TOP ACHIEVERS PRIVATE SCHOOL, INC.

Alicia; Cauayan; Santiago; Roxas; Solano; Ilagan

“The School of the Future”
Module in Campus Journalism

Month of August

CHAPTER 1: Foundational Concepts on Journalism

TOPIC 1: Definition of Journalism

The process of obtaining, documenting, confirming, and disseminating information of public interest is
known as journalism. While these broad responsibilities have remained constant throughout history, the
specifics of the journalistic process have changed along with the ways that information is gathered, shared, and
used. Writing for newspapers or magazines is known as journalism. It is the dissemination of knowledge
through written content in newspapers and periodicals. People are naturally curious about news and novel
things. By writing about news and current events in newspapers and journals, journalists satiate this curiosity.

TOPIC 2: Scope and Nature of Journalism

Journalism derives its name from the Latin word “diurnal”, which means daily. The term "journal"
refers to a daily log of one's activities, which is why it exists. Journalism, then, is the dissemination of everyday
information using words, images, and/or sounds. Newspapers, magazines, radios, televisions, and the internet
are just a few of the media outlets where journalism may be found.

The most established and conventional medium for journalism inclusion is newspapers. They are
published on a regular basis and include news about current affairs, educational pieces, a variety of features, and
advertisements. In fact, the word "journalism" originates from the original form of newspapers, which were
called "journals." American journalists relied heavily on sensational stories in the 19th century, hoping to
enrage or thrill readers instead of educating them. "Yellow" journalism is the term used to describe this type of
journalism. It was during World War II that the restrained style of writing experienced a resurgence, leading to
an increase in the popularity of fact-based and accurate reporting.

Newspapers contributed significantly to the growth of free speech. Insiders who possess the ability to
"leak" stories to the media frequently prioritize newspapers over other media outlets because they believe their
editors are more inclined to reveal dishonesty and corruption within otherwise reputable establishments.

Magazine, on the other hand, are publications that feature a range of articles and are typically released on a
weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. Generally speaking, they adopt a far more laid-back format and write in a
more casual tone than newspapers. Additionally, they are typically narrowly focused, whereas newspaper
articles can cover a wide range of topics. The Gentleman's Magazine, which debuted in London in 1731, is
credited as being the first general-interest publication. Edward Cave, the editor (writing under the pen name
"Sylvanus Urban") was among the first people to use the term "magazine."

Television news journalism, including radio,is produced locally in a newsroom or by a broadcast

network and is referred to as news broadcasting. Occasionally, it also includes extra content that the broadcaster
deems pertinent to the target audience, such as sports coverage, traffic reports, weather forecasts, and
commentary. Throughout the day, the majority of major television networks regularly broadcast newscasts.

Internet communications have, of course, excelled in the last ten or so years when it comes to the
publication of news. From the comfort of their laptops, hundreds of digitized movements provide stories
through media. As a result, people can now more easily find opinions and obtain a more balanced perspective
than in the past by looking up the same story from several sources. These allow journalism to have a very broad
scope because nearly all forms of media can now be used.

TOPIC 3: Journalism versus Literature

Both literature and journalism are written genres that the general public reads and have similar styles. They
might follow certain guidelines. The rambling imagination of a writer is the foundation of literature. It is
divided into poetry and prose categories. The primary genres of journalism, on the other hand, are features,
editorial, and news. Journalistic genres adhere to a rigid structure of segmenting ideas into paragraphs, whereas
literary works take on a multitude of forms and styles. Writer Jonas, for example, would like to write a ghost
story. Now that the ghosts are beginning to materialize in his imagination, he crafts a story with a conflict, a
climax, and a resolution. Jonas is penning a work of literature. Marla, on. the other hand, also writes about
ghosts. However, before she starts writing about them, she interviews persons who have allegedly seen them.
The appearance of ghosts, including the persons' beliefs about them, is written into an entertaining way. Hence,
the output is packed with facts

In this case, Jonas writes a literature, a short story in particular while Marla does the feature story, a journalistic
article. Jonas writes based on his imagination while Marla writes based on facts.

TOPIC 4: Tenets of Journalism

Going into the road of journalism entails not only knowledge but also responsibilities. Hence, their journalists
are bound by strict guidelines. Journalists have rights, but they must bear on shoulders the duties to serve the
interest of the public.

1. Responsibility. Journalists should always be aware of their obligations to their readers to write the truth
whatever it costs. For this reason, journalists must be brave enough to defend facts and the truth behind the
news. In this sense, the journalists' main responsibility is to be the transmitter of veracity in any issue, and that
they are liable not to the company but to the public.

2. Freedom of the Press. As a basic right, freedom of the press should be safeguarded by the people
of media. In this case, any topic under the sweltering heat of the sun land may be written so long as there is no
infraction to the existing laws of the land.

3. Independence. Putting forward the life of one or two persons by slashing the welfare of the general
public is a clear violation of this tenet. It, therefore, means that the services of a journalist should be committed
to the interest of the general public and not driven by the interest of money called “envelopmental journalism.”

4. Objectivity, Truthfulness, and Accuracy. Checking the veracity of data and information
before they are not published is an example of being accurate and truthful. Since facts are the solid foundation
of journalism, media men should not therefore conceal the truth by fabricating facts and by publishing
misquoted statements and erroneous statistics.

Objectivity, on the other hand, is simply avoiding conflicts of interest on the treatment of the articles and
on the way arguments and news are written. Partisan news and biased interviews violate the ideals of
journalism; ergo, a journalist should know the difference between news and opinion. Readers and journalists
alike, believe that newspapers should be objective. Thus, reporters receive training from those who know
journalistic rules, and learn to resolve whatever conflict they may have.

Teel and Taylor (1983), as cited by Pangilinan (2012), suggested guidelines to attain a balanced story
whenever journalists face controversial issues.
a. Stick to the facts.
b. Never insert your personal opinion.
c. Be discreet in the use of adjectives.
d. Avoid cheap shots.
e. Somebody with something to say deserves a forum.
f. Assess your alliances. Remember that you are an observer, not a participant.
g. Listen to your editor.

5. Fairness. The whole point in advocating objectivity is to be fair in presenting information in any
journalistic field. Remember, the public will see the topic according to the way journalists present it; hence
reporters should exercise telling the truth and putting the information in the right perspective. In this vein,
journalists should always present both sides of the coin, both sides of the argument, both sides of controversial
issues. They should set both avenues for the opposing parties to ventilate their arguments and points of
clarification. With this in mind, journalists, too, must respect the privacy of individuals unless, there is a warrant
of a public right. In case there is a mistake, true journalists should rectify the error, thus the errata in
newspapers.

TOPIC 5: Functions and Duties of the Press

 If you have fully made up your mind to go into the path of journalism and the media, you have to be
acquainted with your vast roles and primordial functions.

1. The quality of the newspaper must be reflected in the editorial policy. It is more than just a business because
it also reflects and influences the life of the whole academic community.

2. Newspapers must have integrity and readers' confidence.

3. Newspapers may educate, stimulate, assist or entertain. It is therefore a moral responsibility to balance public
interest and the gains.

4. The fundamental quality of the newspaper rests on the quality of the content and the kind of editorial product.
It is responsible for the rise of the readers' educational level and resurgence of an articulate, active young
generation.

5. Freedom of the press encompasses responsibility of the newspapers. Freedom of the press and responsibility
are inseparable. Responsibility of the press means truth in the news - truth tempered with mercy, decency and
humility.

6. The press must practice the principles of journalism without bias and self-interest.

TOPIC 6: Responsibilities of a Campus Writer

The Duties of a Journalist
The journalist who gathers, selects, edits, interprets and comments on information is ruled by general principles
of fairness in his or her honest treatment of sources (the people with whom he or she is talking) and the public.
The journalist’s duties are:

1. To seek out the truth, in the interests of the public’s right to know, whatever the consequences to him- or
herself;

2. To defend freedom of information, freedom of commentary and criticism, and the independence and dignity
of the journalistic profession;

3. Not to publish information, documents, images or sound recordings of which the origin is unknown to the
journalist. Not to suppress information or any essential elements of a story. Not to misrepresent any text,
document, image or sound recording, nor people’s expressed opinions. If information is unconfirmed to clearly
say so. To indicate when photo- graphic and/or sound material has been combined to make a montage;

4. Not to use dishonest methods to obtain information, recordings, images or documents. Not to manipulate
them, or have them manipulated by a third party with a view to falsification. To prohibit plagiarism in not
passing off the work or ideas of others as one’s own;

5. To rectify any published information that is revealed to be factually incorrect;

6. To respect professional secrecy and not reveal the source of any information obtained in confidence;

7. To respect peoples’ privacy in so far as the public interest does not demand otherwise. To disregard
anonymous or unfounded accusations;

8. In respecting human dignity, the journalist must avoid any allusion by text, image or sound to a person’s
ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation as well as to any illness or physical or mental
handicap that could be discriminatory in character. The reporting of war, acts of terrorism, accidents and
catastrophes by means of text, image and sound should respect the victims’ suffering and the feelings of their
loved ones;

9. Not to accept any advantage nor any promise that could limit his or her professional independence or
expression of opinion;
10. To avoid as journalists any form of commercial advertising; and never to accept conditions laid down by
advertisers directly or indirectly; and

11. To take journalistic directives only from designated editorial superiors; and to respect those directives only
when they are not contrary to this declaration.

The Rights of a Journalist

Full respect by journalists of the duties articulated above requires that they enjoy, at the minimum, the
following rights:

I. Free access to all sources of information and the right to investigate without impediment anything that is in
the public interest. Public or private confidentiality can only be invoked against the journalist in exceptional
circumstances and with the provision of clearly-defined reasons.

II. The right not to act in any way nor express any opinion that is contrary to professional rules or personal
conscience. As a result, journalists should not suffer any prejudice.

III. The right to refuse any directive or interference that is contrary to the general policy of the organisation with
which he or she is collaborating. This policy must be communicated in writing before the journalist’s
employment. It cannot be modified or revoked unilaterally under pain of breach of contract.

IV. The right to transparency as to the ownership of the company for which the journalist works. The right of a
member of an editorial team to be informed in time, and to be heard before, any decision that affects the future
of the company. In particular, members of the editorial staff must be informed and heard before final decisions
determining the com- position or organization of the editorial department.

V. The right to adequate and continuous professional training.

VI. The right to benefit from work conditions guaranteed by a collective agreement, including the right to be
active in professional organizations without suffering discrimination.
VII. The right to benefit from an individual employment contract guaranteeing material and moral security. In
particular, an appropriate remuneration – corresponding to the journalist’s function, responsibilities and social
role – should ensure his or her economic independence.

TOPIC 7: Killers of Balanced Reporting

There are worthy concepts that novice journalists must be wary about. Concepts that kill balanced
reporting must be avoided.

Yellow Journalism. This is simply sensationalizing a story or an issue. It is a type of journalism that
presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more
newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering or sensationalism. Most
showbiz stories are grounded on this type of journalism which appeals to the curiosity of the readers and
viewers.
New Journalism. The new journalists expanded the definition of journalism and of legitimate journalistic
reporting and writing techniques. They also associated journalism with fiction when they described their work
with phrases such as "nonfiction novel" and "narrative techniques of fiction." In doing so, they ignited a debate
over how much like a novel or short story a journalistic piece could be before it began violating journalism's
commitment to truth and facts. This approach represents a return to the roots of social reporting which was used
in Charles Dickens' fiction.
Advocacy Journalism. This is a genre of journalism that, unlike propaganda, is fact-based but supports a
specific point of view on an issue. Advocacy journalists are expected to focus on stories dealing with corporate
business practices, government policies, political corruption and social issues. Arguably, advocacy journalists
serve the public interest in a way similar to muckrakers or whistle blowers. Most advocacy journalists reject the
supposed objectivity of the mainstream press as a practical impossibility, and some others take the position that
the economic censorship exerted by corporate sponsors is no different from political censorship.
Stylistic Journalism. It emphasizes imaginative, stylized writing of stories and considers newspapers as
"the literature of immediate fact."
Editorializing. This is giving the reporter's opinion rather than the fact. It may also mean the expanding of
news about an insignificant happening to give publicity to a subject.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESS

1. Newspapers must maintain integrity and readers' trust.

2. Newspapers have a moral responsibility to balance public interest and gain.
3. The press must report truthfully, with decency and humility.
4. The press must practice journalism without bias or self-interest.

The Limits of the Press

Journalists may not have enough time to thoroughly research and present all perspectives, leading to
incomplete or inaccurate reporting. Additionally, the press can be vulnerable to manipulation by powerful
individuals and organizations. Readers must critically analyze articles and ask questions to fill in gaps.

TOPIC 8: National Newspapers And Campus Newspaper

NEWSPAPER - Is a printed publication which is published and sold at regular intervals.

MAIN PURPOSE:
To provide news for its readers
To explain what the news means so it prints comments and suggestions
To entertain and teach with photographs, cartoons, and other interesting features

TYPES OF NEWSPAPER
DAILY: published everyday
WEEKLY: published every week
NATIONAL paper: one that can be bought easily anywhere in the country
Two Categories:
Popular papers - easy to read articles and many photographs
Heavy or Quality papers - with serious subjects and longer articles about the subject matter

CAMPUS PAPER
• It is the version of the national newspaper within an academic institution.
• It is a free newspaper of the students to circulate within the academic community.

WHAT SHOULD GO INTO THE CAMPUS PAPER?

Campus Journalism serves as a means to strengthen the ethical values and to encourage the creative and
critical thinking of the Filipino youth. It also helps developing the personal discipline and moral character of the
young.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAMPUS JURNALISM

This history of campus journalism is penned by Alixander Haban Escote (August 28,2008). 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 Colegio Folio, now the Philippine Colegian, 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.

AID TO STUDENTS:
a. Provides opportunity for interesting writing
b. Gives students the opportunity to learn to read the newspapers
c. Acts as stimulus to better work
d. Develops students power of observation and discrimination concerning relative merits of news articles
e. Serves as outlet and motivation for journalistic writing
f. Offers training in organizations, business methods, commercial arts, salesmanship, bookkeeping and business
management
g. Develops qualities of cooperation, tact, accuracy, tolerance, responsibility and leadership

AID TO SCHOOL:
a. Informs the community of the work of the school
b. Publishes school news
c. Creates and expresses school opinions
d. Makes known the achievements of the school
e. Helps unify the school
f. Encourages and stimulates worthwhile activities
g. Develops right standard of conduct
h. Provides an outlet for student’s suggestions for the betterment of the school
i. Develops better interschool relationship
j. Develops school spirit
k. Develops cooperation between the parents and the school

OTHER FUNCTION OF JOURNALISM

INFORMATION FUNCTION
This is the function of the news in the campus paper - to inform. Information dissemination is the main purpose
of the campus paper and it gives the readers information concerning the things around the community and
within the school.

OPINION FUNCTION
Through the editorials and editorial columns, editors have the chance to post their opinion regarding current
events inside the school and the community. The main purpose for this is to persuade the reader toward a certain
point of view.

EDUCATION FUNCTION
This is one of the primodial functions of a campus paper. Since students and teachers alike are expected to read
the school paper, which showcases topics that may be intensively and extensively discussed, the reading public
may somehow be educated.

WATCHDOG FUNCTION.
The school paper serves as the harbinger of truth in the campus.

LABORATORY FUNCTION
The school paper, as discussed previously, is a miniature version of the daily newspaper where all rights and
privileges, including the concepts and skills in journalism are practiced.

DOCUMENTATION FUNCTION
The paper also serves as posterity tool of worthy and must-be-remembered occasions in the campus. This is
why, many school publications practice submitting more than one copy to the campus library and to the archive
section so that the paper becomes an evidence of what transpired in such a semester, a school year or a grading
period.

ENTERTAINMENT FUNCTION
As a mini version of the national newspapers, where entertainment section exists, the school paper likewise
showcases feature stories. It is used to stimulate the soul and to feed the brain at the same time.

DEVELOPMENTAL FUNCTION
In a developing country like the Philippines, scholastic and commercial journalism have been given greater and
nobler significance.