Question & AnswerQ&A (DECS ORDER NO. 94, S. 1992)
They are officially called the Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, or "RULES" for short.
The State policy is to uphold and protect the freedom of the press even 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 among Filipino youth.
A student journalist is any bona fide student enrolled for the current semester or term who has passed qualification and standards of the editorial board and maintains satisfactory academic standing.
There are three categories: elementary level student publication, secondary level student publication, and tertiary level student publication.
They include training students in communication and journalistic skills, promoting responsible journalism, supporting educational development, fostering leadership and citizenship, unifying school community, advocating social consciousness, and advancing students' rights and welfare.
Public schools may use publication fees, savings from appropriations, donations, grants, and advertisements. Private schools may use publication fees, donations, grants, and advertisements. Publication fees are collected during enrollment, and funds are automatically released to the student publication staff.
Selection is via competitive examinations prepared and supervised by a committee of the school administration, faculty member, mass media practitioner, and past editors chosen by the outgoing editorial board.
Student staff members must maintain satisfactory academic standing to remain on the staff and cannot be expelled or suspended solely due to articles written or their journalistic duties performance.
The faculty adviser is selected by the school administration from recommendations by the publication staff and provides technical guidance to the student publication.
Violations are subject to administrative and criminal penalties following due process of law. Misuse of student publication funds can lead to administrative and/or criminal action against the violators.