Law on Mass Media and Communication 4th Exercise and Bonus Exercise
The 4th Regular Exercise is on Justice Malcolm’s enunciated principles in U.S. vs. Bustos on the underlying principle of the guarantee of a free press and freedom of expression (“Turning to the pages of history, we state nothing new when we set down that freedom of speech as cherished in democratic countries was unknown in the Philippine Islands before 1900. A prime cause for revolt was consequently ready made. xxx
“The interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. Completely liberty to comment on the conduct of public men is a scalpel in the case of free speech. The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom. Men in public life may suffer under a hostile and an unjust accusation; the wound can be assuaged with the balm of a clear conscience. A public officer must not be too thin-skinned with reference to comment upon his official acts. Only thus can the intelligence and the dignity of the individual be exalted.”):
Illustrate through a news event contained or discussed in a news report or news feature or opinion-editorial this principle ( What Justice Malcolm described as: “The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom …”).
(time frame: September 2019-February 2020)
The Bonus Exercise covers Item E, Chapter VI of the syllabus: If a gag order is imposed against all persons “connected with ABS-CBN” or representing ABS-CBN, or all persons or parties speaking or posting “on behalf” of ABS-CBN (“on behalf” means in favor of) , or those who are issuing statements on the issues involved in the shutting down of ABS-CBN : Who then could be covered by a blanket gag order?
Deadline for all exercises are Wednesdays 5pm: (Feb. 26, 2020 Wednesday at 5pm).
Please separate the regular post from the bonus post for ease of checking and recording. Tnx.)
Advance Happy Anniversary of the People’s Uprising, everyone!
