Broadcasters group holds accreditation exam

THE Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) held recently an accreditation exam for local broadcasters, radio station owners, and block timers in Northern Mindanao at the City Tourism Hall.

Albino Quinlog, KBP Northern Mindanao president, said the accreditation exam is aimed at raising the standards of professionalism in the broadcast industry, citing there are still individuals who go on air that are not yet accredited by the KBP, especially the block timers.

Quinlog said the accreditation will also help in providing good benefits to the announcers as some of them are not well paid, thus luring them to engage in some unethical practices.

THE Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) holds an accreditation exam

He said that since election is fast approaching and announcers play a vital role in delivering news, the association will make sure to regulate KBP member-stations to disallow unaccredited announcers or individuals to go on air unless they pass the accreditation exam.

Quinlog also said that any violation made by station owners and its managers will be sanctioned by the association and be given monetary fine.

“Our chapter aims to come up with credible and responsible reporting in delivering news to the listeners,” he said.

Quinlog urged all management of radio and TV stations to follow the regulations set by the KBP and encourage their members to take the accreditation exam.

During the examination, around 84 examinees from Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Butuan and Iligan took the accreditation test facilitated by Verginia Velasco from the KBP national office.

The examinees were given a half day seminar on the code of ethics of journalism before they took the exam in the afternoon.

“We have the highest number of examinees this year as compared to 2011 with only 40 individuals since we really obliged the block timers to take the exam,” Quinlog said.

He hoped that the examinees, who will pass the accreditation test and attain their license, will not abuse the power of being the people behind the fourth estate of the country, and that they all be responsible in performing their duties.