R.

A 7079
CAMPUS JOURNALISM
Act of 1991
A lecture presented by :
Randel Joy A. Goh
MAEd Student
OBJECTIVES
:
 To define Campus Journalism
 To state what R.A 7079 is
 To explain why there is an amendment made
in the law
 To reflect on your practices in school in
connection with the Campus Journalism Act
 To internalize the essence and impact of the
said law to you as a teacher/school head
 What is Campus Journalism?
 is “that enjoyable activity of the staff of the campus
paper in collecting, organizing and presenting news,
writing editorials, columns, features, and literary
articles, taking pictures, cartooning, copy reading,
proofreading, dummying & writing headlines”.
 Duties and responsibilities of a
Student Journalist
• Legal- They should know their rights and the rights of
each individual, and they should be sure they are
compliant with legal issues. This will ensure there is no
intrusion on matters of confidentiality and privacy.

• Social- It is the duty of a journalist to make sure the

information is presented in a fair, balanced and truthful
manner
• Professional- A journalist has a professional responsibility
to present an accurate portrayal of events as they occur. This
usually is accomplished through excellent and thorough
research. A professional journalist will present only the facts,
leaving out her own opinions.

• Ethical- Journalists are bound to a code of ethics. An ethical

journalist will provide the audience with meaningful information,
but she also will know when information is too sensitive to be
reported.
What is R.A 7079?
• One of the most powerful law that promotes the
rights of the youth, yet also one of the most
disregarded law
• Train students on journalism
• Provide students an avenue to practice truth ,
fairness , and balance
• Safeguard democracy at the campus level
• Approved on July 5,1991
• It is “ An act providing for the Development and
Promotion of Campus Journalism”
What is it for?
It aims to promote the development and growth
of Campus Journalism as a means of :
(section 2 )
1. strengthening ethical values
2. encouraging critical and creative thinking
3. develop moral character and personal
discipline of the Filipino youth
The state shall undertake various programs and
projects aimed at improving the journalistic
skills of students concerned and promoting
responsible and free journalism

1. Division Schools Press Conference

2. Regional Schools Press Conference
3. National Schools Press Conference
Who can be part of the
student publication?
(Section 4 , Student Publication )

“ a student publication is published by the

student body through an editorial board
and publication staff composed of students
selected by fair and competitive
examinations.”
Who can be a school
paper adviser?
(Sec. 3d , Editorial Board)
At the elementary and high school levels , there is
a duly appointed faculty adviser that forms part
of the editorial board.
At the tertiary level, it is optional to have a
publication adviser.
(Sec. 6 , Publication Adviser )
He or she “shall be selected by the school
administration from a list of recomendees
submitted by the publication staff”
To what extent does one
acts as a school paper
adviser?
The role of a publication adviser is limited to
technical guidance (Sec . 6) and that he
or she should not interfere with the
contents of the campus publication.
His or her role is limited because autonomy
should be given to campus publications.
(Sec.4)
“Once the publication is established , its editorial
board shall freely determine its editorial policies
and manage the publication’s fund.”
How independent
should a school
publication be?
The independence is defined not
only in terms of editorial content
but also in terms of day-to-day
operations , particularly fund
management.
(Sec. 5, Funding of Student Publication )

“In no instance shall the DECS or the school

administration concerned withhold the release
of funds sourced from the savings of the
appropriations of the respective schools and
other sources intended for student publication.
Subscription fees collected by the school
administration shall be released automatically
to the student publication concerned”
 Role of Campus Journalism in NATION BUILDING
The ability of campus journalism in nation-building is in its charisma to compel people

to action and be part of building the Filipino dream .

Reach the grassroots and localize actions
• Grassroots media training means empowerment of journalists
down the line.
• It means a boost to their morale and spirit to focus on their
strength and plans for their communities.
• They would realize their potentials as potent tools in community
building rather than radical activism and sensationalism

– (Lloyd Luna, 2004 Outstanding Filipino Youth Leader and CEO of Network of Campus Journalist in the
Philippines)
Campus Journalism and Its Response
to the Challenge of Time
“Campus journalism is very crucial tool in developing country.
In my twenty years of being a school paper adviser, my
students and I learned to think out of the box. We learned to
dance with cadence of change and our eyes become as sharp
as the eagle’s at night. We see what the community needs
and what can we cater to the community. We also realized
that we need to adapt to the medium in which we can reach
our audience more.”

(Alberto Goto, a campus publication adviser for twenty years

and proponent of the Special Program in Journalism)
 The content of the organ should prepare them to become
responsible students in decision making.
 Filling the gaps on information unknown to them will teach them to
make informed decision on serious national issues at their young age.
 They will learn not just to go with the flow and believe in hearsays.
They can learn how to weigh things.
With the adjustment to the technological innovations, campus journalism is not
only nailed on print publication anymore. In 2003, in response to the
emergence of the social media, online journalism was introduced
among campus journalists. Online writing was included as part of individual
competition in the NSPC. Online
publications were also
encouraged among schools since their audience can also
be found active in the cyberspace.
 Weaknesses of R.A 7079
1.It legalizes the non-mandatory collection of publication fee, which is
considered as the lifeblood of most student publications. The law does not
contain any provision that would mandate school administrations to
collect student publication funds. Instead, it only enumerates the sources
where the student publication funds may be taken.
(savings from the respective school’s appropriations ,student
subscription , donations )
2. Section 7 of the law supposedly gives freedom and
space for student journalists to write without fear of any
threat of suspension or expulsion, the qualification
made by the Supreme Court on the said provision by
providing exemptions has rendered the security on
tenure provision practically useless. One notable
exemption is “material disruption of class work or
involving substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of
others,” which is too broad that even a simple factual
article may fall within its application.
3. The law does not make it mandatory for all
colleges and universities in the Philippines to
establish student publications. Neither does
the said law require that those student
publications that remain closed until the
present be re-opened for the benefit of
students.
4. The law does not contain a penalty
clause, leaving erring administrations
unscathed. School administrations are
able to commit offense after offense yet
suffer no retribution due to the absence of
a penalty provision.
5. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports
Order No. 94, Series of 1992, the implementing rules
and regulations of the law, contains simply guidelines
on the implementation of its provisions with the
additional rules on jurisdiction over cases that may
arise from violations of the said law. As the
implementing rules and regulations cannot lawfully
narrow or restrict and expand, broaden, or enlarge the
provisions of the law, DECS Order No. 1994 naturally
carries the weaknesses of Campus Journalism Act of
1991.
College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Based on the cases documented by the CEGP since 1992 ,
student publications nationwide faced systematic assaults
including the following:

1. Harassment of student writers and editors

2. Meddling with editorial policies
3. Actual censorship of editorial content
4. Withholding of publication funds
5. non-collection of publication fee
6. Padlocking of the publication office
7. Closure of the student publication
8. Suspension and expulsion of student editors and writers
9. Filing of libel charges against them
As of April 2013 , CEGP has documented
230 campus press freedom violations
nationwide from 42 respondent
publications.
 Given these flaws in the law , it is no
surprise that the enactment of Campus
Journalism Act of 1991 resulted to even
more campus press freedom violations
that are even more clever and devious in
form.
 Fifteenth Congress
House Bill No. 4287 Rep. Teddy Casiño Rep.Raymond Palatino
•Introduced on February 28 , 2011

•Argues that while the CJA of 1991 has strong

provisions, it is “ insufficient and lacking in
material aspects to fully maintain the existence
of the campus press.”
 Sixteenth Congress
House Bill No. 1493
Campus Press Freedom Act

An act upholding and promoting Campus Rep. Terry Ridon

Journalism and Campus Press Freedom
repealing for the purpose Republic Act
7079, entitled “ An act providing for the
Development and Promotion of Campus
Journalism” , penalizing violations
against Campus Press Freedom , and for
other purposes.
Campus journalists – like any other journalist – face the
same challenge that is …

PRESS
FREEDOM
 Features of the proposed
Campus Press Freedom Act
 Require all basic and tertiary schools to establish at
least one student publication
(Sec. 4, Student Publication)
 Provide autonomy from administrative intervention
“with regards to the handling of its funds , the
content of the articles the editorial board chooses to
publish , the selection of its publication staff and
members of the editorial board.” (Sec. 6,
Independence)
 It also adds that the operations of the
student publication “ shall not be delayed ,
suspended or closed down in connection
with the articles it has published , or on the
basis of the conduct or performance of its
staff without due process.”
(Sec. 6,Independence)
 As regards with the funding , it shall be
“mandatory for the school administration to
collect student publication / subscription fees
during the enrollment period ” even if the
members of the student publication could
opt to collect the publication funds
themselves without administrative
intervention .
(Sec. 7, Funding of student Publication )
 It seeks to make a publication adviser’s
appointment upon the discretion of the
editorial board. In case a publication
adviser is appointed he /she shall only
engage in “technical assistance”.
(Sec.9 , Publication Adviser )
 It empowers the Commission on Higher
Education, Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority and the Department of
Education, upon due investigation, to impose
administrative sanctions for Campus Press
Fredom violations like censorship of editorial
content and harassment and intimidation of
campus journalists.
(Sec. 15 , Administrative Sanctions )
 Recommendations
 House Bill 1493 should be one of the top
priorities in the 16th Congress. It should be
passed immediately.
 FOI Bill should also be passed and made into a
law to adhere to the real essence of the
Campus Press Freedom.
 The DepEd, TESDA, and CHED should be
vigilant enough to protect the interest of the
student journalists.
 Reflection
I realized that being a school paper adviser
entails great responsibility.
I pondered that campus press violations are
unconsciously committed by most school
administrators and school paper advisers alike.
I learned that I should value what the student
journalists would want to convey in their
articles. Their voices are important. They
should be heard