DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA) -- Top officials of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) recently oriented Information Officers Network (ION) e as well as media practitioners in Davao del Norte on the Philippine Journalist’s Code of Ethics and on the working definition of “media workers.”

PTFoMS Executive Director, Undersecretary Paul M. Gutierrez, explained that the Journalist’s Code of Ethics was drafted by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and discussed and finalized in a multilateral workshop conference held during the National Press Week in 1988.

(Don't feel that our PIOs (public information officers) are irrelevant in such gatherings. You are part of the broader family of media in our country.)

Attended by information officers of local government units and national government agencies and private media practitioners, the forum served as the learning session of the monthly meeting of ION in Davao del Norte.

During the session, lawyer Hue Jyro U. Go, the PTFoMS  chief of staff, discussed Administrative Order No. 01 (AO 1), which created the Presidential Task Force on Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty, and Security of the Members of the Media” and highlighted the definition of “media worker.”

occupation or not, in media practice, including print, the internet, radio broadcasts or commentaries, and television

He added that media workers are to be understood as those who are legitimately engaged in media practice, directly or indirectly, whether as a principal occupation or not, including but not limited to reporters, anchorpersons or commentators, columnists, cameramen, photographers in print, on the internet, radio, and on television.”

On the other hand, Gutierrez made it clear that based on the legal and operational definition of the media workers, he found no distinction whether they are government information officers or private media practitioners.

During the forum, ION Davao del Norte former vice president Joan Lanciola said that the determination of who should be recognized as legitimate media practitioners became a major concern of LGU information officers.

She recalled ION having  invited the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas with National Telecommunications Commission XI Regional Director Nelson Cañete to resolve the concern.  (JMDA/PIA Davao del Norte/Photo from DTI Davao del Norte)