Board reminds media to uphold Code of Ethics

CEBU, Philippines - In line with the celebration of the 20th Cebu Press Freedom Week and the Broadcasters’ Month, the Provincial Board has passed a resolution encouraging media practitioners to uphold the Journalist’s Code of Ethics.

The approved resolution, sponsored by Board member Miguel Antonio Magpale, further recognized the role of the media in the observance to the right to free speech and information.

The resolution cited Article 2 Section 24 of the Philippine Constitution which declares the policy of the state in recognizing the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.

“The province recognizes the role of Cebuano media practitioners, may it be in print or broadcast, in the dissemination of truthful and germane information for the listening and viewing Cebuanos,” part of the resolution said.

Magpale, in his resolution, also noted that some media practitioners committed errors, “be they in form or substance, which adversely affect the integrity and credibility of the news.”

The first provision in the Journalist’s Code of Ethics of the Philippine Press Institute states that journalist shall “scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts and nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis and recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.”

The resolution also mentioned the last provision of the Code which mandated journalists to comport themselves in public while performing their duties so as to maintain the dignity of their profession.

 The 20th Press Freedom Week officially kicked off Sunday, along with the commemoration Martial Law declaration in the country.

The event started with the Press Freedom Walk in the morning from Fuente Osmeña going to the University of San Carlos Cultural Center where the opening program was held.

Meanwhile, the PB has also renewed the accreditation of the Cebu Newspaper Workers Foundation as a civil society organization in the province.

CENEWOF was established in 1980 by some of the prominent journalists in Cebu: Lawyer Pachico Seares and Concepcion Gantuangco Briones.

The foundation has undertaken projects in an effort to enhance and improve the professional standard and welfare of workers in the print media industry.  (FREEMAN)