QUARTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Many things could happen in just a blink of an eye; if you faltering a

moment you will miss a lot of them. Since a journalist is supposed to bring
fresh news to the public, he is expected to be on guard at all times. This is
quite challenging. But for a persistent journalist, he does his best as he walks
on the royal road of expression.

To prepare you in your journey to journalism, this quarter provides you

avenues in understanding the basic principles of print journalism as well as its
historical, legal bases and ethical standards.

In Weeks 1-3, you shall learn about the history of journalism, its types
and functions. There will also be discussions on the existing laws that protect
freedom of expression and information. Weeks 4-8 zero in on the
fundamentals of newswriting where you will be taught how to write a straight
news story, use a speech and other primary and secondary material to
develop a story. Lastly, they will be introduced to writing news feature. In the
process, you will be exposed to several activities that have provisions for
cooperative and collaborative outputs.

In this quarter, the students shall have learned the basic principles,
practices and techniques with focus on history of journalism, media laws,
news writing, news feature and getting source of information.

1. Define journalism in general;

2. Discuss the theories of the press and their current appreciation;
3. Explain the different types of journalism;
4. Cite significant events in the history of journalism;
5. Discuss specific provisions of RA 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act;
6. Share views about the principles of journalism;
7. Gather relevant information about the media laws;
8. Evaluate newspaper articles for alignment to proper ethical standards;
9. Observe proper attributions/citations of sources;
10. Explain the characteristics of a news story;
11. Determine the elements used in a news story;
12. Write illustrative examples of news elements;
13. Differentiate various types of news stories;
14. Differentiate the types of lead;
15. Write a summary lead using newsworthy details from 5 Ws and 1 H;
16. Write a novelty lead appropriate to the news story;
17. Explain the significant qualities of straight news;
18. Write a straight news about a school or community event;
19. Explain the significant characteristics of a speech story;
20. Write the salient features of a speech story using note taking;

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 21. Change direct speech to indirect speech and vice versa in news form;
22. Make proper attributions for quoted statements;
23. Write a news story based on a speech delivered;
24. Compose a news story based on gathered facts from a speech;
25. Explain the significant characteristics of a news feature, and
26. Gather information from primary and secondary sources.

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017

 PRE- TEST
QUARTER 1

The Pen’s Test

Hi brave heart! Before you proceed to your journey in this quarter’s
journalistic trail, try answering the questions below.

Select the appropriate lettersof your answers inside the pencil, then
write them in the small callouts .

2. 4.

3. 5.

1.

a. Journalist’s Code of Ethics

b. proper attribution g. Ethical Code

c. plagiarism h. citation

d. ethical standard

e media law

1. It means infringement of copyright.

2. A legal field that relates information technology, broadcasting,
advertising, the entertainment industry, censorship, and internet and
online services among others.
3. The journalism code which embodies all principles, duties, functions
and ethics of a journalist.
4. This means giving credit to sources and authors of articles or part of
articles cited in a manuscript, speech or any written work.
5. Set of values governing journalists.

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017

6. If you are going to write an article about the inspirational talk delivered by
the keynote speaker, what type of news will it be?
A. Straight News C. Speech Story
B. News Feature . D. Single-feature Story

7. “I find it advisable to accede to the Paris Agreement and seek the Senate’s
concurrence thereto,” President Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview.
Which of the following is the correct transformation of this direct speech to
indirect statement?
A. President Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview that he found it
advisable to accede to the Paris Agreement and seek the Senate’s
concurrence thereto.
B. President Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview that he finds it
advisable to accede to the Paris Agreement and seeks the Senate’s
concurrence thereto.
C. President Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview that he finds it
advisable to accede to the Paris Agreement and seek the Senate’s
concurrence thereto.
D. President Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview that he found it
advisable to accede to the Paris Agreement and sought the
Senate’s concurrence thereto.

8. Which of the following is a primary source of information?

A. textbook B. photograph C. Dictionary D. Atlas

9. Which can be classified as a secondary source of information?

A. drawings B. surveys C. interviews D. Atlas

10. What type of news uses an inverted pyramid structure?

A. Straight News C. Speech Story
B. News Feature . D. Single-feature Story

For numbers 11-15

Below are examples of leads. Determine the type of news
articlebychoosingthe letter of the best answer from the word pool.

A. Straight News C. Speech Story

B. News Feature D. Several-feature Story

11. A scream. A shot.A splash.

12. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle yesterday appealed to
Filipinos for a “change of heart” which, he said, could be the nation’s biggest
contribution to the world.
By: Evelyn Macairan, Philippine Star
13. Bureau of Customs (BOC) agents seized yesterday morning P2 billion
worth of fake cigarettes in five warehouses at the San Simon Industrial Park in
Pampanga.
By: Ding Cervantes, Philippine Star
14. The fire was imaginary, but the panic and the injuries were real.

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15. Vice President LeniRobredo and former Pangasinan congresswoman
Gina de Venecia extolled the country’s gains in championing the rights of
abused women.
By: Philippine Star

16. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. News feature is still similar with a straight news in the sense that
both need to supply facts and cite sources.
B. News writers should only consult secondary sources of information

since data are based on primary sources.

C. Always start your speech story with a direct quote.
D. All types of news follow the same structure.

17. Transform this indirect statement into a direct quote: Philippine National
Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa stated that the
PNP could not guarantee that the resumption of “OplanTokhang” would
be less bloody.
A. “The PNP could not guarantee that the resumption of “Oplan
Tokhang” will be less bloody,” Philippine National Police (PNP)
Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa stated.
B. “The PNP cannot guarantee that the resumption of “Oplan
Tokhang” will be less bloody,” Philippine National Police (PNP)
Chief Director General Ronald delaRosa stated.
C. “The PNP cannot guarantee that the resumption of “Oplan
Tokhang” would be less bloody,” Philippine National Police (PNP)
Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa stated.
D. “The PNP could not guarantee that the resumption of “Oplan
Tokhang” would be less bloody,” Philippine National Police (PNP)
Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa stated.

18. You want to write a news article about the implementation of the Material
Recovery Facility (MRF) in your school highlighting its significance to the
community. What type of news will you use?
A. Straight News C. Speech Story
B. News Feature . D. Several-feature Story

19. Your teacher asked you to use the transcript of Duterte’s speech during
his 1st SONA. How will you classify this transcript as a source of information?
A. Primary Source C. Tertiary Source
B. Secondary Source D. Both Primary & Secondary

20. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Use all the quotes that you have gathered in writing a speech story.
B. In writing a speech story, choose only the important quotes of the
speaker.
C. Important quote is only found in the lead.
D. In quoting statements you may not cite your source.

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21. It is defined as an occupation of reporting, writing, editing, cartooning,
photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization
as a business (Viduya, 2010).
A. Campus Journalist C. Journalism
B. Campus Journalism D. Journalist

22. The type of reporting events which journalist attempts to explain the
significance of the event by expounding the how and why.
A. Objective Journalism C. Adversarial Journalism
B. Interpretative Journalism D. Development Journalism

23. Who was the youngest foreign correspondent during the Korean War?
A. Marcelo Del Pilar C. Benigno Aquino Jr.
B. Dr. Jose P. Rizal D. Ramon Magsaysay

24. It is formerly known as Highway 54.

A. Bagumbayan C. Rizal Park
B. EDSA D. Malacanan Highway

25. He the first Filipino national leader under the American regime as
Speaker of the Philippine Assembly.
A. Sergio Osmeña Sr. C. Manuel L. Quezon
B. Ramon Magsaysay D. ElpidioQuirino

26. It is known as Campus Journalism Act of 1991

A. RA 7071 B. RA 7089 C. RA 7081 D. RA 7079

27. It is an institution for learning in the basic education (elementary and

secondary) and higher education (tertiary level) comprised of studentry,
administration, faculty and staff.
A. School Publication C. Publication
B. School D. Printing Press

28. It is a set of guidelines by which a student publication is operated and

managed by the school administration.
A. School Policies C. Guidelines
B. Editorial Policies D. Prefect of Discipline

29. A tenet of journalism that journalists should always be aware of their

obligations to their readers to write the truth whatever it costs.
A. Freedom of the Press C. Responsibility
B. Independence D. Objectivity

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30. This is simply sensationalizing a story or an issue.
A. New Journalism C. Yellow Journalism
B. Advocacy Journalism D. Stylistic

31. A news story is said to possess timeliness if it

A.stresses events that have occurred in the last month.
B.stresses events that occurred today or yesterday.
C. has been written within the last six hours.
D. has been read or heard within the last six hours.

32. In regard to news values, prominence refers to

A. the extent to which the story will affect a number of people.
B.whether the story has one central, or prominent, character.
C. how well known the people involved in the story are.
D. he location of the story on the newspaper page or in the news
broadcast.

33. Journalists recognize two types of news stories: hard and soft. In this
regard,
A. “hard news” is about complicated topics, like science and
economics, and “soft news” is about things like entertainment and
fashion.
B. “hard news” stories have long, complicated sentences, and “soft
news”
stories have short, simple sentences.
C. “hard news” is about serious topics and recent events, and “soft
news”refers to human interest stories.
D. “hard news” stories are always 2,000 words or more, and “soft
news” stories never exceed 500 words.

34. Which of the following is NOT one of the factors that leads to
inaccuracies in news reports?
A. carelessness and laziness
B. lack of understanding of the topic
C. use of generalities insteadof specifics
D. having editors check and question a reporter’s work

35. The concept of proximity suggests that a news organization is likely to

carry a story about a murder, if that crime
A. involved a well-known person.
B. was committed locally.
C. occurred within the last 24 hours.
D. was unusually gruesome.

36. A lead written for so as to be easily understood by as many people as

possible should be
A. 18-20 words. C. 30-35 words.
B.20-35 words. D. 30-45 words.

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37. Which of the following should a summary news lead NOT try to do
A. Provide the most important information.
B. Stress what is unusual or interesting.
C. Convey the most recent information.
D. Lure readers in to reading a story they are not interested in.

38. A blind lead is one that

A. withholds some facts so the reporter can focus on the most
important ones.
B.was written by a visually impaired reporter.
C. blindly includes facts about the story.
D. obscures interesting information as a duck blind obscures hunters.

39. Good news leads are usually structured so as to use

A. passive-voice verbs.
B. subject-verb-object word order.
C. long introductory clauses
D. multiple prepositional phrases.

40. Summary news leads often stress the unusual aspects of a story because
A. “news” is, by definition, something that deviates from the usual.
B. editors find it easier to write headlines for such stories.
C. editors find it easier to sensationalize such stories.
D. none of the other choices.

For numbers 41-45

Below are examples of novelty leads. Determine its type by choosing
the letter of the best answer from the word pool.
A. Descriptive Lead D. Punch Lead
B. Question Lead E. Astonisher Lead
C. Quotation Lead F. Parody Lead

41. It is short, striking one-sentence lead.

42. Any statement uttered by well-known speaker or celebrity in the
community.
43. It illustrates a mental picture of the subject to the reader.
44. A thought provoking question to capture the interest of the reader.
45. It uses an exclamatory sentence.

For numbers 46-50

Determine whether the following is a Primary Source (P) or a Secondary

Source (S).
46. photographs
47. history books
48. oral speeches
49. atlases
50. encyclopedias

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017

QUARTER 1
WEEK 1
Lesson 1: Journalism

INTRODUCTION
The world of journalism has different interpretations for every human.
Some people use journalism in their daily living as an occupation, some just
reading and few for other purposes. Whatever may be, it depends on how
they make sense of journalism.
In this lesson, you will be guided in your journey towards understanding
the definition, functions, types and history of journalism. You are expected to:

1. Define the journalism in general;

2. Discuss the theories of the press and their current appreciation;
3. Explain the different types of journalism, and
4. Cite significant events in the history of journalism.

START UP

Task 1. Guess Who?

Name the journalists shown below.

_____________
___________________
________________

________ ________ _________

_________________ _________

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 Task 2.Shout Out.
With your seatmate, sort out these materials into the types of
media they are used in: print, online, or broadcast.

__________

________

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POP UP

Task 3. Know Me

Why do we have TV stations, radio stations, newspaper and even

Facebook and other social networking sites and other media nowadays?
What is the connection between the past and today’s media?

The Early Age

According to Bitter (1983) as cited by Viduya (2010), as early as 59

B.C., Italian messengers disseminated news through bulletins which they
called CretaDurma. These bulletins were posted in public places for the
residents to read and be informed (Bitter, 1983). This means that
communication in public started a long time ago but with minimal transmission
of messages compared to this time.

It was only noted that only 1800 later when bulletins were similarly
posted in United States of America as a source of news and that was during
American Revolution (Viduya, 2010).

Romans were also part of the history since they successfully

developed a system of news dissemination. In their practice, a “reader” would
announce the event of the day of a given time and place.

Chinese claimed the foundation of the modern press as frontrunner of

the modern newspaper as they published a court journal entitled TsingPao in
about 500 A.D. and outlasted other early publications.

Due to the invention of technology as early as 17th century, various

kinds of publications in many ways deluged when the press flourished in the
Scandinavian countries, France, Germany, England, and the United States.

In the International Arena

The first newspaper published in Germany was founded in 1609 by

certain EgenolphEmmel, a bookseller who started a weekly newspaper in
Frankurt in 1615. After two years, Johann von den Birghden who claimed that
as postmaster he had an exclusive right to publish a newspaper. At that time,
there were already 16 newspaper published.

In contrary, the press in England developed under the authoritarian

atmosphere of the century that limits the free press. William Caxton
established printing press in 1476. Most of these publications were called
corrantos which were not true newspapers by today’s time because they
avoid the government restrictive regulations against publications by publishing
news from outside the country.

In the Philippines

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 Journalism can be associated with the Doctrina Cristiana which was
reportedly published in the 17th century. It was the first book to be printed in
the country (Castro,1990). It was done by the Chinese craftsmen under the
direct supervision of the friars. But the first newspaper in the Philippines was
the Succesos Felices, some Sucesos or Sucessos which means “Happy
Events”, a 14-page newsletter by Tomas Pinpin, a Filipino printer, in 1637.

On the other hand, Del Superior Govierno came out on August 8, 1811
with more regularity than its predecessors. It was considered by many
historians that it was the first Philippine newspaper because this had kept the
peninsulars informed about the events and the happenings in the Spanish
Cortes and that was between Spain and France and on local events. It folded
up also after publishing 15 issues.

If Del Superior Govierno acquired the title as the first newspaper, La

Esperanza by Felipe Lacorte and Evaristo Calderon got the title as first daily
paper which appeared on December 1, 1846 and lasted only for three years.

Today’s Journalism

Castro (1990) as cited by Viduya (2010), that the contents of the pre-
war and today’s newspaper, there were a lot of changes. He said, today’s
newspaper show deeper, wider and more imaginative approach both local
and international affairs. He also pointed out the increasing reliance of
science reporting techniques like investigative and interpretative reporting and
the competition in the use of multi-media like radio, television and the trend of
technology, the internet.

Many people would ask if when and where journalism started. What
would journalism mean to businessmen, government leaders, media people
and most especially to the Filipino people? We will know what journalism
would mean to us.

Journalism is the style of writing characteristic of material in

newspapers and magazines, consisting of direct presentation of facts or
occurrences with little attempt at analysis or interpretation (American Heritage
Dictionary). It is defined as an occupation of reporting, writing, editing,
cartooning, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news
organization as a business (Viduya, 2010). It is also the profession of giving
the public sufficient information they need, whether it is on the other part of
the globe or just on the streets. It is likewise defined as the collection,
preparation, and distribution of news and related commentary and feature
materials or entertains through such media or pamphlets, newsletters,
newspapers, magazines, radio, motion pictures, television and books.

Guide Questions:
1. What is journalism according to American Heritage Dictionary?
2. In what way journalism could be expressed?
3. Do you want to be a journalist? Why or why not?

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 Task 4. Tell Me
You have read the brief concept of journalism in Task 3. Now, work
with your seatmate the functions of journalism. One is done for you.

To
inform

Journalism

Task 5. Read Me
There could be no media today if there be no history at all. To
understand Philippine journalism, one has to look at the light of the history.

Read the text about the History of Journalism in the Philippines.

History of Philippine Journalism –A Timeline

by Estormeo Gomez Serena

Spanish Period
(1521-1900)
Journalism can be associated with the Doctrina Cristiana which was
reportedly published in the 17th century. It was the first book to be printed in
the country (Castro,1990). It was done by the Chinese craftsmen under the
direct supervision of the friars. But the first newspaper in the Philippines was
the SuccesosFelices, someSucesos or Sucessos which means “Happy
Events”, a 14-page newsletter by Tomas Pinpin, a Filipino printer, in 1637.

On the other hand, Del Superior Govierno came out on August 8, 1811
with more regularity than its predecessors. It was considered by many
historians that it was the first Philippine newspaper because this had kept the
peninsulars informed about the events and the happenings in the Spanish
Cortes and the was between Spain and France and on local events. It folded
up also after publishing 15 issues.

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017

 Magazines journalism also took place in the Philippines when Royal
Economic Society of the Friends of the Country published RegistroMercantil
de Manila on January 20, 1824.

If Del Superior Govierno acquired the title as the first newspaper, La

Esperanza (Hope) by Felipe Lacorte and Evaristo Calderon got the title as
first daily newspaper which appeared on December 1, 1846 and lasted only
for three years.

Revolutionary Press
A slight moment in the history of the Philippines in journalism was the
rise of the revolutionary press in the latter part of Spanish rule and the early
part of the American period, approximately 1890-1905 (Maslog, 1990).

La Solidaridad “The Solidarity” by the first editor Graciano Lopez Jaena

and the contributors who became the revolutionary heroes of 1896 like Dr.
Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and Mariano Ponce which first came out on
February 19, 1989. It was published in Spain in Spanish

The paper was banned by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines but
it was smuggled into the country and found its way into Filipino homes
(Maslog, 1990).

Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo Realonda wrote Noli Me

Tangere, 1887; and El Filibusterismo, 1891. The two common revolutionary
papers of Rizal caught the attention of the Spanish government to execute
him in Bagumbayan, now Rizal Park, on December 30, 1896.

American Period
(1900-1946)

In this time, Thomas Gowan, an Englishman, established the first

English language daily. This was the first Manila Times in the Philippines
existed only 32 years until Alejandro Roces, Sr. As the newspaper chain
owner bought the paper in 1927. But Roces dissolved Times in 1930 because
he saw no need for two English papers.

Manila Bulletin, the oldest existing newspaper in the Philippines started

in 1990 founded by Carson Taylor, an American that widened its scope to
include the news of general interest recruiting staff members from among
pupils of Thomasites. Judge Kincaid and Mccullough Dick published the
“Philippine Free Press” in 1908.

Philippines Herald, a pro-Filipino newspaper was published through the

initiative of Manuel L. Quezon, who latter became the President of the
Philippines.

It was not just in print media but also in radio and television. The two
media came to the Philippines by way of the United States.

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 The first Philippine radio stations were set up by an American, Henry
Hermann, in June 1922. He put up three 50-watt radio stations in Manila and
in the neighboring city of Pasay (Maslog, 1990).

Post-War Period
(1946-1972)

Manila Chronicles sprang up right after the war. This paper was put up
by a group of pre-war newspaper-men in 1945 and was sold few years later to
Eugenio Lopez, formerly the CEO of one of the largest TV networks in the
country.

Pre-Martial Law Period

By 1968, there were four giant multi-media combines and networks:

ABS-CBN (Bolinao Electronics Corporation, Chronicle Broadcasting,
Monserrat Broadcasting) which has 20 stations in: Manila (6) and in Bacolod,
Baguio, Cagayan de Oro Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan Davao, Iligan, Iloilo,
Laoag, Legazpi, Lucena, Naga and Zamboanga (Ofreneo, 1986).

ABC (Associated Broadcasting Corporation):5 stations in: Manila (3),

and in provinces of Dagupan and Davao.

RMN (Radio Mindanao Network) also give significance to the country

with (8) in: Manila, and in provinces of Baguio, Butuan, Cebu, Davao, Iligan
and (2) in Cagayan de Oro.

MBC (Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation) with two stations in

Manilia and in provinces of Cebu, Dagupan, Laoag, Legazpi, Roxas and
Tacloban.

The big four radio stations helped in the dissemination of information

before the Martial Law.

Martial Law Period

(1972-1986)

It was declared on September 21, 1972. The following day, President

Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Letter of Instruction No. 1 ordering the Press
Secretary and the Defense Secretary “to take over and control the taking over
and control of the mass media for the duration of the national emergency, or
until otherwise ordered by the President or his duly designated
representative.” (Ofreneo, 1986).

Some radio stations were closed and under the armed forces of the
government under the Proclamation No. 1081. The heads of the big multi-
media and print companies were imprisoned. However, there were people
who fought for the freedom of the people and freedom of the press.

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Radio Veritas and Edsa
In an article written by Isabel L. Templo, “This is Cardinal Sin speaking
to the people of Metro Manila…. I am calling our people to support our two
good friends at the camp. If any of you could be around at Camp Aguinaldo to
show your solidarity and your support in this very crucial period when our two
good friends have shown their idealism, I would be very happy…. Please
come….”
For many Filipinos, this message from the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, the
archbishop of Manila, spoken over Church-owned Radio Veritas on February
22, 1986, was what started the People Power Revolution. Those who heard
this call responded by going to EDSA (Epifanio d e los Santos Avenue) or the
Highway 54 and forming a human barricade between Camp Crame and Camp
Aguinaldo that swelled to hundreds of thousands. It was a show of force and
will in a moment of truth for a nation that wanted freedom from the 20-year
rule of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Sin’s “two good friends” were Fidel V. Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile—
Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and Minister of National Defense,
respectively—who had held a press conference earlier that day to announce
what many Filipinos had suspected all along: that Marcos had not won in the
February 7 snap elections. The two officials declared they no longer
recognized the Marcos government and called on other ministers and military
officers to align with them.
Former Bandila news anchor Henry Omaga Diaz was a Radio Veritas
reporter in the 1980s, and one of only a handful of local reporters at the press
conference. His reporter’s instinct told him this would be big. “Pag dating pa
langnamin (As soon as we got there), somehow, I got the feeling that this
(was) the end for Marcos,” Diaz recalls. “(I) had this feeling naitonaiyon (this
was it).”
The existence of Catholic radio in the Philippines is not surprising,
given the population profile. Some 61.8 million out of 76.3 million Filipinos—
about 81 per cent —are Roman Catholic, according to the 2000 Philippine
Census. This was even higher during the 1986 EDSA Revolution; Catholics
comprised 50.2 million (around 83 per cent) of 60.5 million Filipinos (National
Statistics Office, 1990).
Catholic radio programming includes Bible readings, discussions about
Church teachings and live coverage of mass. But Catholic radio also reports
political developments. During the EDSA Revolution, Church-owned Radio
Veritas—and later, the clandestine radio station “RadyoBandido” (“Outlaw
Radio”)— played a pivotal role as an effective and reliable source of news and
information. According to We Forum: “Only Radio Veritas was carrying a
blow-by-blow account of the unfolding siege.”
Even when Marcos’ forces destroyed the station’s P40-million
transmitter, the broadcasts continued on RadyoBandido. Not only reports, but
appeals for food and provisions and urgent calls for people to block
approaching tanks were aired on the radio. Ramos said it was “the first time in
military history that private broadcast media were used to transmit or relay

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military orders or directives to military units in the field” (Santiago, 1995). Fr.
James B. Reuter, SJ (1989), head of the Catholic Church’s National Office of
Mass Media (NOMM), called the EDSA Revolution “the first in the history of
the world to be ‘run’ by radio” (as cited by the Ramon Magsaysay Award
Foundation [RMAF], 1989)—not state-owned or even commercial radio, but
Catholic radio.” It was arguably Catholic radio’s finest hour.
And yet, Radio Veritas was not a popular radio station prior to EDSA .
Of the 28 AM stations in Metro Manila in 1983, which had an average
listenership of 15 percent, the station’s audience share was only 0.2 percent.
But with the station’s coverage of the assassination of former senator Benigno
“Ninoy” Aquino on August 21, 1983 more people started to tune in. Radio
Veritas’ audience share increased to nine percent in September that year, to
make it the fifth most listened-to of all radio stations, including FM, in Metro
Manila (Han, 1984).
Gaining confidence
Before the four days of EDSA, Radio Veritas had been steadily gaining
the confidence of the people by reporting what state-controlled media could
not. After all, veritas means truth, and that is what Radio Veritas was
committed to broadcast.
In 1983, when rumors of Aquino’s return to the Philippines started circulating,
Radio Veritas called him for a live long-distance interview. Upon his arrival on
August 21, Radio Veritas reporters were stationed at the Manila International
Airport. Minutes after Aquino was shot, they were calling in the news from pay
phones. Government-run media did not report the assassination until hours
later (RMAF, 1986). Radio Veritas was also the only station that covered live
Aquino’s funeral procession, which was attended by millions (Maslog, 1998).
In a survey by Casal, Centurion, and Gomez (1988) as stated by
Templo, found that the public perceived Radio Veritas’ role in the Edsa
Revolution as consistent with the station’s mission as a Church institution,
promoting the gospel values of truth, justice, freedom, and unity. The station
did more than merely document events; it participated in them. And it gave
representatives from the Church, the opposition, the “rebel” forces, and other
sectors—all of whom would have had no outlet otherwise—the opportunity to
speak. It made its listeners aware of their rights as well as their
responsibilities even as it advocated nonviolence and peace.
Radio Veritas’ role in the Edsa Revolution did not go unnoticed. Among
its many commendations were a citation from then President Aquino, and the
Catholic Mass Media Award for Public Service. And in “using truth to depose
an oppressive and corrupt regime and restore Filipino faith in the electoral
process,” the station received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for
Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts. For helping the
Philippines regain its freedom, the Church-owned radio station named for the
truth had sealed its place in history.

News is censored in an authoritarian society, rumors and gossips were

proliferated because people starved from information. During this time, there

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017

were no media acting as “watchdog” of the government’s abuse, graft and
corruption. Moreover, government tries to hide the truth and succeeded at first
but in a long run, the truth comes out from other sources.

Modern Period

For many years, media give voice to many generations. With the
advent of the technology, like cellular phone, radio, telephone, photocopying
machine and the like, people nowadays demand the truth but nothing but the
truth.
The use of technology gives all citizens of the country as citizen
journalists. They act as journalists who take care of the society.

Online journalism is famous nowadays. Bloggers, online writers, and

other online journalists are now taking part in social responsibility.

The evolution of journalism in the Philippines from Spanish Period up

to this Modern Period shows how journalism gives value to information and
democracy.

Task 6. Time Machine

Make a Timeline of the History of Journalism in the Philippines.

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017

JUMP UP
Task 7. Text Twist
Words below are types of journalism. Analyze the jumbled
letters to form a word. One is done for you.
1. OBJECTIVE(VCEOJITBE) Journalism- is the type of reporting events
that confines itself to facts and answers the questions what, who,
where, when, why, and how.
2. _ _ T _ _ _ _E _ _ _ _ _ _ (ANRVPTIREETTIE) Journalism – is the type
of reporting events which journalist attempts to explain the significance
of the event by expounding the how and why.
3. _ _ _ E _ _ _ I _ _ (DVAERASRILA)Journalism– It acts as “watchdog”
that fiscalizes the three branches of the government: executive,
legislative, and the judiciary.
4. _ _ _ E _ _ _ M _ _ _ (ENLEMOPDEVT) Journalism- it is an opposite of
adversarial journalism, it aims at promoting the social, economic and
political development of the country.
5. _ _ _ _ _ W (WELOYL)- It sensationalizes stories about crime and
violence and stories of immoral and indecent of social services.

Task 8.Truth or Lie

True orFalse. On the space provided before each item, write TRUE
when the statement is factual and FALSE when it is erroneous.
___________1. Journalism is concerned only on stories regarding
opinions of other people.
___________2. Yellow Journalism exaggerates news events, scandal-
mongering or sensationalism.
___________3. Journalism acts as “Watchcat” of the government.
___________4. Journalism is for rich people only.
___________5. Journalism is an occupation of reporting, writing,
editing, cartooning, photographing, or broadcasting news or of
conducting any news organization as a business.

POWER UP

Task 9. Fill Me Up
Applying the different theories/concepts in journalism cite at
least one (1) situation on the different types of journalism that is
currently happening as of this time.

Objective Interpretative Adversarial Development Yellow

Journalism Journalism Journalism Journalism Journalism

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017

 Task 10. Paint Me A Picture.
Portray a picture of the situations below. Each picture is given 10 seconds to
portray. After 10 seconds, the group must stop moving and wait until the
teacher finish grading the performance.
Group 1- Objective Journalism
Group 2- Interpretative Journalism
Group 3- Development Journalism
Group 4- Adversarial Journalism
Group 5- Yellow Journalism

WRAP UP

Task 11. My Reflection

My favorite part of the discussion is...

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

I realized that...
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Grade 7 SPJ Learners Materials as of March 03, 2017