Cebu Citizens-Press Council

The Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) shall enforce this Code of Practice adopted by the editors-in-chief of the five daily newspapers in Cebu and ratified by the members of the 15-person CCPC membership during its quarterly meeting held at Cafe Georg, Cebu City on Feb. 3, 2006.

The Council shall seek the cooperation of the publishers or media owners and editors and news directors in the enforcement of the Code.

The Code is limited to the basics of fairness and accuracy.

Other aspects of journalism practice can be included when the industry and the public will have thoroughly appreciated the concept of the press council.

The Press Council notes that each newspaper, as well as broadcast stations that belong to the broadcast association KBP, has its own rules of conduct under which a complainant can seek redress.

Even without the prodding of the Press Council, editors and publishers and owners of news organizations aim for high standards, knowing that commercial success depends largely on public approval of journalism practice.

Even on subjects not covered by the Code, the Press Council in an en banc meeting may decide to entertain the complaint if it deems the subject so important that it can hurt the credibility of the Cebu press and the existence of the Press Council.

Right to Reply

1. Opportunity to reply is essential to fairness. Each media outlet shall allow an individual or institution mentioned and directly affected by a news or feature story the chance to give his side.

2. The reply shall be governed by the news outlet’s rules on space use, news or feature evaluation, good taste, legal limits, and the like, seeing to it always that the spirit behind the right to reply is given meaning.

Accuracy

1. Newspapers and broadcast news stations–amid pressure of deadline and limitations on reporting, writing and editing–shall strive to publish material that is accurate and not misleading or distorted.

2. Attribution is essential, particularly when the information is disputable or the claim is controversial, to avoid suspicion of fakery or falsehood and to remind the reader or listener that the news outlet is only the courier, not the source, of the material.

3. Whenever the news outlet recognizes that a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement, or distorted report has been published, it must be corrected promptly and with due prominence.

4. News outlets, while free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between news and opinion.