bagwis EDITORIAL POLICY

A policy for the effective operation of BAGWIS, in accordance with Republic Act 7079,
otherwise known as the “Campus Journalism Act of 1991”

ARTICLE I: NAME, EMBLEM, DOMICILE

Section 1. The official student publication of Mindanao State University-General Santos City
shall be known under the name BAGWIS.

Section 2. The publication shall adopt an emblem of an eagle overlapping a pen in a circle
bearing the publication’s name.

Section 3. The publication’s domicile shall be at the Mindanao State University-General

Santos City, Barangay Fatima, General Santos City, Philippines.

ARTICLE II: DECLARATION OF POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES

Section 1. BAGWIS shall be an independent organization of journalists of Mindanao State
University-General Santos City.

Section 2. BAGWIS shall adhere to the provisions to Republic Act 7079, otherwise known as
the “Campus Journalism Act of 1991”.

Section 3. BAGWIS shall promote the development and the 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.

Section 4. BAGWIS shall uphold and protect the freedom of the press.

Section 5. BAGWIS shall serve as a mouthpiece of the student body in matters the student’s
general welfare and progress, as well as the continuing improvement of the
campus as a whole.

Section 6. BAGWIS shall acquaint the student body with the academic situation and
environment of Mindanao State University and with the issues in and out of the
university affecting the university and its members.

Section 7. BAGWIS shall continually encourage the students of MSU-GSC to be socially aware
and involved in the activities and important issues in and out of the university and
shall also encourage all who are interested in contributing to the publication,
opening opportunities as much as possible.

ARTICLE III: THE PUBLICATION

Section 1. BAGWIS shall be published on a frequency agreed by the Editorial Board on any
regular meeting.

Section 2. BAGWIS may also publish on several occasions and/or special issues agreed by
the Editorial Board on any regular meeting.

Section 3. The articles, photos, and artwork to be published in BAGWIS shall primarily consist
of those by the members written by the members of the Editorial Board.
Section 4. Contributions of Non-members of BAGWIS Editorial Board may be also published
after undergoing standard screening and editing procedures prescribed by the
Board.

Section 5. The Publication’s Departments.

a. News
b. Opinion
c. Feature and Literary
d. Photos
e. Layout
f. Technical

ARTICLE IV: THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Section 1. The Editorial Board shall be composed of bona fide students of the Mindanao State
University-General Santos City College Department who has taken and passed the
BAGWIS Editorial Exams.

Section 2. The Editorial Board shall be composed of an Editor-in-Chief, an Associate Editor, a

Managing Editor, Circulation Manager/s, an Opinion Editor, a News Editor, A
Feature and Literary Editor, Opinion Writer/s, News Writer/s, Feature or Literary
Writer/s, Proofreader/s, a Layout Director, Technical Head, Cartoonist/s, Layout
Artist/s, and Photojournalist/s.

Section 3. Any one member of the Editorial Board may hold more than one position in the
Board.

Section 4. The Editor-in-Chief

a. Selection. The Editor-in-Chief shall be selected through a process of aptitude
and capability tests ran by the adviser. The members of the Editorial Board may
also participate in the process of selection.
b. Functions.
i. The Editor-in-Chief shall represent the publication in internal and
external affairs.
ii. The Editor-in-Chief shall be the presiding officer of all assemblies of the
Board.
iii. The Editor-in-Chief shall only vote in case of a tie.
iv. The Editor-in-Chief shall be the chief editor of all write-ups.
v. The Editor-in-Chief shall be obliged to write at least one (1) opinion
article.
vi. The Editor-in-Chief may contribute write-ups to other departments.

Section 5. The Associate Editor

a. Selection. The Associate Editor shall be selected through a process of aptitude
and capability tests ran by the adviser. The members of the Editorial Board may
also participate in the process of selection
b. Functions.
i. The Associate Editor shall assume the responsibilities of the Editor-In-
Chief in case of absence of the latter
ii. The Associate Editor shall be the second chief editor of all write-ups.
 iii. The Associate Editor shall be obliged to write at least on opinion article.
iv. The Associate Editor may contribute writer-ups to other departments

Section 6. The Managing Editor

a. Selection. The Managing Editor shall be selected through a process of aptitude
and capability tests ran by the adviser. The members of the Editorial Board may
also participate in the process of selection
b. Functions.
i. The Managing Editor shall be responsible for managing all finances,
requests and purchases of BAGWIS.
ii. The Managing Editor shall oversee the printing of the publication.
iii. The Managing Editor shall provide regular reports on the finances,
requests, purchases, and the printing of the publication.

Section 7. The Circulation Manager

a. Selection. The Circulation Manager shall be selected through a process of
aptitude and capability tests ran by the adviser. The members of the Editorial
Board may also participate in the process of selection
b. Function.
i. The Circulation Manager shall be responsible for the circulation of the
publication, as well as transmitting written communication in the
Publication’s internal and external affairs.

Section 8. The Department Editors.

a. Selection. The Department Editors shall be selected through a process of
aptitude and capability tests ran by the adviser. The members of the Editorial
Board may also participate in the process of selection.
b. Functions.
i. The Department Editors shall act as the head of the department and
shall supervise the performance of their respective departments.
ii. The Department Editors shall be the initial editors of the write-ups in
their departments.
iii. The Department Editors shall be obliged to write write-ups for their
departments.
iv. The Department Editors may contribute write-ups for other
departments.

Section 9. The Department Writers and Members.

a. Selection. The Department Writers shall be selected through an open Editorial
Exam given by the BAGWIS Editorial Board and must have passed the oral
interview/s of selected members of the Editorial Board.
b. Functions.
i. The Department Writers shall be responsible for writing the articles for
their respective departments.
ii. The Department Writers may contribute write-ups for other
departments.
iii. Members of Photos department shall be responsible in the coverage of
events in school.
iv. Members of the Technical Department shall be responsible with the
maintenance and content creation for the publication’s official website.
Section 10. The Proofreaders.
a. Selection. The Proofreaders shall be appointed by the Editor-in-Chief from
among the members of the Editorial Board.
b. Functions.
i. The Proofreaders shall be responsible for identifying and correcting
typographical and grammatical errors in the write-ups during the
preparation for the printing of the publication.
ii. The Proofreaders also have the power to advise whether or not the
article is worth publishing or should be considered for rewriting.

Section 11. The Cartoonists.

a. Selection. The Cartoonists shall be selected through an open Editorial Exam
given by the BAGWIS Editorial Board and must have passed the oral interview/s
of selected members of the Editorial Board.
b. Functions.
i. The Cartoonists shall be responsible for the cartoons in the editorials
and other portions of the publication.

Section 12. The Technical Head

a. Selection. The Technical Head shall be appointed by the Editor-in-Chief from

among the members of the Editorial Board.

Section 13. The Layout Director

a. Selection. The Layout Director shall be appointed by the Editor-in-Chief from

among the layout artists in case of vacancy of the position.
b. Functions.
i. The Layout Director and the Layout Artists shall be responsible for the
primary layouting of the issues of the publication.

Section 14. The Photo Editor.

a. Selection. The Photo Editor shall be appointed by the Editor-in-Chief from

among the members of the Editorial Board.
b. Functions.
i. The Photo Editor shall be responsible in the management and editing
of the photos to be published in the issues of the publication as well as
those to be uploaded in the official website of the publication.

ARTICLE V: ADVISERS
Section 1. Selection. There shall be a faculty/staff advisor who shall be selected each year
by the members of the Editorial Board.

Section 2. Duties. The responsibilities of the faculty advisor shall be limited to technical
guidance only.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings. Regular meetings shall be held every two weeks and on Wednesdays
during the regular school year.
Section 2. Special Meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Editor-in-Chief.

Section 3. Department head Editors may call exclusive department meetings.

Section 4. Meetings shall be rescheduled when University Activities/holidays fall on the day
of the regular meeting.

Section 5. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of 2/3 of the membership.

Section 6. A ‘fifty percent plus one’ vote shall be required to represent consensus.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Selection. This Editorial Policy may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote
of the chapter membership.

Section 2. Notice. All members shall receive advance notice of the proposed amendment at
a week before the meeting.

Section 3. The Editor-in-Chief shall appoint individuals to create a draft for the amendment of
the by-laws. This draft shall then be presented to the Board for further clarification

ARTICLE VIII: FINANCING

Section 1. Funding for BAGWIS shall include students’ subscriptions, University’s
appropriations, donations and other legal sources of funds.
Section 2. The Editorial Board shall collect the BAGWIS fees during Enrollment.
Section 3. Students shall be denied validation upon nonpayment of BAGWIS fee.
Section 4. Official Receipts shall be issued to students and duplicates shall be secured by
BAGWIS.
Section 5. The fund shall be deposited in the bank duly chosen by the Editorial Board.
Section 6. Withdrawals from the bank shall be accompanied by a resolution approving the
disbursement.
Section 7. All expenses shall be disbursed in consideration with the Publication’s semestral
budget.
Section 8. The Editorial Board shall select an adviser for finance who is a permanent member
of the faculty or the administration.
Section 9. The adviser for finance shall also serve as the external auditor for BAGWIS.
Section 10. The Editorial Board from among its members shall select an internal auditor.
Section 11. The Editor-in-Chief and the Associate Editor shall be disqualified from the posts of
the managing editor and the internal auditor.
Section 12. There shall be three (3) signatories for the bank account: a) the Editor-in-Chief, b)
the Associate Editor and c) the Managing Editor.
Section 13. The adviser or finance and the Editorial Board shall keep separate records of
accounts that shall be subject for inspection by the auditors.
Section 14. A financial report shall be prepared by the managing editor, shall be audited by the
internal and external auditors, and shall be approved by the Editor-in-Chief. Such
report shall be published/posted on conspicuous areas in the University.
Section 15. BAGWIS Funds shall be used exclusively for the purposes stipulated under
Republic Act 7079, otherwise known as the ‘Campus Journalism Act of 1991’. The
budget shall include printing costs, transportation, and other expenses during
printing, office supplies, participation of BAGWIS representatives to institutional,
local, regional, national and international press conferences, trainings, seminars
and events, honoraria of members of the Board and other incidental expenses
necessary for the operation and management of BAGWIS.

ARTICLE IX: HONORARIA

Section 1. Members of the BAGWIS Editorial Board shall be entitled to receive honoraria.
Section 2. The amount of honorarium for each member of the Board shall be determined by
the Editor-in-chief on the basis of his/her performance as a member of the Board
and his/her position in the Board.
Section 3. Expulsion/resignation of a member of the Board shall forfeit his/her right to claim
the honorarium.
Section 4. Honoraria shall be released once a semester after all the works for the final issue
for the semester has been finished.
Section 5. Honoraria shall be included in the Publication’s semestral budget.

ARTICLE X: ASSEMBLIES
Section 1. The Editorial Board shall have regular meetings once a month on a day agreed by
the members of the Editorial Board.
Section 2. Special/Emergency meetings may be convened by the Editor-in-Chief.
Section 3. Department Head Editors may call exclusive department meetings.
Section 4. Assembles shall be rescheduled when University activities/holidays fall on the day
of the regular meeting.
Section 5. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6. A ‘fifty percent plus one’ vote shall be required to represent consensus.

ARTICLE XI: EXPULSION/RESIGNATION

Section 1. A member of the Editorial Board who fails to perform his/her functions shall
automatically be removed from the Board.
Section 2. A member of the Editorial Board who fails to follow the code of ethics stipulated in
this policy shall have a maximum of three (3) warnings before expulsion.
Section 3. Violations to the code of ethics shall immediately be reported and explained to the
Editor-in-Chief through a written report no later than three (3) days after the
violation.
Section 4. A member of the Editorial Board who wishes to withdraw his/her membership from
the Board shall write a written resignation to the Editor-in-Chief.
Section 5. The Editor in Chief shall write a letter to accept/reject a resignation or to inform the
expulsion of a member.
Section 6. All rights and privileges accorded to member of the Editorial Board shall be
forfeited upon expulsion/resignation.
 ARTICLE XII: EQUIPMENT
Section 1. The Property Custodian. The role of the property custodian shall be assumed by
Managing Editor.
Section 2. The Equipment. Laptops, mouse, bags, cameras, memory cards, tripods and all
that shall be procured using the fund of BAGWIS shall be inventoried as equipment.
Section 3. Storage. The equipment must be stored in a safe, locked container, placed within
the university grounds.
Section 4. The Use of Equipment. The usage of BAGWIS equipment is limited only to the
members of the Editorial Board. However, before any member can assume the use
of any equipment, he must submit a request to the Property Custodian, to be
approved by the Editor-in-chief, associate editor, and the managing editor.
Section 5. Extent of Use. The duration allowed for a member of the board to use any
equipment shall be agreed upon by the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, and
Managing Editor. The member must surrender the equipment to the Property
Custodian when the time allowed for him to use it has last. Failure to do so may
result in suspension of usage.
Section 6. Suspension. A suspension may be disallowing usage of the equipment for a set
amount of time agreed upon by the Editors.
Section 7. Damages or Losses. When an equipment is damaged or lost, the member who
borrowed the equipment at the time shall be liable with repairs or replacements.

ARTICLE XIII: RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

Section 1. It is a right and privilege of a member of BAGWIS Editorial Staff to:
a. Identify himself/herself as a member of BAGWIS and as a campus journalist.
b. Cover events inside and outside the University.
c. Have access to crucial information needed in writing transparent articles.
d. Author a resolution.
e. Vote as a part of the Editorial Board.
f. Resign as a member of the Editorial Board.
g. Claim an honorarium.
Section 2. The Editorial Board, the University, and the Republic of the Philippines may grant
other rights, which are in any way not contrary to the provisions of RA 7079 and
the laws of the Land.

ARTICLE XIV: DUTIES

Section 1. It shall be the duty and obligation of every member of the Editorial Board to:
a. Write, inform, and influence the students;
b. Protect the credibility of BAGWIS in whatever undertakings;
c. Punctually attend and actively participate in meetings, activities, and
implementations of projects and plans;
d. Take initiative and accept new tasks and others as may be provided by the
University and the Editorial Board; and
e. Abide the BAGWIS Code of Ethics which are as follows:
i. A member of the Editorial Board must not in any circumstances accept
bribe.
ii. A member of the Editorial Board must not have any affiliations with any
political figure or party.
 iii. A member of the Editorial Board must not involvement in politics beyond
voting. In no instances may a member endorse or participate in a
campaign for a political party or candidate.
iv. A member of the Editorial Board who wishes to acquire membership in
other organizations must properly inform the Editor-in-Chief.
v. A member of the Editorial Board must not engage in any interest that will
create as to his/her responsibilities and ability in writing articles
objectively.
vi. A member of the Editorial Board must be restricted from the misuse and
abuse of his/her privileges as a campus journalist.
vii. A member of the Editorial Board must ensure confidentiality of
information gathered.
viii. A member of the Editorial Board must not write about any individual
related to him/her by blood or marriage or any individual with which the
member has a personal relationship with.
ix. A member of the Editorial Board must exert all efforts to make articles
fair, accurate, and balanced.
x. A member of the Editorial Board must acknowledge and clarify in print,
errors of fact or impression committed.
xi. Common sense and good judgment must be enforced in applying
professional and ethical principles unstipulated hereto.

Authored by:

DAVID JAYSON B. OQUENDO

Associate Editor

Signed:

SHELLA MAE P. PAJOTA DAVID JAYSON B. OQUENDO REMWIL C. MAXILOM

Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor Managing Editor