Istoryan Writers

[diem]

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[color=navy]@klavel, welcome welcome to the party. It's open all day, 24/7 hehehe.

[galenostiel]

Woooh! I'm in, too, of course! Hmmm. Darn, I wrote a few pieces when I was in elementary but they got washed away in a typhoon. Will have to work on the childspeak. Oh, I know. I'll collaborate with my little sister!

And you know what, I can actually feel this thread pulsating with life all of a sudden. Wow. Great going, guys!

[Reginald]

childspeak? i hope you don't mean baby-talk that couples usually do. *snicker* that'll be tragic.

[diem]

[color=navy]^^Hahaha. Ah no no no~ "Childspeak" is basically my term for communicating in a manner and form of language that children could understand as they read. This could be in the form of short sentences with direct thoughts. I'll be looking for links for literary guides to writing for children.

Oh by the way, just something for those who know (or are) teenage girls who wants to write:

SISTERS IN INK: The Search is On for the Next Teen Beauty Writers! Win an Internship at Candy Magazine.
http://cncsistersinink.pinoyexchange.com/

[boredtosanity]

Hi diem and thisbe, love this idea. I'm interested in this too. I can't make any promises yet though, since I'm quite busy these days but hopefully I can spare even just a few hours or a day for this
Diem, I'll just send you the piece whenever I manage to start and finish it

[diem]

[color=navy]^^Sure po, looking forward to it. And we're looking forward to other iStoryan contributions, as well.

As for myself, I am slightly a bit busy today to work on my contribution but I figure that during the All Souls/All Saints weekend, I might be able to get it started.

Please remember any form of literature is accepted: [b]journal entries, poetry(poems, original songs and rhymes), essays, short stories, childhood proverbs, comics(!), even plays and unique games that you and your friends came up with as children!

[shaxyra]

UPVCC Creative Writing Workshop

Call for Works

The University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College (UPVCC) is accepting original works for fellows to the UPVCC Creative Writing Workshop on Jan 17-18 at the UPVCC Audio-Visual Room. To be a fellow, an applicant must submit any of the following: three poems, one short story or one essay in Cebuano, Filipino or English (printed and electronic copies places inside sealed envelope marked with Author's name,address and contact number and addressed to the creative writing program, Humanities Division, no later than Nov. 30

[Reginald]

hiya peeps. here's something that i'm working on but haven't finished. please check it out and, um, help me with the edits. thanks y'all.

http://bookpigblook.blogspot.com

[diem]

[color=navy]@shaxyra, thanks for that information. I hope that I could participate in that next year.

@Reginald, sige bro will check it out and assist when I get time.

@everyone, your contributions to the iStoryan Writer Project please~!

[diem]

[color=navy]PHILIPPINE DECLARATION FOR PRESS FREEDOM (1987)

WE BELIEVE THAT PRESS FREEDOM is an inalienable birthright of the people which no one can take away without violating a basic human right, and we hold that while facts are inviolable, expression of opinions should be free.

WE BELIEVE THAT PRESS FREEDOM is the foundation and guardian of a strong and enlightened public opinion without which democracy cannot be possible, and that the guarantee of this freedom is among the best deterrents to authoritarian governments.

WE BELIEVE THAT PRESS FREEDOM is more than the right to express approval of prevailing political structures and dominant political beliefs and policies, for the right belongs as well, if not more, to those who question, who differ, who oppose.

WE BELIEVE THAT PRESS FREEDOM is the right of the people to inform and be informed, the people’s right to unhampered reportage and to access to channels of information and opinion, and that this guarantees the people’s right to utilize government-operated media facilities.

WE BELIEVE THAT PRESS FREEDOM necessarily encompasses the right of professionals and workers in the mass media to job security, fair compensation, just and humane working conditions and self-organization, as well as the right of media establishments to be protected against undue sanctions from sources of revenue.

WE BELIEVE THAT PRESS FREEDOM and the broader right to freedom of expression concern not only professional, businessmen and workers in the mass media but the people as a whole, and that vigilance for the defense of these freedoms should therefore be a recognized responsibility of the entire body politic.

WE BELIEVE IN PRESS FREEDOM, and we declare our conviction to uphold it. We therefore unite to establish and continue to strengthen a movement for press freedom as an active and effective channel for solidarity and coordination among media people and other citizens in promoting, asserting and defending this basic and inalienable right.

This document was drafted in January 1987 by the organizing committee of the People’s (now Philippine) Movement for Press Freedom and first adopted by the First National Convention for Press Freedom in April 1987.

PHILIPPINE JOURNALIST’S CODE OF ETHICS (198

I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and to correct substantive errors promptly.

II. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of my calling.

III. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.

IV. I shall refrain from writing reports which will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information, as provided for in the Constitution.

V. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties; nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature which may cast doubt on my personal integrity.

VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.

VII. I shall not in any manner ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of ***, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.

VIII. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.

IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.

X. I shall accept only as tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the “conscience clause” when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.

XI. I shall conduct myself in public or while performing my duties as a journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.

This document was drafted by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), discussed and finalized in a multilateral workshop conference held during the National Press Week of 1988. The conference was attended by representatives from the PPI, National Press Club, Philippine Movement for Press Freedom (PMPF), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (provisional committee), Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa Media sa Pilipinas, Press Foundation of Asia, and Photojournalists Guild of the Philippines. It has been adopted by these and other media organizations, and has been translated into Filipino by the Bukluran ng mga Mamamahayag sa Sariling Wika (BUKLURAN), a PMPF member-organization .

BASIC RIGHTS OF MEDIAPERSONS (198

1. THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE INFORMATION – On all matters of public concern, the right to access to information actually belongs to each individual citizen. But with media as a valuable source of information, mediapersons actually represents the people’s right to know. Media practitioners, therefore, should not be restricted in their task of acquiring information – be it in the form of documents, interviews or photos – on matters of public concern, including those that may tend to embarrass the powers that be. During the Marcos dictatorship, the interest of “national security” was invoked to keep secrets from the citizenry.

2. THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH OR BROADCAST INFORMATION AND OPINIONS – Freedom of expression, of speech and of the press are recognized as basic and inalienable rights not only by the Philippine Constitution but by no less than the 1948 universal declaration of human rights. Like the right to seek information. This belongs to every citizen; but due to media’s role in society, media establishments must assert and safeguard this right. There are enough laws to check irresponsibility and wanton disregard for the rights of others; prior restraint – meaning, censorship – can only be legally justified during emergencies formally declared according to the “clear and present danger” doctrine. In the broadcast industry, the principle that “the airlines belong to people” has often been used to reverse its very spirit making it extremely difficult for ordinary “owners of the airlines” to use broadcast facilities to air grievances or demands that may be construed as “destabilizing” . The
right of the state to protect itself has also been corrupted to refer to the right of the incumbent administrators to defend themselves against criticism.

3. THE RIGHT TO JOB SECURITY, FAIR COMPENSATION, SELF-ORGANIZATION AND RELATED INTERESTS – Paragraph five of the “Philippine Declaration for Press Freedom” reads: “We believe that press freedom necessarily encompasses the right of professionals and workers in the mass media to job security, fair compensation, just and humane working conditions and self-organization, as well as the right of media establishments to be protected against undue sanctions from sources of revenue.” These economic rights belong to all working people. Problems of management, of the rationality of the size of the industry, and the present shape of the economy as a whole, are all important factors that affect the enjoyment of these rights, but the locus of responsibility should be pinpointed in every case, and the rank and file must not be made to suffer the bigger weight of the economic problems.

4. THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST UNDUE RETRIBUTION – Media people are not exactly the most well-loved, especially among reluctant informants that get embarrassed or get in hot water due to media reportage and commentary. Mediapersons therefore need protection while in actual coverage and after their output has reached the public. We had have to contend with death threats and actual bullets, million-peso libel suits designed merely to harass and intimidate, sudden dismissals after aggrieved parties talk with management, and other forms of retribution. The hazards are graver during periods of civil strife, especially if some mediapersons are drawn into the struggle as combatants.

5. THE RIGHT TO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT – All employees, professionals and workers should have opportunities to improve on their individual capabilities in order to afford them advancement in their respective stations in the industry, thus improving their lot and increasing their sense of fulfillment.

THESE ARE THE RIGHTS OF MEDIAPERSONS. To discuss them in detail and to illustrate the rampant cases of their violation would need the length of a book. But we hope this brief representation would be of help to our media colleagues to start off discussions among themselves and with groups and entities that affect their work (employers, sources, etc.) The People’s (Philippine) Movement for Press Freedom (PMPF) is committed to help promote and assert their rights, and we are eager to cooperate and coordinate with other media-based organizations in the pursuit of this commitment.

This was first presented at a multilateral workshop conference held during the National Press Week of 1988, attended by representatives from the PMPF, National Press Club, Philippine Press Institute (PPI), Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa Media sa Pilipinas (KAMMPI), Press Foundation of Asia (PFA), Photojournalists Guild of the Philippines (PhotoGuild) and the provisional (organizing) committee of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). It was published in Press Freedom Advocate “Clipboard” No. 10 (May 10, 198, from which it was also clipped to be posted in newspapers and radio station booths in various parts of the country.

[i]Note: If you are a journalist, in professional newspapers, provincial and community press, campus publications, local and national magazines, a writer of any organizational newsletter, an editorial cartoonist, or a citizen that exercises your right to freedom of the press, we invite you to join the filipino_journalist s@yahoogroups. com