Module 2

A Better Understanding
on Campus Journalism

MAJ06
Language and Journalism

to your second module!

This module is a combination of

synchronous and asynchronous
learning and will last for two weeks.

John Francis G. Ducusin

Instructor

0948-342-9355
[email protected]
[email protected]

No part of this module may be

reproduced in any form without prior
permission in writing from the
Instructor/Author.

September 19, 2022

Date Initiated
October 1, 2022
Date of Completion
 SAN MATEO MUNICIPAL COLLEGE
Gen. Luna St. Guitnang Bayan I, San Mateo, Rizal
Tel No. (02) 997-9070
www.smmc.edu.ph

Module 2
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON CAMPUS JOURNALISM
Contents
Module Duration ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................................................. 1
Assessment/Evaluation ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Assignment ........................................................................................................................................................... 7
Learning Resources ............................................................................................................................................. 8

Module Duration

a. Week 4-5 Synchronous Meeting and Asynchronous Learning

b. For asynchronous learning inquiries, you may reach me through the following social media accounts and
cellphone number:
- Cellphone (09483429355)
- Messenger (direct message or group chat)
- Viber (09483429355)
- Google Mail ([email protected])

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this module, you are expected to:

 trace the historical background of Campus Journalism;

 write an essay regarding the importance of campus paper in every academic institution; and
 appreciate the role of Campus Journalism in molding the Journalistic skills of young Campus Writers

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 1

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin
Input Information

CAMPUS JOURNALISM AND ITS DEFINITION

- 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.
- Campus journalism is journalism carried out by secondary and university/college students on subjects relating
to campus, published in publications generally only intended for campus. Usually these publications are available
free of charge to the public and run by students and a faculty adviser.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAMPUS JOURNALISM

According to Jesus Valenzuela in the History of Journalism in the Philippine Islands (1933) and John Lent in the
Philippine Mass Communication (1964), the history of campus journalism in the Philippines started when the
University of Santo Tomas published El Liliputiense in 1890.

However, Oscar Manalo, Narciso Matienzo, and Virgilio Monteloyola in Ang Pamahayagan (1985) argued that
the history of campus journalism in the country started when the University of the Philippines published The
College Folio, now The Philippine Collegian, in 1910. They also added that The Torch of the Philippine Normal
University, The Guidon of the Ateneo de Manila University, and The Varsitarian of the University of Santo Tomas
were also published two years later.

Whatever came first, Carlos Romulo y Peña edited The Coconut, the official student publication of the Manila
High School, now the Araullo High School. It was published in 1912 and it is now considered the first and oldest
high school newspaper in the country.

In 1923, La Union High School in the Ilocos Region published The La Union Tab, the first printed and regularly
issued high school newspaper in the country. Since then, high school newspapers have come out one after the
other.

Among these high school newspapers were The Pampangan, Pampanga High School, 1925; The Leytean, Leyte
High School, 1925; The Rizalian, Rizal High School, 1926; The Coconut, Tayabas High School, 1927; The
Volcano, Batangas High School, 1927; The Toil, La Union Trade School, 1928; The Samarinian, Samar High
School, 1928; The Melting Pot, Tarlac High School, 1929; The Granary, Nueva Ecija High School, 1929; The
Torres Torch, Torres High School, 1930; and The Cagayan Student Chronicle, Cagayan High School, 1931.

Circular Letter no. 34 s. 1925 was the first noted regulation to support school papers in the country by
standardizing it. It was issued by the Bureau of Education (which became the Department of Education, Culture
and Sports and now, Department of Education). The Circular Letter was signed by the then Director Luther B.
Bewley.

Standardization of school papers gave rise to requirements. Basically, there were three.
The requirements were as follows:
1. A capable teacher available to supervise carefully all the steps for the paper’s production;
2. Sufficient finances to prevent compulsion in seeking subscriptions and to prevent financial
embarrassment to the faculty, and;
3. That a printer who has equipment to produce a creditable paper be available.

The Circular also tried to discourage publications with undesirable contents and materials, poor printing and
faulty English. On October 22, 1945, Acting Executive Officer of the Department of Instruction and Information,
John H. McBride sent a circular to all division superintendents quoting provisions from the Service Manual to
make sure of the following:

1. School papers should chiefly contain articles concerning school activities;

2. School papers should be free from advertisements;
3. School papers should be free from advertisements;
4. School papers should be free from questionable jokes;
5. School papers should be free from questionable cartoons;
6. School papers should be free from worthless poetry;
7. School papers should be free from worthless prose;

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 2

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin
8. School papers should bear contents that are written solely through students’ efforts (unless it were written by
a staff or a faculty member, and;
9. The assistance of a teacher must only be limited to criticisms.

BENEFITS OF CAMPUS JOURNALISM

a. It serves as a training ground for those who desire to pursue journalism or teaching it as a profession.
b. It acts as an instrument for keeping students and the faculty informed and updated about everything
they are ought to know.
c. It brings up matters that the school and its stakeholders should be concerned about or proud of.
d. It is an avenue for freedom of expression or of the press.

FOUR I’s of CAMPUS JOURNALISM

1. Inform - It is one of the key responsibilities of a campus journalist to inform the studentry and the institution
regarding school issues/concerns, events, and updates in a form of news, feature, editorials and columns and
the like.

Having said, Campus Journalism is a training ground for aspiring journalists who really wanted to pursue a career
in the media industry. Just like a media practitioner, Campus Journalists should embody transparency on sources
and methods so readers can make their own assessment of the information they read base from
the articles.

A commitment to the readers is an implied covenant with the audience and a foundation of the journalistic
business model – journalism provided “without fear or favor” is perceived to be more valuable than content from
other information sources.

2. Influence - Through published articles in a campus paper, it exerts indirect influence to a reader. Journalism,
in general, endeavors to sway the minds of the readers through the published articles, cartoons, and pictures as
they appear in a campus paper.
3. Interest - The most common justification that journalists make for their work is that it is “in the public interest.”
It is this notion that underscores the moral authority of journalism to ask hard questions of people in power, to
invade the privacy of others and to sometimes test the limits of ethical practice in order to discover the truth.

The public interest is not just what the readers, listeners or viewers want either as consumers or people who
want to be entertained.

It is about issues which affect everyone, even if many of them are not aware of it or even if they don’t appear to
care.

Normally, it is clear to journalists and editors what is and what is not in the public interest, but sometimes it’s a
complex question, particularly where privacy is concerned.

4. Inspire - Aside from informing the public on latest news and issues, campus journalism serves also as an
avenue to instill inspiration to the reader base from the articles published.

One concrete example of an inspiring story is a published news story about an 83-year old woman from Sta.
Rosa, Laguna, despite her age, recovered from the Coronavirus. This serves as a beacon of hope to the people
amidst the fear of death because of the pandemic.
In a campus journalism context, most inspiring stories are in the form of feature articles such as human interest.

The campus paper or newsletter is critically important in the following instances:

1. When there is a lack of outlet for the activities of the students in the campus.
2. If certain goals or programs must be promoted, particularly those will benefit the students.
3. If there is a need for a training ground for future journalists.
4. If the school administration wishes to have a conduit for continued dialogue with the student populace.

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 3

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin
3 REASONS WHY CAMPUS JOURNALISM IS IMPORTANT
(Published in Sun Star Cagayan de Oro, 5 October 2017)

Aside from the fact that campus journalism gives student journalists the opportunity to practice their craft and
share their thoughts and insights about certain issues, there are other reasons why it is important.

The Campus Journalism Act of 1999 is An Act Providing for the Development and Promotion of Campus
Journalism and for Other Purposes. It was created for several reasons:

- To uphold the freedom of the press at the campus level.

- To promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical
values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline
of the Filipino youth.

The act is also meant to help students improve technical skills in journalism, understand and practice the
responsibilities of a journalist, learn how to be responsible, and promote social awareness. It is also a good
venue for advocating educational development, as well as for voicing out students’ rights and promoting
their welfare.

Despite the fact that this has long been put into law, there are still some educational institutions that do not
follow it. There are several schools – quite a number of them, actually – that do not have school publications
or school papers. While they may have their own reasons, these institutions should remember that their
priority is the welfare and education of the students. Therefore, anything that can help advance students’
learning should be a major part of the school curriculum.

For those who do not yet understand the value of campus journalism, here are three important reasons why
it should be implemented in your school or educational institution.

1. Campus journalism helps students become more aware of what’s happening around them. They
learn how to become responsive and proactive citizens at a young age.

Additionally, it helps and trains students to become responsible. Student journalists are taught and trained
to practice fairness, balance, and truthfulness

2. Campus journalism provides students a voice. Student journalists can act as the messengers of
the student body. They can talk about issues, policies, and events that are essential to both the student
and the school administration.

School publications serve as a venue for students so their message can reach the proper school
authorities. Likewise, it is a way of bringing together and uniting the students, the faculty, and the
administration.

Also, campus journalism helps students to practice their freedom of expression.

3. Campus journalism helps students improve their skills in communication arts. The student
journalists are each given regular tasks – editing, writing, proofreading, and headline writing, among
others. As such, they are trained in various fields.

Aside from communication arts, these student journalists are also trained to manage the school paper;
something that they can put to good use after they graduate.

The young journalists also learn to delegate and to value teamwork. So campus journalism actually trains
them to become well-rounded individuals and members of society.

Schools that have not yet adopted or followed The Campus Journalism Act of 1991 should rethink their
plans and start working on organizing a campus journalism program. The benefits are aplenty - for both
the students and the institution.

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 4

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin
 Eighth Congress

REPUBLIC ACT No. 7079 July 5, 1991

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF CAMPUS JOURNALISM AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known and referred to as the "Campus Journalism Act of 1991."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to uphold and protect the freedom of the press
even at the campus level and to promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening
ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the
Filipino youth.In furtherance of this policy, the State shall undertake various programs and projects aimed at improving the
journalistic skills of students concerned and promoting responsible and free journalism.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. –

(a) School. – An institution for learning in the elementary, secondary or tertiary level comprised of the studentry,
administration, faculty and non-faculty personnel;

(b) Student Publication. – The issue of any printed material that is independently published by, and which meets
the needs and interests of, the studentry;

(c) Student Journalist. – Any bona fide student enrolled for the current semester or term, who was passed or met
the qualification and standards of the editorial board. He must likewise maintain a satisfactory academic standing.

(d) Editorial Board. – In the tertiary level, the editorial board shall be composed of student journalists who have
qualified in placement examinations. In the case of elementary and high school levels, the editorial board shall be
composed of a duly appointed faculty adviser, the editor who qualified and a representative of the Parents-Teachers'
Association, who will determine the editorial policies to be implemented by the editor and staff members of the
student publication concerned.

At the tertiary level, the editorial board may include a publication adviser at the option of its members.

(e) Editorial Policies. – A set of guidelines by which a student publication is operated and managed, taking into
account pertinent laws as well as the school administration's policies. Said guidelines shall determine the frequency
of the publication, the manner of selecting articles and features and other similar matters.

Section 4. Student Publication. – A student publication is published by the student body through an editorial board and
publication staff composed of students selected but fair and competitive examinations.

Once the publication is established, its editorial board shall freely determine its editorial policies and manage the
publication's funds.

Section 5. Funding of Student Publication. – Funding for the student publication may include the savings of the
respective school's appropriations, student subscriptions, donations, and other sources of funds.

In no instance shall the Department of Education, Culture and Sports or the school administration concerned withhold he
release of funds sourced from the savings of the appropriations of the respective schools and other sources intended for
the student publication. Subscription fees collected by the school administration shall be released automatically to the
student publication concerned.

Section 6. Publication Adviser. – The publication adviser shall be selected by the school administration from a list of
recommendees submitted by the publication staff. The function of the adviser shall be limited to one of technical guidance.

Section 7. Security of Tenure. – A member of the publication staff must maintain his or her status as student in order to
retain membership in the publication staff.A student shall not be expelled or suspended solely on the basis of articles he or
she has written, or on the basis of the performance of his or her duties in the student publication.

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 5

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin
Section 8. Press Conferences and Training Seminar. – The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall sponsor
periodic competitions, press conferences and training seminars in which student-editors/writers and teacher-adviser of
student publications in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels shall participate. Such competitions, conferences and
seminars shall be held at the institutional, divisional, and regional levels, culminating with the holding of the annual national
elementary, secondary or tertiary School Press Conferences in places of historical and/or cultural interest in the country.

Section 9. Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education, Culture and Sports, in coordination with the officers
of the national elementary, secondary or tertiary organizations or official advisers of student publications, together with
student journalists at the tertiary level and existing organizations of student journalists, shall promulgate the rules and
regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

Section 10. Tax Exemption. – Pursuant to paragraph 4, Section 4, Article XIV of the Constitution, all grants, endowments,
donations, or contributions used actually, directly and exclusively for the promotion of campus journalism as provided for in
this Act shall be exempt from donor's or gift tax.

Section 11. Appropriations. – For the initial year of implementation, the sum of Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) is
hereby authorized to be charged against the savings from the current appropriations of the Department of Education, Culture
and Sports. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

Section 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: July 5, 1991.

EDITORIAL BOARD IN CAMPUS PAPER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
● Supervises the editorial staff of the paper.
● Writes the editorials of the organ after consultation with the members of the editorial staff.
● Edits all articles preparatory to submission of the same to the moderators for final editing and approval for
publication.
● Supervises the preparation of the layout and dummying of the paper and paging of the same in cooperation
with the managing editor and layout artist.

MANAGING EDITOR
● Brings articles to the press for typesetting.
● Checks articles for typographical errors.
● Prepares the layout of the paper and paging of the same in consultation with the editor in chief
● Proofreads galley proofs before these are finally approved by the chief editor, then by the moderators for
printing.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR
● Edits the articles in cooperation with the editor in chief.
● Writes editorials of the organ when requested.
● Prepares assignments of section editors in consultation with the editor in chief.
● Cooperates in the preparation of the layout of the paper and paging of the same with the editor in chief and
managing editor.

COPY EDITOR
● Copy editors begin the editing process by fixing any grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors.
● They also double check that names, places and organizations are spelled properly and that facts, dates and
statistics are accurate. This may involve contacting writers' sources and conducting online research. Copy
editors also write headlines and subheads for articles and, depending on the publication, create page layouts
that consist of the placement of articles, photographs and advertisements.

NEWS EDITOR (SECTION EDITOR)

● Assigns reporters to cover events relevant to the school activities.

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 6

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin
● Writes news articles on assignment from the editor in chief or through his own initiative in consultation with
the latter.
● Edits all news articles received preparatory to submission of the same to the editor in chief then to the
moderators.

SPORTS EDITOR (SECTION EDITOR)

● Gives out assignments to reporters to cover sports events in which the school is a participant.
● Writes sports articles unassigned to reporters.
● Edits all sports news articles, received preparatory to submission of the same to the editor in chief.

LAYOUT ARTIST (SECTION EDITOR)

● Assigns or causes the assignment of the school's official photographer to take pictures on school's activities
for the month.
● Prepares pictorial articles of the organ in consultation with the managing editor and editor in chief.
● Writes the captions of pictures utilized by the paper in cooperation with the editor in chief
● Takes charge of the design of the magazine cover.
● Labels or properly identifies all pictures made available for publication.
● Helps in the preparation of the layout of pictorial stories.
● Makes illustrations for feature articles.

FEATURES / LITERARY EDITOR (SECTION EDITORS)

● Gives out assignments to feature writers
● Receives and edits feature articles preparatory to submission of the same to the editor in chief
● Writes regular articles or columns

REPORTERS/RESEARCHERS (SECTION EDITOR)

● Secures the cold and raw facts of an assigned event and writes an article out of the same.
● Receives assignments from the section editors and board of editors and accomplishes the same properly
and on time.

PHOTOJOURNALISTS (SECTION EDITOR)

● photographs, edits, and displays images in order to tell a visual story.

Learning Activities

Assessment/Evaluation

Synchronous Test with time limit.

Link for the quiz will be provided through our group chat. This is a synchronous test with a time
limit.

Assignment

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 7

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin
Learning Resources

Book/E-book:
● Journalism for Filipinos by Alito L. Malinao
● Campus and Community Journalism Handbook with Campus Journalism Act of 1991 and its Implementing
Rules and Regulations by Alito L. Malinao

Online resources:
● Augmenting Campus Journalism - PowerPoint Presentation by Myron Sta. Ana

San Mateo Municipal College Module 2 / MAJ06/ Page 8

College of Arts and Sciences Prepared by: Mr. John Francis G. Ducusin