KBP Broadcast Code Summary

Part 1. Program Standards

Article 1. News and Public affairs
News must be able to inform the public, must have at least 30 minutes program in all radio stations,
and must be factual and straightforward.
Accepting any form of bribery to publish falsity or to make stories prevalent is prohibited.
Expressing personal opinions is discouraged to avoid planting biases on the listeners.
Selection of credible sources must be carefully done.
Identity of news sources must me stated, unless confidentiality was demanded upon getting the news.
Airing of rumours or gossips shall in lieu of news is prohibited.
Unconfirmed reports shall not be aired unless immediately necessary for public knowledge, and must
be verified as soon as possible.
Interviews must be properly presented and must not be edited.
Conventional methods must first be used. Unconventional methods are only used if the there are no
others resorts.
Only trained journalists shall use unconventional techniques in information gathering.
Labels and identity of subjects of audio, video and photo files must be visible in time broadcasting.
Re-enactment of events must be clearly labelled.
News and commentaries must not be sensationalized.
Article 2. Analysis and Commentaries
Analysis and commentaries shall be able to encourage public discussion of issues, shall be handled by
persons who practice broadcasting ethics, and shall inform the public of current issues.
Contrasting ideas shall be presented fairly, and must not distort the facts.
Article 3. Coverage Involving Children
The child dignity must be respected and his/her innocence must not be exploited.
Sensationalizing disabled children or children belonging to ethnic groups must be avoided.
Ambush interviews of children are avoided. Respect for their privacy must always be observed.
Children shall be protected for emotional stress, shall be consented before interviewed, ans mist be
interviewed by authorized persons only.
Bribing children to re-tell traumatic experienced is prohibited.
Any programs/materials involving children must comply with the laws.
Article 4. Personal Attacks
Personal attacks against to any person or fellow broadcaster are prohibited.
When personal attacks are aired, an opportunity to reply must be granted to the attacked
person/institution.
Article 5. Correcting Mistakes
When a mistake is aired, it must be identified and corrected.
Article 6. Crime and Crisis Situations
The coverage of crimes in progress/crisis situations shall consider safety above public interest, and
shall not provide support to the perpetrator.
Plans of resolving the situation must not be broadcasted.
The station/personnel must not engage in communication with the perpetuator without coordination
with officers.
Anchors/reporters/station personnel shall not initiate negotiations or interfere with negotiations
conducted by officers.
Provoking the perpetuator is prohibited.
Persons taken into custody by authorities must not be identified unless formal complaint against them
has been filed.
Article 7. Individual Rights
The right to privacy of individuals must be respected.
Persons grieving must be treated with sensitivity. They shall be allowed to grieve in private.
News coverage must not interfere with ones right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
 Proper labelling of persons should be observed to protect their reputation and safety.
Humiliation of any persons is prohibited.
Article 8. Political Propaganda
Programs must not favour any candidate of political party.
Airtime of political propaganda and its rates must follow the laws.
All broadcast of election propaganda must be labelled paid for by followed by the name of candidate
or propaganda.
Article 9. Public Complaints and Grievances
Complaints, criticism, or grievances against persons/institutions must be limited to the issues that are
of public interest.
Identity of complainants must be verified before it is can be aired.
Subjects of complaint, criticisms or grievances aired must be given opportunity to reply by the station
where complains against them are aired.
Article 10. Calls or Messages
Calls or messages on air shall be guided on the manners and language they are to use on air.
Ensuring legitimacy of requested airing of calls or appeals must be considered.
Airing of personal calls, appeal or messages from unknown sources is prohibited.
Article 11. Childrens Programs and Welfare
Programs promoting childrens development are encouraged.
At least 15% daily airtime shall be suitable for children.
Childrens programs shall not promote violence and depict sexual subjects.
Childrens programs shall promote values and shall complement learning from school.
Advertisements of products and services or trailers not suitable for children must not be aired on
childrens programs.
Any material that is harmful to children must be aired before after a childrens program.
Trailers classifies as Restricted (R) by the MTRCB shall be aired only between 9:00pm and 5:00am.
Article 12. Religion
Religious programs must promote the positive role of religion in society.
Religious programs must not aim to accuse any person or organizations with different beliefs.
Religious programs shall observe the freedoms of religion and religious expression.
Article 13. Superstition and the Occult
Programs featuring superstitions shall not induce belief in them. Programs that promote occult
practices and the like are prohibited.
Article 14. Medical, Legal and Other Professional Advice
Only duly qualified and authorized persons shall be allowed to give medical, legal or other advices.
Any medical, legal or professional information must come from authorized sources.
Any information on alternative medicine shall comply the regulations of the BFAD.
Article 15. Music
Broadcast stations shall promote Filipino music.
Radio stations must play at least 4 Original Pilipino Music (OPM) per hour.
Music with lyrics that dont conform to Filipino values shall not be played.
Sing with vulgar lyrics or that promotes racism or Satanism shall not be played.
Bribery in exchange for playing music on air is prohibited.
Ranking of recorded music must be based on valid criteria.
Article 16. Fund Raising
Fund raising programs or messages shall clearly state the organizers and its beneficiaries.
Article 17. Quiz Shoes, Contests, Public Participation Programs and Promotions
Contests and promos shall be conducted with fairness and must comply with the regulations.
All contest rules and details must be announced 3 days prior to the contest. Winners and prizes shall
be announced after the contest.
Participation must not destroy the participants reputation.
Article 18. Gambling and Betting
 The coverage of forms of gambling and betting can be allowed and conducted only by authorized
government agencies or if licensed or authorized.
A warning that gambling or betting programs are not suitable for children must be stated before the
airing of such programs.
The announcement of gambling and betting results shall be authorized.
Advertising lotteries must not entice the public to bet.
Article 19. National Development
Support for national development shall be pursued always. Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that
promote national development shall be aired.
Article 20. Culture and Tradition
Traditional Filipino values must be promoted.
Any form of disrespect to traditions and cultures is prohibited.
Opportunities to promote and/or express Filipino identity must be available.
Broadcasters must immerse in cultures to deliver the best service to communities.
Article 21. Respect for Law and Order
Broadcast facilities must not be used to advocate violence against the government.
Article 22. Discrimination
A persons colour, race ethnicity, gender, and disability shall not be used to ridicule him/her.
Article 23. Mentally and Physically Challenged Persons
Mentally and physically challenged persons shall be treated with respect.
Article 24. Crime and Violence
Crime and violence shall not be presents as good.
Criminals shall not be glorified.
Violence shall not be promoted.
Article 25. Sex, Obscenity and Pornography
Sex and related subjects must be treated with care.
Pre-marital and extra-marital sex must not me justified.
Explicit depiction of sexual acts shall be prohibited.
Article 26. Liquor, Cigarettes, and Dangerous Drugs
The of liquor, cigarettes and dangerous drugs must not be presented as acceptable.
Article 27. On-air Language
Vulgar language is prohibited. Language tending to promote violence is prohibited.
Personal insults are prohibited.
Article 28. On-air Decorum
Behavior of persons in entertainment and variety programs must be appropriate.
Persons who are not sober shall not be allowed to go on air.
Article 29. Qualification of On-air/Program Persons
Persons allowed to handle programs shall have adequate knowledge and competence to insure
integrity and credibility of the broadcast media.
Article 30. Accreditation
Persons who go on air and whose job is to produce material which go on air must have accreditation
from KBP.
Article 31. Bribery
Asking or receiving any form of bribes is prohibited.
Article 32. Blocktimers
The term blocktimer shall refer to natural or juridical person that buys contracts for or is given
broadcast airtime.
Article 33. Universal Ethical Standards
Universally accepted ethical practices and code of conduct, about Philippine laws are adopted in this
code.
Violations of the code of conduct for broadcast media not covered by his code shall be sanctioned with
censure.