
the right to take ownership of them, care for
them, and keep them on leashes. If the same
animal does harm to another, any individual has
the right to defend his property, himself, or his
family; hence, they are justified in killing the
dog.
 In other words, we have the right to express
ourselves, yet there are boundaries, such as the
crime of libel and anti-terror legislation.
If we fail to abide by the limits imposed by law, we end
up violating our rights. These rights can be the basis of
various unlawful conduct if they are abused or misused.
When the following events occur, there is an abuse of
rights: 1.) When there is a legal right or duty; 2.) It is
taken advantage of in bad faith; 3.) The sole goal is to
prejudice or cause injury to another.
 A person should not exercise his rights in an
unjust or dishonest manner, as this leads to
liability. It aims to prevent the use of, or the
desire to make use of, the legal right of
responsibility to achieve unlawful purposes.
Whenever rights are exercised solely to
disadvantage or damage another, they are
abused. A right must be exercised in obedience
to the intended purpose for which it was
established in the first place. There must be no
purpose in causing harm to someone.
To give everyone their due, to contribute what they
have.
 It is one's responsibility to act honestly and in
good faith. Good faith is an intangible or
abstract trait that includes an honest belief, the
absence of maliciousness, and the absence of
intent to hurt someone or gain an unfair benefit.
Considering an individual's personal good faith
is a construct of his own mind, it may not be
evaluated just by his protestations. It implies
sincerity of intention and freedom from
awareness of circumstances that should call the
person who is expressing it into question. The
essence of good faith is an honest belief in one's
rights, ignorance of a higher claim, and the
absence of a desire to overreach another.
1. The chapter exists to provide us with a
framework for exercising our rights and carrying
out our responsibilities. It gives procedures for
violations of rights.
2. Article 19 contains the notion of rights
violations. An abuse of rights occurs when the
following conditions are fulfilled: 1) there is a
legal right or responsibility; 2) it is exercised in
bad faith; and 3) the sole goal is to prejudice or
damage another.
3. The absence of good faith is absolutely
necessary for righteous abuse.
4. There is a presumption of good faith in all
dealings. Clear and persuasive proof overturns
this presumption.
 The right to life and liberty, freedom from
servitude and enslavement, freedom of
thought and speech, the right to labor, and
the right to an education.
Article 20: “Every person who, contrary to law,
willfully or negligently causes damage to another,
shall indemnify the latter for the same”.
1. Determine the situations in which the Damnum
Absque Injuria principle applies.
2. List the requirements for a case to succeed.
3. Identify the legal provisions relevant to Article
20 of the Civil Code.
 A cause of action is a circumstance or group of
facts that gives cause for a legal requirement to
file an action in court. The grounds for going to
court should be the cause of action.
As an example, a company's graphic designer is required
to work more than 8 hours each day. Overtime pay of
25%–30% on rest days is mandated under the labor
code. If he files a complaint, the nonpayment of his
overtime salary will be the basis of his case. He goes to
court in order to receive his overtime wages. If he got
overtime pay, the employer ought to hand over time
records. The reason for the dismissal is that there is no
cause of action.
 If an individual lacks the right to have a cause of
action, they are not provided with the relief they
seek, and the courts cannot provide a means of
resolving the issue.
 THE INABILITY TO STATE A CAUSE OF
ACTION.
Provides us with numerous reasons for action.
1. The loss, damage, or harm caused by an injury is
referred to as damage.
2. Injury is the illegal invasion of a legal right.
When both are united, a cause of action exists.
Somebody, for example, paid from the XYZ store, which
delivered its things to courier J. The courier, on the other
hand, did not bundle appropriately. As a result, when
they received the item, it was defective.
 In this case, the damages were the broken laptop
and everything he could have done if he had
received the laptop in excellent working order. X
was hurt and sustained harm. As a result, he can
hold the shopkeeper or the courier liable.
Let's say that X purchased land in the midst of a
neighborhood with few residents. When X built his
house, he made care to include a number of windows
that looked out into the vacant lots. In the unused lot, he
set out to grow crops. X's family spotted the property
and purchased it. They ruined the crops by establishing a
big structure that covered the windows.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 X experienced damages by losing his crops and
his view, but these losses are not founded on
injury due to the fact that he had no legal power
to control what happened to the vacant lots
because he did not own them, and the view was
not a part of his property. This is an instance of
Damnum Absque Injuria (damage without
injuries). Simply because the plaintiff
experienced losses does not entitle her to
reimbursement. To be eligible for damages, there
must be both a right of action for a legal wrong
committed by the defendant and damage
suffered by the plaintiff. Wrong without damage,
or damage without wrong, does not form a cause
of action because damages are only one
component of the remedy available for the injury
inflicted.
There is a significant difference between damages and
injuries. Injury is the illegal interference of a legal right;
damage is the loss, hurt, or harm caused by the injury;
and damages are the compensation or reimbursement
received for the damage suffered. As a result, there
might be damage without injuries.
1. To indemnify is to compensate.
2. Indemnify can mean to be unharmed, to be free
of loss or injury, or to release someone from the
consequences of their conduct.
 According to Article 100 of the Revised Civil
Code, anybody who is convicted of a crime is
similarly subject to civil liability. Once
convicted of a crime, a person is obligated to
pay for any damages he may have caused.
Article 20 makes no distinction between
intentionally made and impulsive actions.
Article 21: “Any person who willfully causes loss or
injury to another in a manner that is contrary to
morals, good customs or public policy shall
compensate the latter for the damage”.
 A violation of the law is not needed by the law.
All that the law wants is that legal conduct be
committed that is opposed to morals, good
customs, or public policy. This is why an action
under Article 21 of the Civil Code is referred to
as CONTRA BONUS MORES, or against
excellent morals.
 The injury or loss must be the result of an
intentional action.
Breach of Marriage Promise
 The boy wants to commit to marrying the girl,
and they did things that caused the girl to
become pregnant. She brought a case for the cost
of the damages. Both were consenting adults,
and the case was dismissed due to a lack of
cause of action. This case has been remanded by
the Court of Appeals. According to Article 21,
they established that the guy seduced the girl as
part of their commitment to marry, to which the
girl agreed. If both parties feel desire, there is no
seduction. The idea of seduction originates from
the idea of the seducer. The lawsuit concludes
with the girl being free to pursue other remedies,
but her case is dismissed.
 Alfonso works as a factory salesman. Alfonso
was a married man from a family with similar
surnames. Alfonso fell in love with Lolita and
wrote messages to her. They were shocked by
the relationship due to the fact that he was
treated like a family member and Alfonso was
married. Lolita found a love note from Alfonso
requesting that they meet at a specific time.
Alfonso made Lolita fall in love—there is not
much evidence that Alfonso did so on purpose.
Lolita's attachment cannot lead to any other
conclusion but that it was he who intrigued the
latter to the point of falling in love with him
through a clever technique of trickery. This is
demonstrated by the defendant's numerous visits
to Lolita's house under the pretext that she
wanted to teach him how to do the rosary.
In this scenario, the PARI DELICTO rule does not apply.
Pari Delicto indicates equal blame or illegal fault in a
similar offense or crime.
 THE MAN AND THE WOMAN WERE
GOING TO GET MARRIED. The woman had
bridal showers, etc., but the man sent her a letter
requesting that the wedding be postponed and
then departed and never returned. He should be
held responsible for his damages for breaking
his pledge to marry, but this is also clearly
against good custom.
Breach of a marriage pledge is not a punishable
offense for the following reasons:
1. When there is seduction—or when the male uses
trickery, enticement, greater power, or abuse of
trust on the part of the seducer to which the
woman has given,
2. When the promise of marriage is the primary
reason a woman would have sex with a man, and
the man appears to have no intention of
upholding this commitment,
3. When the wedding has been carefully arranged
and one of the parties walks out as the ceremony
is about to begin.
The family might potentially file a civil lawsuit for
damages. Not only is there a breach of the agreement
to marry,
 Bisaya actor Roberto, for example, recognized a
buddy, Violetta. Roberto was informed that he
was a guest. Someone informed Roberto that he
was not welcome. Roberto filed a lawsuit for 2
million pesos after being evicted. Roberto was
not on the list, according to the secretary. The
court ruled in favor of Ms. Secretary Lim, and
Roberto was not supposed to be present. They
considered the hotel responsible for the behavior
of how they treated the actor in terms of
reputation and so on. The doctor invited
Roberto, and if the doctor had not invited
Roberto, he would not have suffered from
humiliation.
An action under Article 21 must include:
1. A legal act exists.
2. The act is against morals, good manners, public
order, and policy.
3. The act is performed with the intention of
enduring.
 VOLENTI NON-FIT INJURIA indicates that
what a person commits is not considered injury
in law. This expression can also refer to self-
inflicted injury or consent to injury. Anyone who
intentionally exposes himself to injury, even if
carelessly, cannot recover damages.
1. A case under Article 21 will only succeed if
there is a lawful act that is against morals,
good traditions, or public policy.
2. Article 20 is based on unlawful conduct that
can be committed knowingly or
unintentionally. Article 21 is predicated on
CONTRA BONUS MORES conduct that can
only be committed deliberately.
3. A breach of promise to marry is not
considered actionable wrong unless there is
seduction, the promise is the proximate
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
reason for sexual intercourse, and wedding
preparations have commenced.
4. The doctrine of volenti non fit injuria
prohibits the collection of damages when a
person voluntarily exposes himself to the
danger of injury, even if he is irresponsible in
doing so.
 Morality is concerned with what is right and
wrong; it is concerned with the norms of good
and proper behavior that have formed in a
community; morality is often referred to as good
customs; and any contract that has an unethical
objective is opposed to good customs.
 Good customs is the place that collects all of the
behaviors that help to contribute the most to our
everyday well-being.
 Public policy is the set of unwritten ideas that
govern social rules; the principle that harm to
the public benefit is evidence for denying the
legitimacy of a contract or other transaction.
Revised Penal Code of the Philippines
 The Revised Penal Code criminalizes a broad
variety of commonly acknowledged criminal
activities, including the taking of a life, whether
by murder or homicide, rape, robbery and theft,
and treason.
Cyber Libel Law
 Cyber libel is the action of hurting or harming
someone's reputation by the use of electronic
methods such as the internet, social media
platforms, or other digital communication
channels. It includes making false or malicious
assertions that interfere with a person's
character, reputation, or integrity. Cyber libel is
a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or
of an offense or flaw of any kind, or any act,
omission, condition, position, or circumstance
tending to shame, discredit, or disdain a natural
or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of
a deceased person.
 The dissemination of false information about
another person, group, or organization over a
computer network. Libel is the act of publicly
and purposefully attributing a crime, vice, or
flaw (real or fictitious) to a person or criticizing
the memory of a deceased person. Like common
law libel, cyberlibel is libelous, communicated
with a third party, and directly names the
victim(s). Cyberlibel is a complicated issue
because cyberspace fosters libel without end.
When proven in a court of law, the repercussions
can be harsh, depending on the country.
Legal Framework in the Philippines
 The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
regulates cyberlibel in the Philippines. Online
defamation is a criminal violation punishable by
prison and fines under the law. Understanding
the legal framework governing cyber libel is
critical for avoiding legal problems.
Elements of Cyber Libel
 Certain aspects must be shown to establish a
case of cyber libel, namely the publication of
defamatory comments, identification of the
victim, and the presence of hatred or intent to
injure.
Penalties and Legal Defense
 Conviction for cyber libel may outcome in harsh
punishments such as jail and large fines.
However, legal defenses such as truth as a
defense, lack of malice, or the absence of the
needed components to prove the charge are
feasible.
Online Responsibility and Risk Mitigation
 Cyberlibel prevention begins with ethical online
activity. When sharing facts or thoughts online,
it is critical to take caution and ensure that they
are accurate, fair, and respectful. Understanding
the limits of free speech and adopting digital
ethics can dramatically lower the likelihood of
being involved in cyber libel lawsuits.
Facts that Constitute Cyberlibel
 An act, neglect, status, situation, or event must
have the purpose of doing harm.
 Aside from the author and the person defamed
or referenced, the defamatory post must be seen
by at least one other person.
 The defamatory post had to be malicious, which
means the author knew it was false.
 The libelous information must be about a living
person, a firm, or a deceased person, which
means that the post must identify the person who
is being defamed, or at least a third person can
identify the person who is being defamed.
 The defamatory material must have the
possibility of making the person defamed seem
bad, lose respect, or be mocked.
 The libel was committed using a computer
system or a similar approach that may be further
developed in the future. This category also
includes smartphones, tablets, and other digital
gadgets.
Common Defense to Cyberlibel Charges
 Justification. This rule applies if it is discovered
that the defamatory post was true.
 Consent to the piece's publication. The
defendant has no case if the plaintiff agreed to a
defamatory post.
 That is a fair point. If the defamatory post is
largely an opinion, the individual charged with
libel will not be penalized. If the plaintiff is
well-known, this is a popular defense.
 Privilege is both absolute and conditional. The
accused published the post without intentionally
considering it part of their employment.
 Innocent distribution. In that the accused is not
accused of acting purposefully when making the
post public, this is identical to both absolute and
qualified privilege.
Recognizing this two-pronged component of this
paradigm-shifting action, Congress adopted Republic
Act 10175, better known as the Cybercrime Prevention
Act of 2012. Offenses against the confidentiality,
integrity, and availability of computer data systems;
computer-related offenses relating to computer forgery,
fraud, and identity theft; and content-related offenses
such as cybersex, child pornography, and, most
importantly, cyber libel were defined and punished under
this new law.
Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of
2012, which punishes online libel, refers to Revised
Penal Code Article 355: Libel means by writings or
similar means. — A libel committed by means of
writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio,
phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition,
cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means,
shall be punished.
Philippine Laws punish Libel
 Art. 353. Libel definition. — A libel is a
malicious and widely circulated allegation of a
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
crime, or of a fault or defect, whether real or
alleged, or any act, omission, condition, status,
or circumstance aiming to dishonor, discredit, or
disdain a natural or legal person, or to blacken
the memory of a deceased person.
 Art. 355. Libel means by writings or similar
means. — A libel committed by means of
writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio,
phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition,
cinematographic exhibition, or any similar
means, shall be punished.
(Revised Penal Code of the Philippines [Act No. 3815
{1930}])
 Sec. 4. Offenses related to cybercrime. The
following acts constitute a cybercrime offense
punishable under this Act:
 (b) Content-related Violations:
 (4) Libel. Illegal or banned actions of libel, as
defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal
Code, as amended, are perpetrated through a
computer system or any other analogous means
that may be created in the future.