A bill has been refiled at the Senate seeking to require journalists to take an exam for accreditation, but a media group said such a legislation is “unnecessary.”

 

Under Senate Bill 380 or the “Magna Carta for Journalists,” filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada last month, reporters, editors and photographers will have to take a professional journalism examination to be accredited.

 

“It is necessary for the enactment of a law that will ensure a living wage, an atmosphere conducive to productive journalism work, reiterate value of ethics, provide for development programs that will deepen the practice of their profession, and promote the defense and protection of freedom and human rights of journalists and their organizations,” Estrada said in his bill.

 

The senator has been pushing for the passage of this bill since 2011. 

 

Under the measure, the accredited journalists will be issued identification cards, which will entitle them to “all benefits and privileges that may be accorded to them by law.”

 

The proposed legislation states that the examination will be administered by the Philippine Council for Journalists composed of eight media groups, which will be created to “act as a self-regulatory body for journalists and the journalism profession.”

 

The council is also tasked under the bill to craft a code of ethics for journalists. Violation of this code shall be grounds for the revocation of a journalist’s accreditation, according to the measure.

 

‘Window for discrimination’

 

Rowena Paraan, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) chairperson, said passing Estrada’s bill will create a “window for discrimination” among journalists.

 

“Pangit naman yata na gumagawa ka ng dalawang klase ng journalists, ‘yung accredited at hindi accredited, at saka hindi naman ibig sabihin na kapag accredited ka, hindi ka na corrupt,” Paraan said in a phone interview.

 

She added that journalists “should remain independent from any kind of control,” even from their peers.

 

“Alam naman na siguro ng news organizations kung ano ang qualifications ng mga journalists na hina-hire nila,” she said.

 

Paraan added that an accreditation system for journalists seems “not applicable” for the current “context and environment” in the Philippine media, since the country still does not have a strong democracy.

 

“Itong bill na ito siguro applicable lang sa mga bansa na may high regard for freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Dito kasi sa atin marami pang threats sa mga iyan,” she said.

 

Estrada's bill will have to undergo deliberations and voting in the committee and plenary levels before it can be passed by the Senate.