KBP bares updates on broadcast code
FOLLOWING a widely-broadcast hostage taking incident at the Luneta Park in 2010 and some controversies that hounded television programs involving children, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has updated its code of ethics for broadcasters nationwide.
These new developments were discussed by KBP Legal Counsel Rudolph ‘Rejie’ Jularbal during the seminar on broadcast Journalism held at the Asian Fisheries Academy in Dagupan last week attended by almost 200 journalism students and local media practitioners.
Jularbal stressed the importance of the safety and security of human life above anything else, saying “No story or coverage is more valuable than human life.”
Revisions and updates on Article 6 or the Crisis and Crime Situations were spawned by the bloody hostage taking on August 26, 2010 and discussed the primordial consideration of the safety and security of human lives above any urgency to disseminate news.
Citing Section 2 of the code, he reiterated that “coverage of crime and crisis situations shall not provide vital information, or offer comfort or support to the perpetrator.”
Broadcast stations are told to desist from reporting strategies, plans, and tactics employed by the authorities to resolve the situation.
“It is not wrong to cover an event, what is wrong is when you air it at a critical moment,” Jularbal explained.
He stressed that broadcast practitioners in the field are also barred from communicating or negotiating with the perpetrator or victim without coordinating with the ground commander.
CHILDREN
Article II of the code encourages broadcast stations to air programs that would help children develop their full physical, mental, and social potential as well as attain psychological, emotional and spiritual maturity.
Citing the Jularlbal said children should not be made to perform acts, use language, or wear attires that are vulgar, obscene, indecent or inappropriate for children, he said.
Jularbal added that the Movie Television Review and Classification Board has added ‘SPG’ for strong parental guidance covering films and shows unfit for children, to its classification review (PIA-Pangasinan/ Venus Sarmiento)
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