R.

A 7079
CAMPUS
JOURNALISM ACT
of 1991
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?
It 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 promote 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 Conferenc
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

Rep. Teddy Casiño Rep.Raymond Palatin o

House Bill No. 4287

•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
F R EEDOM
 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)
 I t 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)
 A s 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 )
 I t 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 )
 I t 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