PROGRAM/COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Special Program in Journalism (SPJ) develops learners with the skills and talent in print, broadcast, and online media. The program aims to enrich the experiences, hone the journalistic skills and competencies of student-writers, and strengthen free and responsible journalism. LEGAL BASES
Section 2 of RA 7079 also known as CAMPUS JOURNALISM ACT OF 1991:
“It is the declared policy of the State to uphold and protect the freedom of the press even at the campus level and to promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth. In furtherance of this policy, the State shall undertake various programs and projects aimed at improving the journalistic skills of students concerned and promoting responsible and free journalism.”
Rule 2, Section 2 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of CJA of 1991:
“It has been declared a State policy to uphold and protect the freedom of the press even at the campus level and to promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth. In furtherance of this policy, the State shall undertake various programs and projects aimed at improving the journalistic skills of students concerned and promoting responsible and free journalism.”
“It is therefore, the duty of all officials of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), school/college/university heads, campus paper teacher advisers, and personnel involved in the campus journalism program in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels of education to support and promote the campus journalism program policies and objectives under Republic Act No. 7079 and existing laws embodied as principles in the Constitution.
DepEd Memorandum No. 149 s. 2011, Career Pathways for High School Students
“2. The various curricular programs have been designed to enable students to understand their strengths, pursue their interests, and develop their multiple intelligences. These special curricular programs which the school can offer include the following:
a. Special Program in Sports (SPS);
c. Engineering and Science Education Program (ESEP) and Science and Technology (S&T);
d. Special Program in Journalism (SPJ);
e. Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL); and
f. Technical-Vocational (Tech-Voc) Education including the newly designed Career Pathways in Technology and Livelihood Education (CP-TLE).
“4. The role of the school is to provide opportunities to discover their passion and pursue it through the different students’ clubs which will be serve as helpful venues for them to explore, hone, enrich and exhibit their crafts. Thus, the schools are encouraged to offer any of the aforementioned special curricular programs on top of the core curriculum.”
DepEd Memorandum No. 46 s. 2012, Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of the Special Curricular Programs at the Secondary Level
“1. As part of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, corresponding revisions have been made on the curriculum of the following Special Programs: Science and Technology, Arts, Sports, Journalism, Foreign Language and Technical-Vocational Education.”
DepEd Order No. 021 s. 2019, Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program
Special Curricular Programs (SCPs)
“68. The SCPs ‘have been designed to enable students to understand their strengths, pursue their interests, and develop their multiple intelligences (DepEd Memorandum No. 149 s. 2011.)’ Through SCPs, it is envisioned that DepEd will produce globally-competitive learners imbued with desirable values and equipped with 21st century skills that can contribute to nation-building and national transformation while preserving Filipino culture, heritage and identity.
69. Specifically, these SCPs aim to provide high school learners with a foundation for a career pathway that is aligned with their interests and aptitudes.”
Table 2.23: Special Curricular Programs (SCPs) No. 3 Special Program in Journalism (SPJ)
SPJ develops learners with a talent in writing and broadcasting. SPJ is designed to develop learners’ skills in mass communication, print, online and broadcast media.
