Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7079)
The title of Republic Act No. 7079 is the "Campus Journalism Act of 1991."
The declared policy of the State is to uphold and protect the freedom of the press at the campus level and to promote the development and growth of campus journalism to strengthen ethical values, encourage critical and creative thinking, and develop moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth.
A student publication is any printed material independently published by, and which meets the needs and interests of, the studentry.
A bona fide student enrolled for the current semester or term who has passed or met the qualifications and standards of the editorial board and maintains a satisfactory academic standing is considered a student journalist.
At the tertiary level, the editorial board is composed of student journalists who have qualified in placement examinations and may include a publication adviser at the option of its members.
Editorial policies are a set of guidelines by which a student publication is operated and managed, taking into account pertinent laws and school administration policies, including the frequency of publication and selection of articles.
Funding may come from the savings of the respective school's appropriations, student subscriptions, donations, and other sources. The Department of Education and the school administration must not withhold release of funds sourced from school appropriations, and subscription fees collected must be automatically released to the student publication.
The publication adviser, selected by the school administration from a list submitted by the publication staff, provides technical guidance only.
A student shall not be expelled or suspended solely based on articles they have written or their performance in student publication duties, and must maintain their student status to retain membership on the publication staff.
The Department sponsors periodic competitions, press conferences, and training seminars for student-editors/writers and teacher-advisers at elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels, culminating in an annual national School Press Conference.
The Department of Education, Culture and Sports, in coordination with national organizations or advisers of student publications and student journalists, promulgates rules and regulations necessary for effective implementation.
No, all grants, endowments, donations, or contributions actually, directly, and exclusively used for the promotion of campus journalism are exempt from donor's or gift tax.
Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) from the savings of the current appropriations of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports is authorized for the initial year, with subsequent amounts included in the General Appropriations Act.
The Act took effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation after its approval on July 5, 1991.