Republic of the Philippines

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY

Carmona Campus

MODULE ON
BSEE40:
CAMPUS
JOURNALISM

Prepared:
Maria Rizalyn C. Flores
Instructor
Department of Teacher Education
PREFACE

This learning module has been created to support and provide the students of
Cavite State University a learning material that will enable them to study on their own
in this time of pandemic. Given the situation whereas classes are being held online,
this learning material will definitely be helpful for it will provide instructions, activities
and lessons that are easy to understand even without the help of your instructor.

As a student of BSEE40 – Campus Journalism, this module will guide you with
the lessons to be discuss for this semester, academic year 2020-2021. All the
activities, exercises, examinations and lessons are already provided for easier
learning. The ideas and contents came from various resources to ensure that you will
deeply understand this specialized subject.

There will be seven units for this module. Instructions are provided on each unit
for you to be guided properly. In order to achieve the intended learning outcome of this
course, you must finish all the examinations, exercises and additional readings.

This module focuses on honing your journalistic skills that will help you
progress, win and attain high mark in journalism. This will also help you in cultivating
the craft of journalistic writing.

Composed of seven units, this module will specifically discuss the link between
journalism and campus paper, the journalistic writing skills and campus publication. It
will give you an overview about journalism that will make you familiar with terms and
concepts of campus paper before proceeding with the tips and techniques in
journalistic writing. You will definitely learn how to write a news article, a feature article,
an editorial article/column and a sports article.

This module offers basketful of writing opportunities that will ensure learning
and great understanding about the course.

May you find this module interesting and informative.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Your instructor for this course is MARIA RIZALYN C. FLORES, LPT. She is a faculty
member under the Department of Teacher Education teaching English subjects. She
has been an instructor of Cavite State University – Carmona Campus since 2019.

You can contact her through:

Email: [email protected]
Messenger: Maria Rizalyn Flores
Phone no: 09060361899
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unit 1 FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS ON JOURNALISM

1.1 Definition of Journalism
1.2 Why study Journalism?
1.3 Scope and Nature of Journalism
1.4 Tenets of Journalism
1.5 Journalism VS Literature
1.6 Functions and Duties of the Press
1.7 Limitations of the Press
1.8 Campus Journalism Act of 1991
Unit 2 THE OVERVIEW OF CAMPUS PAPER AND PUBLICATION STAFF
2.1 The National Newspaper S the Campus Paper
2.2 Significance of the Campus Paper
2.3 Parts of the Campus Paper
Unit 3 THE NEWS: A BACKGROUNDER
3.1 Understanding News
3.2 Characteristics of Good News
3.3 Types of News Story
3.4 Sources of News
3.5 Rules of the Thumb in News Gathering
3.6 Handling Interview in News Gathering
Unit 4 CRAFTING THE GOOD LEAD AND WRITING THE NEWS STORY
4.1 The Lead
4.2 Classification of Lead
4.3 Rules of Thumb in Lead Writing
4.4 News Writing
Unit 5 CREATING FEATURE ARTICLES
5.1 Concept and Nature of Feature Article
5.2 Characteristics of Feature Stories
5.3 Types of Feature Stories
5.4 The Effective Feature Writer
5.5 Sources of Feature Articles
5.6 Stages of Writing
5.7 Writing the Feature Story
Unit 6 BATTLE OF OPINIONS: WRITING EDITORIALS AND COLUMNS
6.1 Definition and Concept of an Editorial
6.2 Characteristics of an Editorial
6.3 Functions of Editorial
6.4 Types of Editorial
6.5 Editorial Structure
6.6 Duties of an Editorial Writer
6.7 Tips ang Guidelines in Writing your Editorial
6.8 Nature and Concept of Column Writing
6.9 Tips in Writing a Column
Unit 7 CREATING SPORTS NEWS
7.1 Structure of the Sports Story
7.2 Type of Sports Story
7.3 Qualities of a Good Sportswriter
7.4 Writing the Sports Story
 UNIT I
FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS
ON JOURNALISM

1.1 Definition of Journalism

1.2 Why study Journalism?
1.3 Scope and Nature of Journalism
1.4 Tenets of Journalism
1.5 Journalism VS Literature
1.6 Functions and Duties of the Press
1.7 Limitations of the Press
1.8 Campus Journalism Act of 1991
INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to the first module of Campus Journalism (BSEE40). This module

emphasized the basic concepts on Journalism.
Campus Journalism is a course that examines the practices, methods and
impact of journalism. The main attention will be on reporting and writing: How others
have done it, what works and what doesn’t. There will be a number of workshops
during the seminar sessions to show the students how to improve story drafts and
expose the students to best practices in journalism. In addition, this course promotes
the development and growth of campus journalism as a means to strengthen ethical
values, encourage creative thinking, and develop moral character and personal
discipline among the students. Moreover, it encourages and train students on how to
produce and manage a school paper.

This module is specifically designed to tackle and discuss an overview about

journalism including its definition, importance and its scope and nature. This also
introduces the tenets of journalism, the freedom of the press, its functions, duties and
limitations. This will also highlight the Philippine Campus Journalism Act of 1991.

This module is designed to introduce you the basic terminologies and

ideologies that you will be needing to further understand the concept of Campus
Journalism.
 OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of the module, you (student) are aimed to:

a. Create their own definition of journalism

b. Identify the importance of Journalism
c. Determine the scope and limitations of Journalism and its elements
d. Uphold the tenets of journalism and the freedom of the press
e. Articulate the Philippine Campus Journalism Act of 1991

INSTRUCTION TO THE USER:

• This module is intended for students of Campus Journalism (BSEE40).

• Before you begin this module, you are required to answer the pretest which is made
to measure your familiarity with the concepts about the topic. Make sure to answer
it first before proceeding to the next step.
• Once you completed answering the pretest, kindly check the table on how you will
be evaluated. Follow the instruction given on Scoring.
• After completing the previous steps, you are now ready to study and learn the topic
in this module. Please read and analyze the lessons carefully. Explanations are
simplified for effective comprehension.
• Consult your instructor when you have a problem or difficulty regarding the module
which you cannot solve by yourself. You may send your query on your Google class
or thru e-mail.
• After the completion of this module, answer the post test and submit this to your
instructor.
• Now, you are ready for the next module!
PRETEST:

TRUE OR FALSE. On the space provided below each item, write TRUE when the
statement is factual and FALSE when it is erroneous.

__________1. Journalism is concerned on accumulating factual information, thus

disregarding opinions of other persons.
__________2. Being in the press means business and therefore be driven by wealth
and money.
__________3. Responsibility in the media requires reporting the truth and ensuring
that statements are quoted exactly.
__________4. Independence of a journalist’s value is equated to envelopmental
journalism/.
__________5. Freedom of the press encompasses responsibility in news reporting.
As truth becomes the foreground of journalism.

Scoring
Compare your answers to the answer key below. Assign 1 point to every correct
answer. Add all your points and compare it to the scores below:

Raw Score Remarks

5 Very Good! You are well-informed on the topic. You may

review the lessons just for fun.

4 Good! You know the topic quite well. You can still refresh your
knowledge by reviewing this module.

2-3 Not bad! Relax and browse through the pages at your own
pace. You can still improve your scores.

0-1 Do not worry! This module is really intended for you. You have
got the time to improve your score.
Answer Key:

1. False
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
LESSON PROPER:

1.1 DEFINITION
Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating and presenting news
and information.

Robert Niles stated that journalism is a form of writing that tells people about
things that really happened, but that they might not have known about already. People
who write journalism are called "journalists." They might work at newspapers,
magazines, websites or for TV or radio stations.

According to Bond F. Fraser, journalism is something that embraces all forms

in which and through which the news and comments on the news reach the public. All
that happens in the world that hold interest for the public, and all the thought, actions,
and ideas which these happening stimulate become the materials for journalists.
Therefore, these happenings are considered the subject to journalism.

Leslie Stephens stated that “Journalism consists of writing for pay on matters
of which you are ignorant.”
Eric Hodgins of Time Magazine defines it as, “Journalism is the conveying of
information from here to there with accuracy, insight and dispatch and in such a
manner that the truth is served and the rightness of things is made slowly, even if not
immediately, more evident”.
The word journalism is derived from Journal which means a daily register or a
diary. Today the word journal also connotes a newspaper, published every day or even
less often or a magazine. Thus, Journalism is about. The communication of information
regarding the events of a day through written words, sounds or pictures. And a
journalist is a person who writes for or conducts a newspaper or a magazine. He is
also called a press man.
Therefore, we may define journalism as the act of gathering and presenting
news and information. The term 'journalism' also refers to the news and information
itself. It's important to notice the variety of information media today. The news and
information can be presented in many different ways, including articles, reports,
broadcasts, or even tweets.
1.2 WHY STUDY JOURNALISM?
Journalism serves many different roles. Foremost, it serves to inform the public
of the happenings in the world. It's an open medium, meaning the intended audience
includes the entire community or public. Once the journalist reports the information -
or sends the communication - that information is available to anyone wishing to receive
it.
For that reason, journalism is an essential component in a democratic society.
The freer the society, the more news and information is available to the public. Citizens
tend to be well-informed on issues affecting their communities, government, and
everyday dealings. On the other hand, some countries allow only limited access to
independent news sources and almost no access to the Internet. The vast majority of
news and information comes from the official agencies which reports mainly on
statements from the political leadership. This leaves citizens with only one, filtered
point of view.

According to Torry Pedersan, Chairman of Schibsted’s Media Houses in

Norway and former publisher of VG, Journalism is there to shed light on what someone
wants to keep in the dark, to challenge postulates from those given or seeking power,
to inform the citizens about whether the management of our common resources are
good or bad, or to put it precisely: to empower the informed.
We must be aware the importance of breadth and depth in our reporting, and
consciously expose stories which is evaluated also by other criteria than popularity and
likes to upheld our ability to fulfil this honorable goal. We must expose reality more
than reality shows.
And we must be even more aware of the need to report precisely. The more
informed the citizens are the better decisions we can reach, the more exposed
mismanagement and abuse of power are, the more the unspoken are given a voice,
the more we showcase the conditions for the weakest, the better the democracy.”
1.3 SCOPE AND NATURE

Before writing journalistic articles, you must have first a basic understanding of
the scope and nature of journalism. Huge as it is, Journalism is everywhere, just as
media takes an integral part in all of our lives..

Journalism is one of the most prestigious careers one can get today. The tools
of communication vary in different forms such as television, printed media and radio.
One of the recent additions to these tools is the internet. Many students are getting
attracted to journalism nowadays because a career in journalism can be challenging
as well as highly rewarding.

Journalism is concerned with the collection and dissemination of news through

the print media as well as the electronic media. This involves various of work like
reporting, writing, editing, photographing, broadcasting or cable casting news items.

Journalism came from the latin word “diurnal” which means daily – the reason
why there is a word journal which is a daily register of someone’s activities. Therefore,
journalism is a communication of day-to-day information, whether through sounds,
pictures and words.

The following are some of the places where journalism can be found:

a. Newspapers.
• The oldest and the most traditional format.
• Regularly scheduled publications containing news of current events,
informative articles, diverse features and advertising.
• Played an important role in the development of freedom of expression. Inside
sources with the ability to leak stories to the press often choose newspapers
due to perceived willingness of their editors to expose corruption and lies
among institutions.
b. Magazines.
• Publications containing a variety of articles that are generally published on a
regular schedule (weekly, monthly or quarterly)
• More relaxed format with more informal style to their writing
• Focused on particular subject or area of interest
c. Televisions news Journalism, including radio
• News broadcasting produced locally in a newsroom or by a broadcast network
• Includes such additional material as sport coverage, weather forecasts, traffic
reports, commentary, and other article related to the intended audience.
d. Internet communications.
• Excelled in the last decade making it a way to publish news.
• Contains uncountable digitized number of reputable and not-so-reputable
sources of information on he interne.
• Bloggers reporting their own stories from the comfort of their own laptops that
causes opinions to easily come where users can seek out the same story from
multiple sources to get more of a balanced view.

These make the scope of journalism to be very broad indeed, as almost every form
of media these days can be used as an expression of opinion.
1.4 TENETS OF JOURNALISM

Taking the path of Journalism entails not only the knowledge but also
responsibilities. Therefore, journalists have to follow strict guidelines. Journalists have
rights, but they must bear shoulders the duties to serve the interest of the public.

1. Responsibility. Journalist should always be aware of their obligations to their

readers to write the truth whatever it costs. Journalists must be brave enough
to defend facts and the truth behind the news. The journalists’ main
responsibility is to be the transmitter of veracity in any issue, and 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 cause, any topic 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 the tenet. 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”.
a. Objectivity, Truthfulness and Accuracy. Checking the veracity of data
and information they published is an example of being accurate and truthful.
Since facts are solid foundation of journalism, media men therefore should
not 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. Teel and Taylor (1983), as cited
by Pangilinan (2012), suggested guidelines to attain a balanced story
whenever journalists face controversial issues: (1) Stick to the facts (2)
Never interest your personal opinion (3) Be discreet in the use of adjectives
(4) Avoid cheap shots (5) Somebody with something to say deserves a
forum (6) Assess your alliances. Remember that you are an observer, not
a participant (7) Listen to your editor
4. 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 the journalists present it. Therefore, reporters should
always practice telling the truth and putting the information in the right
perspective.
1.5 JOURNALISM VS. LITERATURE

• Includes • Based on
• Forms of
news, wandering
writing
editorial imagination
• Consumed
and of author
by public
features categorized
• Have relative
• Dividing into prose
style
ideas and poetry
• Guided by
through • Has variety
paragraphs set rules
of form and
style

Example:

Lorenz, a writer, wishes to come up with a story about Philippine creatures. He now
starts imagining the appearance of a creature and creates a plot which includes the
conflict, the climax and the resolution of the conflict. He is writing a literary piece.

Kathryn, on the other hand, also writes about Philippine creatures. However, before
she starts writing about them, she interviews people who have allegedly seen them.
The appearance of the creature, including the people’s beliefs about them, is written
into an entertaining way. The output is packed with facts.

In this case, Lorenz writes a literature, a shorts story in particular while Kathryn does
a feature story, a journalistic article. Lorenz writes based on his imagination while
Kathryn writes based on facts.

1.6 FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESS

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 rest 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. Responsibly of the press means truth in
the news – truth tempered with mercy, decency and humility.

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

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE PRESS

1. Reports are flawed. Reports are not that complete and may bear mistakes.

2. Journalist are sometime in hurry to beat the deadline; he may not have enough time
to reach all the sources of information. Reporters will be unable to present the story in
as many perspectives as a journalist should showcase.

3. Prone to be manipulated by the powerful, the elite and the politicians.

1.8 CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991

Section 1: Title

On July 5, 1991, an act providing the development and promotion of Campus

Journalism was passed under the Eight Congress of the Republic of the Philippines. It
was also known as the R.A. no. 7079 also known as Campus Journalism Act of 1991.

Section 2: Declaration of Policy

It is the declared policy of the State to uphold and protect the freedom of the
press even at the campus level and to promote the development and growth of campus
journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and
creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino
youth. Therefore, the State shall undertake various programs and projects aimed at
improving the journalistic skills of students concerned and promoting responsible and
free journalism.

Section 3: Definition of Terms

Under this section, basic terms were defined such as the school, the student
publication, the student journalist, the editorial board, and the editorial policies
whereas:
 School is defined as an institution for learning in the elementary, secondary or
tertiary level comprised of the studentry, administration, faculty and non-faculty
personnel;

Student Publication is the issue of any printed material that is independently

published by, and which meets the needs and interests of, the studentry;

Student Journalist is identified as any bona fide student enrolled for the current
semester or term, who was passed or met the qualification and standards of the
editorial board. He must likewise maintain a satisfactory academic standing.

Editorial Board. – In the tertiary level, the editorial board shall be composed of
student journalists who have qualified in placement examinations. In the case of
elementary and high school levels, the editorial board shall be composed of a duly
appointed faculty adviser, the editor who qualified and a representative of the Parents-
Teachers' Association, who will determine the editorial policies to be implemented by
the editor and staff members of the student publication concerned.

At the tertiary level, the editorial board may include a publication adviser at the
option of its members.

Editorial Policies are sets of guidelines by which a student publication is

operated and managed, taking into account pertinent laws as well as the school
administration's policies. The said guidelines shall determine the frequency of the
publication, the manner of selecting articles and features and other similar matters.

Important feature of this policy:

• Under this policy, a student publication is published by the student body

through an editorial board and publication staff composed of students selected
but fair and competitive examinations. Once the publication is established, its
editorial board shall freely determine its editorial policies and manage the
publication's funds.
• Funding for the student publication may include the savings of the respective
school's appropriations, student subscriptions, donations, and other sources
of funds. In no instance shall the Department of Education, Culture and
Sports or the school administration concerned withhold he release of funds
sourced from the savings of the appropriations of the respective schools and
 other sources intended for the student publication. Subscription fees collected
by the school administration shall be released automatically to the student
publication concerned.
• The publication adviser shall be selected by the school administration from a
list of recommendees submitted by the publication staff. The function of the
adviser shall be limited to one of technical guidance.
• A member of the publication staff must maintain his or her status as student in
order to retain membership in the publication staff. A student shall not be
expelled or suspended solely on the basis of articles he or she has written, or
on the basis of the performance of his or her duties in the student publication.
• The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall sponsor periodic
competitions, press conferences and training seminars in which student-
editors/writers and teacher-adviser of student publications in the elementary,
secondary and tertiary levels shall participate. Such competitions, conferences
and seminars shall be held at the institutional, divisional, and regional levels,
culminating with the holding of the annual national elementary, secondary or
tertiary School Press Conferences in places of historical and/or cultural interest
in the country.
• The Department of Education, Culture and Sports, in coordination with the
officers of the national elementary, secondary or tertiary organizations or
official advisers of student publications, together with student journalists at the
tertiary level and existing organizations of student journalists, shall promulgate
the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
• all grants, endowments, donations, or contributions used actually, directly and
exclusively for the promotion of campus journalism as provided for in this Act
shall be exempt from donor's or gift tax.
 Summary:

In this module, you have learnt:

• The different definition of journalism based on the definitions given by different

journalists and researchers;
• The important roles that journalism plays in the society;
• The scope and nature of journalism particularly the places where journalism
can be found such as the newspapers. magazines, televisions and radios and
the internet;
• The tenets of journalism which are responsibility, freedom of the press,
independence, objectivity, truthfulness, accuracy and fairness;
• The difference of journalism and literature;
• The six functions and duties of the press;
• The limitations of the press; and
• The Philippine Campus Journalism Act of 1991

Activity:

On the space provided below, write an essay about the basic concepts of Journalism
and the importance of journalism I your life as a person in society. Write your essay
consisting of three paragraphs and on one page only using the following format:

A4 Paper, Arial 11, Justified, 1.5 line spacing, normal margin.

. You will be graded according to the given rubric on the next page:
 RUBRIC FOR STUDENT REFLECTION

Above Meets Approaching Below

expectations expectations Expectations Expectations
5 4 2-3 0-1
Reflective The reflection The reflection The reflection The reflection
explains the explains the attempts to
Thinking does not
student’s own student’s demonstrate
thinking and thinking about thinking about address the
learning his/her own learning but is
student’s
processes, as learning vague and/or
well as processes. unclear about thinking and/or
implications the personal
learning
for future learning
learning. process.
Analysis The reflection The reflection The reflection The reflection
is an in-depth is an analysis attempts to
does not move
analysis of the of the learning analyze the
learning experience learning beyond a
experience, and the value experience but
description of
the value of of the derived the value of
the derived learning to self the learning to the learning
learning to self or others. the student or
experience.
or others, and others is
the vague and/or
enhancement unclear.
of the
student’s
appreciation
for the
discipline.
Making The reflection The reflection The reflection The reflection
articulates articulates attempts to
Connections does not
multiple connections articulate
connections between this connections articulate any
between this learning between this
connection to
learning experience learning
experience and content experience other learning
and content from other and content
or
from other courses, past from other
courses, past learning courses, past experiences.
learning, life experiences, learning
experiences and/or future experiences,
and/or future goals. or personal
goals. goals, but the
connection is
vague and/or
unclear

TOTAL: ______________
Posttest:
Get a timer and set it to 10 minutes. Answer the following without looking at any
references. Encircle the letter of the best answer.
1. Republic Act number 7079 established on July 5, 1991 is also known as:
a. Student Publication Act of 1991 c. Freedom of Press Act
b. Campus Journalism Act of 1991 d. Universal Journalism Act
2. What do you call to the issue of any printed material that is independently published
by, and which meets the needs and interests of the studentry?
a. Student Publication c. Student Report
b. Campus Journalism d. Student Journalist
3. Marta is aware of her obligation to her readers and writes only the truth. Which tenets
of journalism was shown by Marta?
a. responsibility c. independence
b. freedom of the press d. fairness
4. Kevin, a journalist, practices telling the truth and putting all the information he has
gathered in the right perspective. Kevin exercises what tenets of journalism?
a. responsibility c. independence
b. freedom of the press d. fairness
5. The following are the functions and duties of the press except:
a. the quality of the newspaper must be reflected in the editorial policy.

b. newspapers must have integrity and readers’ confidence

c. being in the press means business and therefore be driven by wealth and money

d. the press must practice the principle of journalism without bias and self-interest.
References:

Bulusan, Ferdinand, MAEd (2016) Campus Journalism within your research. Lorimar
Publishing Inc. Manila PH

Republic Act no. 7079 Campus Journalism Act of 1991 retrieved from
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7079_1991.html