10

Journalism (English)
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
[[

THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS

OF TV BROADCASTING

Journalism (English) 10
Journalism Learning Kit

Journalism (English) 10
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 TV Broadcasting Principles
First Edition, 2020

Published in the Philippines

By the Department of Education
Schools Division of Iloilo
Luna Street, La Paz, Iloilo City

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any
work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the
government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for
exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things,
impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

This Journalism Learning Kit is published to be utilized by the Schools

Division of Iloilo.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this learning resource may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical
without written permission from the Schools Division of Iloilo.

Development Team of Journalism Learning Kit

Writers: Edmelyn R. Melanday

Illustrators: Armand Glenn S. Lapor, Mark T. Dasa

Layout Artists:Lilibeth E. Larupay, Jun Victor F. Bactan, Ricky T. Salabe

Division Quality Assurance Team: Lilibeth E. Larupay, Dr. Ruby Therese P. Almencion
Armand Glenn S. Lapor, Darwin A. Haro
G.L. John C. Haro

Management Team: Ma. Gemma M. Ledesma, Dr. Josilyn S. Solana,

Dr. Elena P. Gonzaga, Donald T. Genine,
Dr. Paul Nestor M. Pingil, Dr. Roel F. Bermejo,
Dr. Nordy D. Siason, Jr. Dr. Lilibeth T. Estoque,
Dr. Azucena T. Falales, Ruben S. Libutaque, Lilibeth E. Larupay, Dr.
Ruby Therese P. Almencion

Journalism (English) 10
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 The Legal and Ethical Standards
of TV Broadcasting

BEGIN

In your previous lesson, you learned about

the Principles, Features and Process of TV
Broadcasting. By now, you must have already
realized that TV Broadcasting is a challenging
endeavor.
As a journalism student, you must not only
know the features of TV broadcasting or the
process and all equipment needed in the
production but you must also understand and
commit to its principles.These principles serve as
your guide as journalists in identifying the
’rightness’ or ‘wrongness’ of your action.
In this lesson, another important concept
that guides journalists will be presented. You are
about to learn the Legal and Ethical Standards of
TV Broadcasting.

TARGET

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. explain the legal and ethical standards of TV broadcasting. (SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)

Journalism (English) 10 1
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 TRY THIS

Directions: Let us check your prior knowledge. UNSCRAMBLE the letters below to
form a word. Clues in the form of definitions of each word are provided to help you!
Copy and answer on your Journalism (English) 10 notebook.

INMVARSETDEET 1. a public notice published over the air

CIENONNAVTOL 2. of traditional design
NNTNOIENAULVOC 3. being out of ordinary
TCBJOEVEI 4. expressing facts or conditions as perceived p
K without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices
p or interpretations
TOIIEPDBRH 5. something not permitted or forbidden by society
ERAECGNVI 6. a cause of distress felt to afford reason for
p complaint
ODELIAIRT 7. a newspaper or magazine that gives the opinions
p of the editors or publishers
NSELIOSSTANAMI 8. the use of sensational subject matter or treatment
MUORDEC 9. the conventions of polite behavior
IBLE 10. an act of publishing a statement that is untrue 1

DO THIS

ACTIVITY 1: DO TELL
Directions: Read and analyze the given situation. Imagine yourself as the journalist
involved. What will you do? Do this in your Journalism (English) 10 notebook.
John is new as news presenter. He was just recently hired in a local TV
station. He is currently dealing with a sensitive issue of abuse. If you are
John, what do you have to be careful with in terms of gathering information?
What about in delivering the news?

1
Definitions Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Journalism (English) 10 2
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 EXPLOREE

Great! You did a wonderful job in the

previous activity. Now let us connect your
responses to the following questions. Write
your answers in your Journalism (English)
10 notebook.

1. How do you find the first activity?

2. What advice or pieces of advice can you give John in dealing with the
situation?
3. How far do you think should reporters go to get a story?
4. How does this kind of situation challenge you as a journalist?
5. How can this activity help you in making decisions as journalist?

KEEP THIS IN MIND

You are doing great! This time, find out the things
to keep in mind when carrying out tasks like the one given
to John.
You are now all set for the discussion about the
Legal and Ethical Standard in TV Broadcasting.

The Legal and Ethical Standards of TV Broadcasting

Understanding the legal and ethical standards in the field of broadcasting

is a must. It guides and facilitates the actions of individuals in the organization
and keeps everything professional. It also keeps the organization on track in
achieving its aims.
Legal Standards

Legal standards are set by laws. In the field of broadcasting, several laws
in the country contain implications in the media industry.

Journalism (English) 10 3
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 a. In the Article III Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution, the following
sections support media action.

Section 4: Freedom of Expression

This implies that all people should have the right to express themselves in
writing or in any other way of expression of personal opinion or creativity. 2
Section 7 Freedom of Information
This right is important to free press, especially for situations where
journalists need to check information from the government for the
accuracy of their broadcast.

b. The following are laws taken from other legal sources. Journalists must be
careful not to commit any of these.
Article 154 of the Penal Code: Unlawful use of means of publication and
unlawful utterances
Libel is provided for in the same Penal Code (Articles 353 to 362). Libel
is a criminal offence that carries imprisonment when found guilty.
Libel is distinct from slander in that libel is the use of written or printed
word, or a picture, or an effigy. Slander, on the other hand, is an oral or
spoken defamation.3

Plagiarism is an act of using another person’s words or ideas as one’s

own without giving credit to the source.

Ethical Standards

Ethical standards make sure that news are gathered and delivered following a
set of moral principles.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (Association of Broadcasters

in the Philippines) is the leading media organization in the Philippines. It maintains a
code of ethics reflected in the organization’s Broadcast Code of the Philippines.

FAIRNESS AND OBJECTIVITY

News reports shall be presented in a fair, factual and objective manner.
Bribes/gifts/privileges that would lead to unfair reporting and broadcast are
prohibited. Side comments expressing personal opinions and insights while news is
being reported is also prohibited.

2
See Senate Bill No. 165
3
Ceciliano-Jose Cruz, “Ethics and Laws of the Press,” in Campus Journalism and School Paper Advising (Quezon
City: Rex Printing Company Inc., 2010), p. 254.

Journalism (English) 10 4
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 NEWS SOURCES
Rumors or gossips shall not be aired in the form of news. Only news that can
be traced to a reliable source shall be aired. If the source could not be identified by
the name, the reason shall be explained in the news report.

UNCONFIRMED REPORTS
Reports which are unconfirmed shall not be aired unless there is an
immediate or urgent need for the public to know. It must also be emphasized that the
said report is unconfirmed. Unconfirmed reports should be verified as soon as
possible and if the unconfirmed report turned out to be false, announcement must be
made.

NEWS INTERVIEWS
Interviews should be presented in appropriate and true context. Answers or
replies of the interviewee should not be edited or modified in a way that it would
change the intended meaning.

UNCONVENTIONAL NEWS GATHERING

Unconventional news gathering is the use of hidden cameras, microphones
and other similar devices and techniques. This news gathering technique should only
be used if the information wanted is crucial and traditional news gathering is
exhausted. This technique should only be used by experts and must still follow the
law. The right to privacy should be observed and harm to the innocent should be
avoided.
SENSATIONALISM
Morbid, violent, dramatic, or alarming details not necessary to a factual report
should not be aired so as not to create unnecessary panic or alarm to the public.

PERSONAL ATTACKS
Personal attacks (attacks honesty, integrity, and personal qualities) to person,
institution, more so to a fellow broadcaster and programs intended to unfairly criticize
a person on the matters that does not concern on public interest are prohibited.

CORRECTING MISTAKES
When a mistake is committed during broadcast, it must be identified and
corrected as soon as possible by stating the error and correction.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
News coverage should not violate nor interfere with an individual’s rights and
should not demean or humiliate him/her.

ON-AIR LANGUAGE
Vulgar, indecent or language that provokes violence, subversion or rebellion
shall be prohibited. More so, name-calling and personal insults are also prohibited.

Journalism (English) 10 5
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 SUM UP

You are almost done with this

module. You are now familiar with the legal
and ethical standards of TV broadcasting.
Now, let’s recap those important things you
have learned.

Legal and ethical standards are of utmost importance in the broadcasting

industry. The manner of gathering and reporting news must always follow the law
and moral principles.
It is the Philippine law that set the legal standards. The 1987 Constitution’s
Section 4 and Section 7 of the Article III Bill of Rights both support media action of
gathering news, and of creative expression. Unlawful use of means of publication
and unlawful utterances, libel, slander and plagiarism are unlawful acts and
punishable by law. Journalists must be careful not to commit such acts.
On the other hand, the ethical standards in broadcast media are set by the
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas in the Broadcast Code of the Philippines.
The broadcast code covers sections on fairness and objectivity in news gathering
and reporting, news sources, unconfirmed reports, news interviews, unconventional
news gathering, sensationalism, personal attacks, correcting mistakes, individual
rights and on-air language.
TV broadcasters must understand these standards to morally survive in the
profession.

APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

ACTIVITY 2: THINK ABOUT IT

Directions: Think about today’s TV broadcasting industry. If you are going to choose
three from the legal and ethical standards of which you believe as greatly
needed above the rest to improve broadcasting nowadays, what will be on
your list? Explain each and explain why it is on your list. Do this on your
Journalism (English) 10 notebook.

Journalism (English) 10 6
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 REFLECT

Well done! You have shown great

improvement after accomplishing all the tasks
in this lesson. This time you will reflect on your
REFLECT work and rate your confidence.

ACTIVITY 3: TIME TO REFLECT

Directions: Accomplish the infographic. Write your answers in your Journalism
(English) 10 notebook.

1thing I learned that will 5 words I learned

help me grow as a
journalist

2 questions I have in
mind

ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Directions: Read the statements carefully and write TRUE if the statement is
correct. If the statement is incorrect, write FALSE with a brief explanation why
it is such. Answer on your Journalism (English) 10 notebook.

1. Unconfirmed reports can be aired if there is an urgent need for the

public to know it.
2. Side comments about personal feelings about the issue while
presenting the news is encouraged to provoke the viewers for their own
opinion.
3. Violent details that are not necessary to a factual report and might
cause panic or alarm should not be aired.
4. Freedom of information gives the media the right to get information
from witnesses.
5. Unconfirmed reports can be aired if there is an urgent need to inform
the public.

Journalism (English) 10 7
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)
 GLOSSARY

ethics -n. a set of moral principles

legal -adj. conforming to or permitted by law or established rules
standard -n. A standard, on the other hand, is an agreed way of doing

ANSWER KEY

Try This
1. ADVERTISEMENT 2. CONVENTIONAL 3. UNCONVENTIONAL
4. OBJECTIVE 5. PROHIBITED 6. GRIEVANCE
7. EDITORIAL 8. SENSATIONALISM 9. DECORUM 10. LIBEL

Assess What You Have Learned

1. TRUE 2. FALSE… 3. TRUE 4. FALSE… 5. TRUE

REFERENCES

Broadcast Code of The Philippines (amended 2011)

Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose. “Ethics and Laws of the Press.” Essay. In Campus Journalism and
School Paper Advising, 254. Quezon City: Rex Printing Company Inc., 2010.

Tamayao, Michael Jhon M. “BILL OF RIGHTS.” Law, Politics, and Philosophy, August
21, 2014. https://tamayaosbc.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/bill-of-rights/.

Teodoro, Luis, and Dini Widiastuti. “Freedom of Expression and the Media in the
Philippines.” Edited by Debra Long and Luitgard Hammerer. article19.org,
December 2005. https://www.article19.org/data/files/pdfs/publications/philippines-
baseline-study.pdf.

“Revised Penal Code.” Act No. 3815. Accessed August 9, 2020.

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/acts/act_3815_1930.html.

Journalism (English) 10 8
Competency: Explain the Legal and Ethical Standards of TV broadcasting
(SPJ10ETH-Ia-3)