MEDIA AND

INFORMATION
LITERACY
Core Subject Description: The course introduces the learners to basic understanding of media
and information as channels of communication and tools for the development of individuals and
societies. It also aims to develop students to be creative and critical thinkers as well as
responsible users and competent producers of media and information.

Instructor: Jael Romanaseri Galeno-Patrimonio

 THREATS, RISKS, ABUSE AND MISUSE OF MEDIA
AND INFORMATION
At the end of the lesson, the you should be able to:

 Identify and practice behavior that respects the human right of people.
 Be a responsible, non-discrimatory netizen
 Identify media-related freedoms
 Discern the various levels of media piracy
 Critique the nuances of media censorship.

Article III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution is about the Bill of Rights. Section 4
specifically states: No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of
the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for
redress of grievances. This means that as a democratic country, all citizens are entitled to
freedom of expression and the state ought to protect that constitutional right. We should
remember that our freedom of speech and expression has limitations especially when we violate
the right of other people. Thus, we have SOME LAWS AGAINST THE ABUSE AND MISUSE
OF MEDIA AND INFORMATION.

LIBEL
Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines defines libel as “a public and
malicious imputation of a crime, or a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission,
condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a
natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead.” This means anyone
cannot publicly smear the reputation of another person.

Means by which libel is committed

Libel is committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio,

phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means
(Art 355, RPC)

Persons liable for the crime of libel

 Any person who shall publish, exhibit, or cause the publication or exhibition of any
defamation in writing or by similar means, shall be responsible for the same.
  Why libel is punishable?

The enjoyment of a private reputation is as much as a constitutional right as the possession of

life, liberty or property. It is one of those rights necessary to human society that underlie the
whole scheme of civilization.

The law recognizes the value of such reputation and imposes upon him who attacks it, by
slanderous words or libelous publication, the liability to make full compensation for the damages
done.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF LIBEL

 The imputation must be defamatory

 The imputation must be made public

 The imputation must be malicious

 The person defamed must be identifiable

Would a person be accused of libel if he posted an angry comment about the heavy traffic on
social media? For as long as the comment is directed against the work, not the official himself,
the can be no injury to his reputation.

For the comment to be considered fair and, therefore, free from any liability, it must be:

 An intellectual appraisal or evaluation

 Founded on facts, or what in the mind of a reasonable man would normally be accepted
as facts

 Free from any imputation of sordid or corrupt motives

 The result of honest opinions

 Free from malice

SLANDER
Oral defamation
ANTI-OBSCENITY LAW
According to Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, a material would be a violation of
the anti-obscenity law if it includes immoral doctrines, obscene publications, or exhibitions and
indecent shows.

Publications or materials prohibited under this law tend to:

 Glorify criminals or condone crimes

 Serve no other purpose but satisfy the market for violence, lust or pornography

 Offend a race or religion (Ethnocentrism: A person believes that his/her culture is

superior. Xenocentrism: A person believes that his/her culture is inferior)

 Promotes the use of prohibited drugs

 Encourages acts contrary to law, public order, morals, good customs, established
policies, lawful orders, decrees and edicts

Anti-Camcording Act of 2010 “prohibits and penalizes the unauthorized use,

possession and/or control of audiovisual recording devises for the unauthorized recording of
cinematographic films and other audiovisual works and/or their soundtracks in an exhibition
facility, providing penalties therefore and for other purposes.”

PIRACY
Our laws defined piracy extensively as “the unauthorized copying, reproduction,
dissemination, or distribution, importation, use, removal, alteration, substitution, modification,
storage, uploading, downloading, communication, making available to the public, or
broadcasting of protected material, electronic signature or copyrighted.

Cybercrime Law
Covers all other online anomalies such as identify theft, child pornography, data misuse,
cybersquatting, and other computer-related and internet-facilitated practices.
RIGHT OF PRIVACY
The Civil Code provides that “every person shall respect the dignity, personality, privacy and
peace of mind of his neighbors and other persons.

The following and similar acts, although they may not constitute criminal offense, may
produce cause of action for damages and other reliefs:

 The publication or dissemination of letters and other private communications without the
consent of the writer or his heirs;

 The publication of a picture or photograph without the consent of the subject who is not a
public figure, especially if it is for commercial purposes.

SEDITION
 Pertains to subversive acts, such as rebellion and insurrection, which incite people to go
against the government and resist its lawful authority and jurisdiction.

 According to Article 138 of the Revised Penal Code, any person who is found to be
inciting rebellion shall be penalized because this will endanger the security, safety, and
stability of the State.