1

CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM

INTRODUCTION
Decades have marked the beginning of a fast changing world. It has
become the time when finding a job gets tougher due to the increasing demands
of employers, growing competence of job seekers and the sudden growth of the
number of other qualified job applicants. Being aware of these employment
problems and other possible barriers, graduates and present job seekers would
compile all the clippings from the classified ads of newspapers; go from office to
office for resume. Some are surfing on the internet for job openings that would
best fit their line of interest, expertise, desired salary or just settle with being
under employed.
Education is an important factor that contributes to nations growth where
they produce competent people who will help for the solution of one of the
countrys problems unemployment.1 Tertiary education gained from universities
and colleges has its paramount roles in developing the society, and for training
the future elite. Universities nowadays all over the country offer many courses for
students to serve as a training ground for them to enhance their skills, abilities
and to gain more knowledge about the degree that they are taking up. Many
courses may suit their specializations and skills as individuals so that they are
able to become more confident with the course they are enrolled in.

In the Philippines, one university stands out in the Bicol region in providing
quality education and excellent graduates. The Bicol University (BU) aims to
produce graduates of any course to be ready to compete in the real world. In its
thrust in becoming a university of excellence, Bicol University offers a wide array
of courses and programs that are competitive locally and globally. The university
operates in six campuses composed of 14 colleges, offering 112 curricular
programs and provides complete education from pre-school to graduate level. It
has produced thousands of competent graduates, many of whom excelled in
various fields such as agriculture, fisheries, accountancy, engineering, social
work, nursing and communications to name a few.
In the field of communications, one of the courses offered in Bicol
University is the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. The said course is designed to
provide students with knowledge and skills in the different aspects of writing for
newspapers, magazines, as well as in radio and television broadcasting. The
program aims to produce graduates who are ethical, competent and have a deep
understanding of medias influence on the society as a whole. The AB in
Journalism program takes four years to complete.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism aims to produce professional graduates in
different fields of print media and advertising, public relations, government
service and non-government organization. The course provides students with
necessary communication skills and technical competencies that will prepare
them to be more productive in their chosen fields. It helps in developing critical
and analytical future media practitioners with a high sense of social responsibility

who can contribute to the freedom of speech, of expression and of the press. The
said program also aims to generate knowledge relevant and responsive to the
demands of communication and other types of media industries. AB Journalism
is one of the courses of Bicol University, College of Arts and Letters. It is
designed to develop and harness students potentials to become effective and
relevant media practitioners in the future.
Journalism is a form of writing that tells people about things that really
happened and is characterized by direct presentation of facts or description of
events without an attempt at interpretation, but that they might not have known
about already. Graduates of this course can work at newspapers, magazines,
and websites or for TV or radio stations. 2 Working in the field of media requires a
great skills in journalism which means one must be skilled in writing.
Studying Journalism is very important to people for them to understand
the world around them and to be informed of the current events and issues that
are happening in their society. According to Bob Franklin, one of the authors of
the Key Concepts in Journalism, journalism makes people slow down and
crane their necks at the scene of a road accident 3, which means people tend to
be curious of the happenings in their surroundings. They are paying for some
written articles about matters of which they are unaware.
This study also sought for the proposal of the Journalism program for the
secondary level of education, for them to know what to expect in case they also
take Journalism as a course in college. This course will give them more exposure

to local events in the society as well as current events that may help them to
become critical thinkers as well as help them become more socially linked to the
society. AB Journalism has a very high impact in life and career and has a variety
of job opportunities after you graduates. Taking up the journalism course is good
because of its several benefits.
According to the book Taking Journalism Seriously by Barbie Zelizer,
Journalism refers to the actions that have come to be associated with news
work.3 The profession covers gathering and

handling of dissemination of

information for the mass media. For Lee E. Isaacson and Duane Brown in their
book entitled Career Information Counselling and Development, careers are
unique to each person and created by what one chooses or does not choose. 4 An
individual still chooses his/her career depending on what fits his/her abilities. This
is also supported by the book Employment and Career Opportunities after
Graduation, which states that according to the employed graduates, the most
important factor in making a job satisfactory was the proper use of their skills. 5
One important thing to consider in choosing the job is based on ones skills. At
this point, one will look into the knowledge and training he/she acquired over the
years they stayed in college.
However, the number of unemployed graduates is partly caused by
imbalances in the economy. The financial crisis and economic downturns in
recent years are certainly reasons for the reduction in the number of jobs, but
supply-side factors also contributed to the high numbers of unemployed
graduates.

This reveals that some graduates tend to end up on jobs which are

not really related to their skills. One reason is economic- some graduates would
choose a job for the sake of earning, regardless of the nature of it as long as they
have one and they earn from it.
The researchers decided to choose the AB Journalism graduates
belonging to batches 2010 to 2012. This study enabled them to see the trends or
changes as well as the patterns in terms of jobs or professions that the
Journalism graduates have. Researchers used an approach for the study to get
information as an output for the Print and Broadcast Media Departments
reference. The data will serve as a basis for future planning activities in
improving the curriculum of the AB Journalism program. Therefore, it is indeed
significant to determine the status of the graduates as well as the relevance of
knowledge and skills that they have gained in the course of their study to their job
or profession. This study traced the employment status of the AB Journalism
graduates from batches 2010-2012 to help the future graduates of the said
course to be ready for their possible jobs and professions and help them
visualize themselves in the real world.
The present study entitled A Tracer Study on the Employment Status of
AB Journalism Graduates of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters from
Batches 2010-2012 would provide feedback to the Print and Broadcast Media
Department regarding the performance of AB Journalism graduates. The study
aimed to extend the valuable information on what specific skills of Journalism
majors excel in and those they need to improve on. It showed the demographic
and employment profile of the graduates and determined the skills that are most

and least helpful to the graduates. In addition, the study also sought to know the
factors that affect the graduates in choosing their job. Furthermore, the
researchers pointed out that the AB Journalism graduates from batches 20102012 use the skills acquired in school to their current job. Overall, the study
provided significant feedback from the graduates that can be used towards
revising the programs curriculum and make it more responsive to the needs of
the job market.
Statement of the Problem
This study focused on the status of employment of the AB Journalism
graduates of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters from batches 20102012. It sought to answer the following questions like:
1. What is the demographic profile of the AB Journalism Graduates from
batches 2010-2012 in terms of :
a. Age
b. Gender
c. Civil Status
d. Educational Attainment
e. Monthly Income/Annual Income
2. What is the Employment Profile of the graduates in terms of the following:
a. Industry that they belong in
b. Type of Present Employment
3. What are the skills gained by Journalism graduates from the program that
they were able to utilize in their jobs?
4. What information about Journalism graduates could be generated to
create a database?

Scope and Delimitation

The present study focused on the Employment Status of AB-Journalism

graduates of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) from the
batches 2010-2012. It gave insights to AB Journalism students of Bicol University
on what job they would get or on what companies or agencies they can apply
after they graduate. This also served as a tracking tool to trace their status. This
study tracked down the jobs of the graduates in conjunction with the factors
indicated in the statement of the problem such as, the demographic and
employment profile of the graduates, which are used to verify their status of
employment.
This study also focused on what job the Journalism graduates can find
based on the output that the researchers gathered from their respondents. The
study is limited to the graduates of AB-Journalism in the years 2010-2012. Thus,
it did not include other graduates from other batches and other courses in the
College of Arts and Letters.

Significance of the Study

This research is significant to the following:
Print and Broadcast Media Department. This will help them determine
the strengths and weaknesses of the AB Journalism course based on the
responses of the graduates. It will also help to determine what specific areas they
should focus more and further enhance in order to make the program more
responsive towards preparing the students for their future professions.
AB Journalism Students. This will help them realize whether the
knowledge and skills developed in the program would be useful to them in their
future careers. It will also encourage them to appreciate and pursue their course.
Graduates of AB Journalism. This will help them have insights about the
status of their batch mates and for them to keep in touch and to have updates to
them through knowing their employment status.
College of Arts and Letters. This will help the college track the AB
Journalism graduates by the use of the database. This will also help the college
in improving the courses curriculum through the recommendation of the
graduates.
Researchers. This will teach them to value time, patience and hard work.
They will also become more sensitive and knowledgeable about the reality of the
profession they are studying.

Future researchers. This will serve as a guide or reference in their future

studies on the subject matter. This will also help them to analyze and understand
well their study.

10

NOTES

Alicia S. Bustos, Ed. D. and SoccoroC.Espritu, Ph. D., 1985,

Psychological, Anthrophological and Sociological Foundations of Education:
Revised Edition II,
2

Robert Niles, 1995-2013, A PDF Version Prepared for McKinley

Elementary School, Pasadena, Calif. Robert Niles. All rights reserved.
http://www.robertniles.com/journalism/
3

Barbie Zelizer, 2004, Taking Journalism Seriously; News of the Academy

(Sage Publications, Inc., , Thousand Oaks, California)
4

Lee E. Isaacson and Duane Brown, Career Information, Career

Counselling and Career Development 4 th Edition (A Viadcom Company,
1997).p.7-8
5

Adriano A. Arcelo and Bikas B. Sanyal, 1987Employment and Career

Opportunities after Graduation, (The Philippine Experience).UNESCO.p.1-3
6

UNESCO Bangkok, 2012, Graduate Employability in Asia, UNESCO

Bangkok Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education. p.7
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002157/215706e.pdf, Date Accessed:
12/08/13.

11

CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the related literature and studies after the thorough
and in-depth search done by the researchers. It also includes the synthesis of the
state of the art, theoretical and conceptual framework with their paragidms to fully
understand the research and lastly, the definition of terms for better
comprehension of the study.

Related Literature
A Tracer study is an endeavour to trace graduates of higher education
institutes. Graduate Surveys, Alumni Researches, Graduate career tracking
or Follow-up Study are other term for it. Through a tracer study, an institution is
able to evaluate the quality of education given to their graduates by knowing the
graduates placements and positions in the society which later can be used as a
benchmark in producing more qualified and competitive graduates. 1 This
information is related to the present study because it clarifies the main intentions
of the present researchers to find out the employment status of AB Journalism
graduates from batches 2010-2012.
In the book, Employment and Career Opportunities after Graduation by
Arcelo and Sanyal, the existence of a huge number of educated unemployed can
lead to a certain amount of political instability in a country, for they are being
among the educated class and knowledgeable about the privileges society can

12

offer, feel doubly deprived. In this matter, the analysis of the unemployment
situation in the Philippines has shown that the young graduates are still in the
job-hunting stage.2 This book is provides a very vital revelation of the status of
young graduates which is very significant to the present study since this present
undertaking traced the employment status of the AB Journalism graduates from
batches 2010. It is also good to note whether the findings of this study support
the statement taken from this book.
The Employment and Employability profile of a Select Group of Filipino
College Graduates by Allan B. de Guzman and Belinda V. de Castro, states that
graduates need to develop personal skills, qualities and experiences that enable
to them to compete in the labor market. 3 The author advises the need for
students to do everything they can for them to grow as experts in their chosen
field while they are still in school. All these trainings and experiences will just
benefit them where the time comes that will be establishing their own careers.
This is related the present study as it gave suggestions to further improve the AB
Journalism curriculum which must live up to demands and expectations of the
different industries.
The Philippines may go beyond the standing of employment in the
country, rights and importance should be understood. As specified in the book
Labor Economics by Cristobal M. Pagoso, in view of low literacy rates in rising
unemployment in developing countries, it has become imperative that greater
educational opportunities should be provided for the great proportion of adult
population as well as the large number of youth outside the formal school system

13

to help them acquire further knowledge and skill thereby improving their
livelihood and strengthening the country.4
From the book Contemporary Social Problems and Issues, it states that
the educational levels and literacy rates of workers in the Philippines are among
the highest in Asia, but technical, manual and managerial are poorly developed
and in short supply. There is an over-abundance of college graduates that most
especially in Manila area were in the field of education, law and other
professionals exceed in demand to find employment appropriate to their
educational training.5 This information may be considered in the improvement of
AB Journalism curriculum to add the technical; manual and managerial skills
which are said to be lacking among the Filipino graduates.
Employment is the capacity of an individual to showcase his talent and to
use the trainings gathered in the course, Thomas Powers on his book Educating
for Careers stated the notion that marketable skills provided todays crop of
workers employment opportunities. 6 The statement of Powers is relevant to the
present study because he pointed out that education is very important in having
the marketability and general skills needed in finding an appropriate job. In this
study, it helps to develop such skills among the college graduates for them to find
or to get an appropriate job.
Robert W. McIntosh on his book Employee Management Standards
aimed to determine that the employees performance on the job and attitude
about the job depending on the degree to which the manager fulfils the needs. 7

14

The author associated that to the employees that will look at the performance
and attitude towards the job that will be strongly affected by the degree on where
the superior may reach the fulfilment the job desires.
The book, Unemployment and the Dual Labor Market stressed that the
unemployment is the outgrowth of a process of job search where workers have
limited information about the labor market. On the other hand, people who first
begin looking for jobs lack basic information which will help the graduates to
disseminate the rejection of jobs to higher expectations. 8 This book mainly wants
to view that job searching is a wide-process action where in job-seekers should
gain more knowledge or information that will reaches their satisfaction on what
and where to find jobs that will lead them to the profession that they want to
achieve.
McIntosh, in his book Practicing Better Human Relations aimed to
determine that the quality of a persons work life should improve as more and
more needed values are satisfied by the individuals job and career progression. 9
this is significant to the present study as it assessed the progress of the
graduates in their jobs/professions.
Philippine society nowadays has encountered so many problems in terms
of labor and employment. Labor- Only Contracting in a Cabo Economy that
some economist would justify labor- only contracting as our only weapon to
remain competitive.10 Therefore, some of the workers are seeking for better
employment opportunities abroad for a high salary. In the case of the graduates

15

nowadays, their first problem is seeking for a job after graduation. Knowing that it
is very hard to find a job suitable to their course right away after graduation that
may cause to trigger them to work not aligned to the profession they graduate for
their usual reason is the salary that they can get right away. Some go abroad for
better profit than to continue their profession as a journalist with no salary
increase.
Related Studies
Campus, Nuyda and Icaranoms, Employment Status of the English
Graduates 2006-2008 aimed to present a feedback mechanism for the
department and college to come up with a more productive, competitive and
effective program for the students.11 This study presents the possible reasons
why there are graduates who are unemployed and employed. In the same
manner with the present study conducted, it leads to show the programs used in
providing AB Journalism graduates adequate skills to help them for professional
careers, but the program must be open to changes that would effectively lead
graduates for a better employment.
A Tracer Study of the Employment Status of PUPQC AY 2004-2005 by
Jarito Verona determined the general profile and the present employment status
of the respondents who are graduates of Polytechnic University of the Philippines
academic year 2004-2005.12This research tackles about the tracer study that
uses a method which is primarily intended to locate graduates of academic
institution, past recipients of scholarship grants and former participants and in
order to collect data and update information about the target people. This kind of

16

study is also a tool to generate or influence decision making and planning of a

certain institution about the development of the curriculum. It is likewise
regulating document efficiency and support on the demographic profile of a
certain institution that can be measured through the quality of its graduates.
The Tracer Study of the Graduates of Certificate in Teaching Physical
Education (CPE) from 1995 to 2005 answered the profile of the CPE graduates
in terms of job position and the employment in terms of job encountered in the
CPE. Majority of the CPE graduates are males. Based on the findings of the
study, most of the CPE graduates are in the permanent status of employment.
They are employed in the national government with the monthly salary of 10,000
Php to 15,000 Php a month. The topmost encounter of the CPE graduates is that
they are not given equal opportunities like those of the education graduates. 13
This study may be connected to the present study in terms of the employment
standing or status of the graduates. It also focuses on the job position that is also
one important factor in choosing a job because as a graduate of a particular
course, the job should be in relation to the course they have graduated.
The study of Bea et. al entitled Employers Review on AB English
Graduates of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters SY 2006-2009, shows
that newly established private companies in Albay hire most of the AB English
graduates. Employers of AB English graduates find their job performance and
attitude to be very satisfactory. It is more appropriate to use communication skills
and the skills that should be used depend on the line of work you engage in. 14 In
this present study, the researchers are interested to know how the AB Journalism

17

graduates get on with their job performance, personality development,

professionalism, office management and time management in their employment
status.
A job market offers job trainings to equip employers to develop work
environment. Belens Employment Prospects for AB English Graduates of 2009
aimed to determine the job opportunities available for AB English Graduates of
2009. The research aims to know the qualifications required from the AB English
graduates that would give them the edge in the job market in terms of academic
skills and special skills. It is also assessed the training needs required by the job
market that awaits the AB English graduates. 15 The findings of the previous study
is related to the present study since both are concerned for graduates to have
opportunities for work after college. That is why the qualifications of the college
course are assessed so that these match the work demands.
Madriaga and Lucilas Job Opportunities for Broadcasting Students,
discusses that job expectations of the 2 nd and 3rd year AB Broadcasting students
were almost inclined in the media industry.16 This has bearing to the present
research since both the two studies are concerned with what the graduates will
become after their stay in the university.
Raquesa D. Macaraubs study Employment Motivation of Selected Media
Practitioners in Legazpi City the study showed that respondents were motivated
to work due to good relationships with their officemates. Media practitioners are
the lowest paid workers and are exploited; some are not receiving regular salary

18

only allowance or talent fee; and are required to solicit advertisement for their
salary.17 As shown in the study, some of the respondents claimed that they are
satisfied with the work when they are motivated with their officemates. Also, the
monthly income they receive and the kind of workplace also reach their level
satisfaction. It is pertinent to the present study since all graduates will experience
the types of satisfaction related to motivation at work and good relationship
among co-workers is one of the factors to this job satisfaction.
The study of Alcovendas and Espares entitled A Tracer Study of AB
English Honor Graduates from 1987-2009 discusses that AB English honor
graduates are gainfully employed having sufficient annual income, have a
tendency of staying long in the company.18 The statement of Alcovendas and
Espares was relevant because in the present study conducted by the
researchers. The result shows that academic performances in school really affect
the employment status of the graduates. The honors and awards that some
graduates acquire where instrumental to attaining a better job after graduation.
Employers believed that applicants who have undergone job trainings are
assumed to be more knowledgeable and productive. According to Dominguez
and Romeros, Employment Status of AB English Graduates of Bicol University,
AB English graduates are highly employable in both private and government
sectors depending on the students interest. Also, they are competent enough in
connection to the job for there are respondents who had a problem with their coworkers in terms of their differences in principles and ideas which are expected in
an agency.19 The previous undertaking is similar to present one as both traced

19

the job performances of college graduates, whether they are gainfully employed
or otherwise.
Nelita M. Lalicans Tracer Survey of Agriculture Graduates in the College
of Agriculture of University of the Philippines Los Baos also aimed to assess its
curriculum and discuss the relevance of its productivity with the present
condition. The findings of the study revealed that, employers prefer specialists
rather than generalists and the employers find the graduates effective, efficient
and cooperative. They also find the graduates knowledgeable, dependable and
resourceful however, many employers describe UPLB graduates as academically
inclined, having a know it-all attitude although with assertive personality. 20 This
also has bearing to the current tracer study among AB Journalism graduates
since this present research also tried to find out whether these graduates are
effective, efficient and cooperative.
Synthesis of the State of the Art

In the published materials presented on the Related Literature, education

is an investment made by students in order to enhance their capabilities in
certain aspects in their lives. It is the responsibility of the school to facilitate them
in deciding and planning what job they wanted to slot in.
The Related Studies showed great relevance to this proposition. It
supported the claim of being unique of all studies conducted, though it also
agreed on employment and the factors that affect the graduates in choosing the
job. Their skills that they found least and most useful in their current job will really

20

help the students to understand that there are lot of job opportunities in line with
their course after they graduated.
Gap bridged by the Study
The researchers review of Related Literature and Studies has been made,
upon various researchers a gap has discerned that no study was embarked upon
the same researches in the Journalism Department. Based on the related
materials found, no study was on the same topic as the present study in the
Journalism Department, except for the books that cater to its parts many have
studied about the employment status, job satisfaction, and the factors affecting
the performance in their job. None of them traced the employment status of the
AB Journalism graduates of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters
specifically from batches 2010 to 2012. Researchers also found out that the
present study was the first to create a database of the graduates, for students
who will conduct the same study in order to easily trace and get information
about the graduates. This is the gap bridged by the present study.

Theoretical Framework
The researchers adapted the general systems theory by Edward Deming
(J. Horine, 1993) to support this study. The theory generally states that the
success in any system requires more than best efforts and hard work from the
administrators. The most serious observation is that majority of problems to
Deming; roughly, 95% of problems belong to the system and the responsibility of

21

the management while the workers are just trying to do the best job that they can
deliver within the constraints of the system.22
The theory explains that a system is a series of functions or activities sub
process (stages-hereafter components) within an organization that work together
for its aim. People, materials, methods and equipment are the components that
form a network in support of common characteristics: purpose, input, process
and output (J. Horine, 1993)23
Purpose determines the thrust and direction of a system input, on the
other hand, is characterized as the primary element that motivates an action of a
system. Meanwhile, processes are the sequences of work stages that transform
inputs to outputs and output is what the system produces.

22

Input

Process

P
M
S
E
t
a
e
rq
tr
m
u
o
p
a
e
ih
c
rtl
o
n
p
e
ie
d
a
sm
g
ra
se

Feedback/
Evaluation

slie
n
ste
s

Figure 1. Theoretical Paradigm

Conceptual Framework

Output

23

The figure 2 shows the conceptual framework of the study. Using the
illustration of the Theoretical Framework it can be asserted that a student gained
many experiences during his stay in school. Students cultivate themselves to
become productive citizens of their community after graduation. Following this
line of thought, if Bicol University succeeds in properly educating the students
who are enrolled in the different programs especially in AB Journalism program
they will be able to secure a high quality of education for these students, thus
providing better chances for them to land a high paying job.
Graduates have experienced many things that develop their skills to
become more productive like being enrolled in an internship program proposed
by the department and showing off their talents and skills in the extracurricular
activities inside and outside the premises of the school. These serve as
processes for their academic performance, for them to have a career that they
wanted to become. Good performance of the graduates in their current job has
become their self-evaluation for what have learned over their stay in school.

24

Input

Process

J
E
T
O
S
A
o
Jrk
e
c
x
iu
a
T
m
ta
ilr
l
a
n
rd
is
n
a
e
a
l
n
rd
m
isgai
C
n
s
S
c
u
m
d
e
a
rm
G
E
in
rP
r
x
d
n
ie
raprhed
c
f
u
ru
a
s
lo
ia
n
r
a
t
e
d
rm
e
n
s
s
c
a
e
o
n
A
n
c
te
i
v
i
t
i
e
s

JOBS

Figure 2. Conceptual Paradigm

Definition of Terms

Output

25

For better understanding of the study, the researchers gave several terms
that were defined conceptually and operationally as used in the study.
AB Journalism. It refers to the degree that the Bicol University College of
Arts and Letters offers to the students, in which people need to know that the
course has various jobs that graduates could acquire after graduation.
AB Journalism Graduates. In the study, it refers to the Bicol University
College of Arts and Letters batches 2010-2012 who satisfactory completed the
requirements of the four-year course, and they were used as the subject of the
study.
Age. It refers to the personal status of each graduate under the
demographic profile.
Database. Refers to the data of the graduates that categorize the
following: Family Name, Given Name, Middle Name, Gender, Permanent
Address, Present Employment Status, Contact Numbers and Name of Company
that be able to fill its alumni directory and can easily access information and
contact the AB Journalism graduates.
Demographic Profile. In this study, it refers to the graduates personal
profile in terms of age, gender, civil status, highest educational attainment.
Employed. One who is currently working at a job including the part time
workers.24The respondents who found a job whether related or not to their
college course.

26

Employment Profile. It considers personal qualities as important as

academic

background,

professional

skills

and

previous

employment

experiences.25 In this study, it refers to the profile of the graduates of the AB

Journalism to know if they were currently employed or for the researchers to
know their current employment status.
Employment Status. It refers to the state of the respondents in terms of
employment whether they are employed, underemployed or unemployed.
Gender. It refers to the sexual category of the graduates which is male
and female.
Industry. It refers to the nature of the graduates whether they are
employed to private offices, organizations or business or working in a
government offices or agencies.
Job. This is a work of a definite extent of a character specially one done in
the course of ones profession or occupation. 26 In the study job refers to the work
that the AB Journalism graduates have as soon as they graduate from the
university.
Monthly income. It refers to the salary that they received monthly
according to the job that the graduates get.
Skills gained. It refers to the learning, ability or proficiencies of a graduate
achieve in the college that can be a tool for them in to be employed in their
respective target working place.

27

Tracer Study. It refers to the study to trace graduates of higher education

institute. Graduate Surveys, Alumni Researches, Graduate career tracking
or Follow-up Study are other terms for it.27 In this study, it refers to a tool for
data base for the graduates of AB Journalism Batches 2010-2012.
Underemployed. It refers to those who have worked not enough to do or
not being used to have capacity in a job. 28In this study, it refers to the
respondents who were hired not related to their fields of specialization.
Unemployed. Refers to those who are not currently working or the people
who failed to look for a job, the graduates who were not able to find a job or
those who decided not to work.29

NOTES

HaraldSchomburg,2011,
Tag
Archives: tracer
25, ,http://dokterphi.wordpress.com/tag/tracer-study/

study,

May

28
2

Adriano A. Arcelo and Bikas C. Sanyal, 1987, Employment and Career

Opportunities after Graduation, Unesco, p.123
3

Allan B. De Guzman and Belinda V. de Castro, Employment and

Employability profile of a select group of Filipino College graduate
http://commerce.ust.edu.ph/index.php/research-area/faculty-research/87-employment-and-employability-profile-of-a-select-group-of-filipino-collegegraduates-2008
4

Cristobal M. Pagoso, 1983, Labor economics, , p. 82

Custodiosa A. Sanches and Fe B. Agpao, 1997, Contemporary Social

Problems and Issues Third edition 1997, New Galaxy Lithographic Arts and
Printing Press, , p.196
6

Thomas Powers, Educating for Careers,

Robert W. McIntosh, 1917, Employee Management Standards (The L.J.

Minor Food Sevice Standards Series) Fourth Edition; Robert W. McIntosh
Restaurant and Institutional Management Michigan State University East
Lansing, Michigan.
8

Peter B. Doeringer and Michael J. Piore, 1980, Unemployment and the

Dual Labor Market, Richard D. Irwin Inc.,.
9

Robert W. McIntosh, 1917, Employee Management Standards (The L.J.

Minor Food Sevice Standards Series) Fourth Edition; Robert W. McIntosh
Restaurant and Institutional Management Michigan State University East
Lansing, Michigan.
10

Rhodora G. Kapunan and Rod P. Kapunan, 2006, Labor-Only

Contracting in a Cabo Economy, C&E Publishing Inc..
11

Nia Jane N. Campus, Myra Glor B. Nuyda and Christina Irish V.

Icaranom, March 2011, Employment Status of the English Graduates 2006-2008,
BU Legazpi City,.
12

Levy Jarito Verona, AY-2004-2005, A Tracer Study of the Employment

Status of PUPQC AY 2004-2005, http://www.scribd.com/doc/50720521/A-TracerStudy-of-the-Employment-Status-of-PUPQC-, Date accessed: 07/14/13.
13

Grace AkudoAnyanwu, 2000, Graduates Transition From Study to

Employment: A Study of the Arts and Agriculture Graduates of University of
Nigeria in the World of Work, Department of Home Science and Nutrition

29

University
of
Nigeria,
Nsukka;
Submitted
to
http://rc.aau.org/files/anyanwu.pdf , Date accessed: 07/14/13

AAU

JUNE,

14

Elaine B. Bea, Stephanie Crisanda V. Daep, Jirvanni C. Fungo, Alexa

Mae M. Lorilla, Jesus C. Miraflor Jr., Christine G. Muni an Mona Liza N. Ordoez,
March 2012, Employers Review on AB English Graduates of Bicol University
College of Arts and Letters SY 2006-2009, BU Legazpi City.
15

Jam Charmaine M. Belen, PreciosaMariss C. Quiamno and Mary June

M. Sabucor, MARCH 2010, Employment Prospects for AB English Graduates of
2009, BU Legazpi City.
16

Ruth M. Madriaga and Lenjoy N. Lucila, March 2012, Job Opportunities

for Broadcasting Students, BU Legazpi City.
17

Raquesa D. Macaraub, March 2012, Employment Motivation of Selected

Media Practitioners in Legazpi City, buLegazpi City.
18

Rizelle C. Alcovendas and Ma. Christine Joy B. Espares, March 2013, A

Tracer Study of AB English Honor Graduates from 1987-2009, BU Legazppi City.
19

Aldrin Jay A. Dominguez and Jayson A. Romero, March 2009,

Employment Status of AB English Graduates of Bicol University, BU Legazpi City.
20
Nelita M. Lalican, Tracer Survey of Agriculture Graduates, EDSA Shangri
La Hotel, October 1-2, 2007http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ncs/10thNCS/papers/invited
%20papers/ips-06/ips06-01.pdf Date accessed: 01/14/13
21

Gillies, Dee Ann, 1982, Nursing management a systems approach.

Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 56-74.
22

Ibid.

23

The Merriam Webster Dictionary, (Merriam Webster Incorporated

Springfield Massachussets, 2004), Page 236
24

William
Collins,
Sons,
Collins
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/te, 2009

English

Dictionary,

25

Jonathan L. Goldman, 2005, The New Philipine Comprehensive

Dictionary.
26

HaraldSchomburg,May
25,
2011,
Tag
Archives: tracer
study,http://dokterphi.wordpress.com/tag/tracer-study/
27
The Merriam Webster Dictionary, (Merriam Webster Incorporated
Springfield Massachussets, 2004), Page 781

30
28

The Merriam Webster Dictionary, (Merriam Webster Incorporated

Springfield Massachussets, 2004), Page 783

CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter contains the research method, sources of data, the data
gathering procedure, instrumentation, respondents and statistical treatment in the
study.

31

Research Method
The researchers made use of the Descriptive Survey Method of Research.
It is a way of finding out or getting information through asking questions or using
a questionnaire.1Through this survey method of research the researchers were
able to find out if the AB Journalism student graduates of the year 2010-2012
really used their graduated degree for their profession or job. Though this method
the employment status of the graduates will assessed. Afterwards, the problems
encountered by graduates in choosing the job as well as their reasons

in

choosing the job. This method also revealed the salary and benefits they receive
as well as the expectations in their job.
Sources of Data
The AB Journalism graduates are the primary sources of data to whom the
researchers sent the questionnaires for them answer. In addition, the secondary
sources of information are the books, journals, unpublished materials and other
reading resources containing the discussions related to the present study found
in the libraries and internet sources.
Data Gathering Procedure
The present study gathered data first in the library where the researchers
were able to look for the different reading materials that helped them to gather
information. The related literature and studies that were taken from the
secondary sources that were mentioned in the previous chapters are also used
for the study.

32

The researchers first asked the registrar for the lists of the graduates of
AB Journalism batches 2010-2012. This helped trace the graduates through the
directory. The researchers also used the social media/ internet sites such as
Facebook. This enabled them to easily contact target respondents. The
researchers also conducted a survey and gathered data through sending
questionnaires with a cover letter. E-mail was utilized for those respondents who
are currently working and residing outside the province of Albay. However, for
those who live within Legazpi City, the researchers gave the questionnaire
personally. After the survey, the researchers interpreted and analyzed the data
obtained from the AB Journalism graduates for batches 2010-2012.
Instrumentation
This study used a survey questionnaire in the data gathering procedure.
The questionnaires were designed based on the statement of the problem that
the researchers have formulated. The questionnaire is composed of three
sections. The first division is composed of demographic profile and employment
profile. The second part is composed of the continuation of the employment
profile. The last division is composed of the factors that affect the choice of the
job, the relevance of the AB Journalism program to the job that they currently
have and the succession and lastly, the recommendations for AB Journalism
program. Questions presented in the survey instrument were based on the
factors stated in the first chapter affecting the decision-making of the graduates.
The questions are tested if they are related and relevant in the success of the
study.

33

Respondents
The sixty-seven respondents who were the primary sources of data were
the respondents of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL)
graduates from batches 2010-2012. The profile such as age, gender, civil status
and educational attainment were primarily considered in the given questionnaire,
as they were related to the discussions in the study. The researchers determined
the sample size to get the number of the respondents of the study. The sampling
procedure was done through the use of Slovins formula in determining the
sample size, as follows:

n=

N
2
1+N e

Where:
n= sample size/number of respondents
N= total population/total number of graduates
e= margin of error
1= constant value

Wherein:
n=

N
2
1+N e

34

0.01 2
1+186
186
n=

n=

186
1+1.86

n=

186
2.86

n=67

Random sampling was used to determine the respondents of the study.

Through this, each graduate had an equal chance of being drawn into the
sample. The following is the tabulation of the population of the graduates from
2010-2012.
Journalism graduates of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters from
year 2010-2012 are the main respondents of this research study. On batch 20092010 there are eleven male and thirty-nine female, having a total of fifty
respondents. In batch 2010-2011, only 10 males and fifty-three female and a total
of sixty-three respondents, and lastly in batch 2011-2012 there are only twelve
males and sixty-one female, a total of seventy-three respondents. The overall
total is one hundred eighty-six, through using the Slovins formula by getting the
10 % error, the researchers come up with a total of sixty-seven respondents.

35

Statistical Treatment
The researchers summarized the data though frequency counts and
percentages to answer the problems 1,2 and 3 of the study. The data was
analyzed using descriptive statistics in order to get the percentage. The
percentage was used to determine the portion of the graduates of each year
including their status, along employment. The formula to get the percentage is
shown below.
Percentage = f
f
Where

x 100

f = frequency
f = summation of frequency
100= constant

NOTES

BusinessDictionary.com
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/survey-research.html. 10/24/13

36

Chapter 4

A TRACER STUDY ON THE EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF AB JOURNALISM

GRADUATES OF BICOL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

37

This chapter presents the Demographic Profile of the AB Journalism

Graduates Batches 2010-2012, which includes the age, gender, civil status, and
highest educational attainment of the graduates. The Employment Profile of the
AB Journalism graduates Batches 2010-2012, which also includes the
Employment Status, Nature of Employment, Present Employment Status,
Classification of Current Job, Reasons of Unemployment, Their Firs Job After
Graduation, Their Monthly Income and The Factors That Affect the Choice of the
Job are likewise included in the study. This also includes The Skills Relevant in
Their Course to their Job.
Demographic Profile of the AB Journalism Graduates

Gender Percentage of the AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012

18%
Male
Female
82%

Figure 1
Of the 67 respondents, 55 graduates or 82% are female while 12
respondents or eighteen percent (18%) are male. The graph shows that the
population of the female graduates of the AB Journalism Department is higher
compared to male graduates.

38

In this contemporary time, males are usually dominant than females in

terms of population size according to an update of NSOs (National Statistics
Office) Most Requested Sex-disaggregated Statistics of the second quarter of
2013. The population size of male is 49,051,520 or a total of 50.3 % and for
female, it is 48,542,520 or a total of 49.7 %. 1 But in terms of employment rate
females are more dominant than males where in 93.4 % of the female are
employed while the total percentage of male employed were only 92.5 %. 2 Close
enough but this means that females are more reliable in terms of job than men.
In this study, the employability of AB Journalism batches 2010-2012
revealed a higher number of females who are employed. It revealed that there is
a 10% margin of error where 43 out of 55 of the females are employed and
only10 out of 12 males are employed. This implies that there is a low percentage
of employability rate among male graduates in AB Journalism batches 20102012.

Table 1
Age of AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012
N= 67
AGE

2010

2011

2012

TOTAL

20

39

21

13

13

22

15

23

23

20

24

25

Total:

18

23

26

67

The table shows that the respondents are mostly at the age of 22 because
as to retrieval of the questionnaires, most of the respondents were from the
academic year 2011. Of the 67 respondents, these respondents with the age of
20-22 were already permanent in their jobs because of the fact that they are still
fresh out of college, most of them are in the batch 2012 and they are usually in
the field of Journalism. The respondents in the age of 23 belong to the batches
2010-2012. These respondents already have work experience but are usually not
related in the field of Journalism. Most of them are in the field of customer service
or working in the office. In the age bracket of 24-25, the respondents in this age
are all in the batch of 2010, who are more mature in terms of employability
because out of all the 18 respondents from batch 2010, 16 are employed and
only two are unemployed.

Civil Status Percentage of the AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012

40

7%

93%

Single

Married

Figure 2

Out the 67 graduates, 62 respondents or 93% are single while five

respondents or 7% are married and surveyed no widow. The figure 2 shows the
percentage of the respondents civil status.
In this study, most of the married graduates are in the ages of 21-24, who
are already in the marrying age and all of them are female. The legal age of
getting married under the Philippine laws is 18 years old. However, any person
getting married at the age of 18-21 years old should present a written parental
consent from his / her parents or legal guardians, before being allowed by the
Philippine

government to get married. Furthermore, for individuals getting

married at the age of 21-25 years old, it is necessary to present a parental advice
containing information that his/ her parents are allowing their marriage. 3
Highest Educational Attainment Percentage of the AB Journalism
Graduates 2010-2012

41

3%

Baccalaureate
with Masters unit

97%

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows that of the retrieved 67 questionnaires, 65 respondents or

97% of the total respondents have attained a bachelors degree. Only two
respondents or a total 3% pursued continuing education and gained units in a
Masters degree. This suggests that only few of the graduates are interested to
pursue graduate studies. They are mostly single and teachers by profession. This
implies that those graduates who took up Masters Unit focus more on improving
career first because it is a requirement on their work as teacher.

Employment Profile of the AB Journalism Graduates

42

Employment Status Percentage of the AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012

1% 5% 1%
14%

Employed
Unemployed
Under Employed
Self employed
Student
79%

Figure 4

The figure above shows that of the 67 respondents of the study, 53 or

79% are employed, nine respondents or 14% are unemployed, three
respondents or 5% are self-employed and only one percent (1%) is
underemployed. Under Self-employed, graduates have their own business, some
of them are engaged in online content writing, some deal with their own
professional practice and some are service oriented. Lastly, only one percent
(1%) or only one respondent is a full-time student and pursuing graduate studies.
Figure 4 suggests that the AB Journalism graduates have a high
percentage of employment. Out of 62 graduates who are single, 52 of them are

43

employed. Moreover, out of the five graduates who are married, only one is
employed.
Fourty-three respondents or 77% of the graduates who are employed
work in private offices as customer service representatives and writers. Only ten
respondents or 18% are working in government offices.
Nature of Employment Percentage of the AB Journalism
Graduates 2010-2012

5%

18%
Government
Private
Self-employed

77%

Figure 5

Of the 67 respondents, 53 of the graduates or 79% are employed. Only 10

respondents or 18% are employed on government offices and agencies, 43

44

respondents or 77% are employed in private offices, organizations or businesses

and only three graduates or 5% are having their own business.
This connotes that most of the graduates prefer to work in private offices
than the government. This also implies that there are many jobs offered in private
establishments. Graduates differ or vary their reason for employment through the
factors that also affect their choice of jobs the monthly income and the benefits
that they get and enjoy in their current jobs.
Percentage of the Type of Present Employment of the AB Journalism
Graduates 2010-2012

23%
Regular/Permanent
52%

13%

Casual/Temporary
Probationary
Contractual

13%

Figure 6

Out of the 67 respondents, 52% or 27 of the respondents are in a regular

status of employment. Most of the respondents in a regular basis were employed
in private companies because of high salaries. Moreover, the 23% of the

45

graduates are contractual while the Casual/Temporary and Probationary both

have the same percentage of 12.5%.
This figure presents that most of the respondents are in a regular basis.
Wherein they engaged to perform activities which are usually necessary or
desirable in the usual business or trade of the employer. 4 They are usually
entered first in a casual basis before they are promoted as a regular employee.
Respondents who are probationary employed are hired on a trial basis for
a period not longer than six months.

Wherein some respondents who are

working as a contractual employee are only hired to work for a specific period of
time on an hourly basis or a contracted amount. This includes part-time,
seasonal, temporary, faculty, students, staff and administrative employees. 6

Classification of Jobs as to Percentage of the AB Journalism

Graduates 2010-2012

46

Customer Service
4%
5%

10%

23%

Writer
Secretarial
Advertising

7%

Publishing Company

10%
10%

20%

Reporter
Announcer
Arts

11%

Editor

Figure 7
Figure 7 implies that most of the graduates are engaged in Customer
Service wherein it has 25% out of the nine classifications. Most of them are
working in Call Centers in Metro Manila. Generally, graduates land Customer
Service as their first job but some graduates stayed in that job because of the
high salary that they are receiving. Next is the job of being a writer with 21%.
This nature of job is the most relevant to their degree or course in college. The
21%goes to job in line with secretarial works. This shows that there are
graduates who opted to perform clerical works where they can utilize their writing
and managing skills. In terms of job related to Advertising and Publishing, there
has been 11% total rate for both works. This reveals that there are few graduates
who settled into business related works.
Only 7% of the graduates are using their Reporting skills in their jobs. This
means that only few graduates are in line with the media industry. In addition,

47

only 5% works as a news correspondent or worked as an announcer. Lastly, the

job that got the lowest average percentage is the field of Editorial and Arts
wherein it has only 4% for the reason that those graduates opted to worked in
line with web designing, graphic content and lay-outing.

Reasons of Unemployment as to Percentage of the AB Journalism

Graduates 2010-2012

10%
20%

40%

Family Concern
Lack of Work Experience
Further Studies
Lack of Opportunity

30%

Figure 8

48

Out of all the reasons of unemployment, Family Concern is the most

common reason affected by 40% of the graduates. This is their reason because
some of the graduates are married that is why they are attached to household
works as a parent and they let their husbands do the job for their living since
most of them are females. Some of the graduates are legally responsible to take
care of their parents and some of them are physically sick or have some family
problems.
Thirty percent of the respondents said that their lack of work experience
hindered them from getting employed. Three out of the 26 graduates of batch
2012 mentioned this reason because as fresh graduates they are finding it
difficult to look for a job that is suitable for them because of the required work
experience as a primary qualification. Moreover, some of them do not have
enough training experience during their college years.
Pursuing further graduate studies is another reason why some of the AB
Journalism graduates are not yet employed. This was the reason of two
respondents out of the 10 unemployed or a total of 20%. College graduates opt
to take another degree a Masters Degree because they believe that it will give
them more chances of finding a good job. Lastly, lack of opportunity is another
reason that graduates are unemployed wherein 10% of the respondents are
mostly graduates of batch 2012. They are obviously fresh graduates who are still
struggling to find themselves the world of work. Moreover, some of the graduates
are getting a hard time because of the low demand of jobs that suit their skills.

49

Relevance of the Job of AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012

30%
Yes

No
70%

Figure 10
Figure 10 shows that a total of 70% or 39 respondents employment
status or job is related to the AB Journalism Degree. Hence, 30% or 17 of the
respondents current jobs are not related to their graduated course. This implies
that most of the graduates of Journalism batches 2010-2012 are in line with the
media industry or in the field of Journalism. Some of the respondents use their
Journalistic skills in their jobs like writing and advertising.
Table 2
Skills Relevant in their Course to Current Job
Skills Relevant in their Course to Current Job
Rank
Skills
1
Writing Skills
2
Advertising

Frequency
39
13

50

3
4
5
6
7
8

Copy Reading
Broadcasting
Investigative
Lay-outing
News casting
Communication
Photo Journalism
Researcher
Public Relation

13
12
11
10
10
6
2
2
1

Writing skills ranked first among the skills developed from their course
which is related to their job since Journalism offers different subjects or strategies
to improve written communication skills of students. Furthermore, writing is a
medium of communication that presents language through the inscription of signs
and symbols. As human societies emerged, the development of writing was
driven by practical applications such as exchanging information, maintaining
financial accounts, codifying laws and recording history.7 So many offices and
publications nowadays are in need of writers. However, only few are still
interested in pursuing a career related to communication.
Advertising and Copy Reading are other skills that are within the scope of
their course and are related to their job. AB Journalism practices advertising as a
part of the curriculum. It has a certain unit of study for the students to learn the
principles and practices of advertising and even copy reading. Graduates of this
course could easily find a job on advertising agencies and printing industries or
newspaper publication because they have the knowledge and the learnings
related to the skills needed by these industries.

51

Investigative reporting is another skill AB Journalism graduates posses

which is related to their job. Some graduates choose a job that entails
investigative reporting, since they have interest in writing investigative reports.
The curriculum of Journalism includes investigative journalism as part of the
course.
Broadcasting is another skill that the college enables the students to learn
as part of the course. In the internship of students, they practice broadcasting in
some radio stations for them to learn how to properly broadcast on the radio.

Table 3
First Job after Graduation
First Job After Graduation
Rank
Jobs
1
Customer Service
2
Writer
3
Correspondent
Admin Management
4
Marketing Assistant
Secretarial
Financial Industry
5
Editor
Education Related
Corporate Communication
Assistant
Proof Reader
Conference Producer
Front Office Personnel
Children Coordinator
Sales Related

Percentage
39%
23%
5%
5%
4%
4%
4%
2%
2%
2%

Frequency
20
12
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1

2%
2%
2%
2%
2%

1
1
1
1
1

52

Table 3 shows the first jobs of the graduates after graduation. It revealed
that most of the graduates of AB Journalism Batches 2010-2012 were in line with
the Customer Service which garnered 39% or 20 out of 52 respondents. This
implies that most of the graduates land customer service as their first job after
graduation as stepping stone for a desired job. The next the in line of jobs is
being a Writer with the total of 12 respondents or 23% which is the job most
relevant to their college course. Third in line are jobs as Correspondent and jobs
related to Admin Management with the total number of three respondents each or
a percentage of 5%.
Most of the respondents attain these top three jobs after graduation
because some of them do not have enough experience in terms of job
experience. That is why they are usually land on jobs which are not much related
to their graduated course, especially if he/she is a fresh graduate. This also
implies that call center agencies give a high salary and by that, most graduates
are attracted to work in these agencies.
Relevance of the Course to Job Rate of AB Journalism Graduates 20102012

53

7%

6%

21%
Related
Moderate
Poor/Weak
Unrelated

66%

Figure 11

Thirty-seven respondents or 66% said that the relevance of their course to

their job rate is moderate where they can use the following skills: writing skills,
advertising, copy reading and broadcasting. Twelve or 21% attested that their
course is really related to their employment. Writing skills is the foremost
relevance. Publications is perceived the skill least used in work.
Four respondents or 7% said that the rate of their current job is poor, and
the other three respondents rated their current job as unrelated to their course.
This may be the result of finding jobs which are not necessarily in line with their
course but the need for stability and earnings lead the graduates to enter into
these jobs.
The findings revealed that the skills most used by the respondents in their
jobs must be further reinforced in the curriculum of AB Journalism. This will equip

54

the students of the important skills, hence preparing them for their future jobs or
employment.
Monthly Income of AB Journalism Graduates Batches 2010-2012

5%
27%

38%

Below 5,000 Php

5,000-10,000 Php
10,000-15,000 Php
Above 15, 000 Php

30%

Figure 12
Of the 67 respondents, 53 were employed and since most of the
graduates were employed in private offices, the amount of payment varies
depending on the type of job. Figure 12 is on the monthly income of AB
Journalism Graduates Batches 2010-2012, this shows that three respondents or
5 percent are earning 5,000 Php below, 15 respondents or 27 percent are
earning 5,000 to 10,000 Php which also comprises the average of the minimum
wage and 17 graduates or 30% are earning 10,000 to 15,000 Php and above.
The salaries differ because of the different classifications of the jobs of the
graduates, their position and where they are based. Employed respondents differ

55

also in their salaries because of their location in either the urban or the rural
areas.
Factors that Affect the Choice of Job of the Graduates
The table shows the factors that influenced the respondents in choosing
their current jobs. The factors did not clearly show the connection to the current
jobs of the graduates but it shows how it affects their decision making for the job
that they have right now. The respondents were allowed to choose more than
one factor in the questionnaire

Table 4
Factors that Affect the Choice of Job
Factors that Affect the Choice of Job
Rank

Factors

Frequency

Nature and Nurture

31

2
3
4
5

26
22
13
12

Monetary Compensation
Educational Attainment
Economy
Stepping Stone for desired
Employment
Modernization and Technology

Continuing Further Education

56

The nature and nurture ranked first because of the culture of Filipinos
close family ties. If the family members are mostly teachers, for example, it would
be a great impact for a person that he/she is expected to be a teacher or find a
job somewhat related to teaching and educating. This is what nature is all about.
For nurture, this refers to what the graduates environment taught them. It can
be about what the parents want their child to be or to choose. But nature and
nurture go hand in hand in making a graduate decide not for himself alone but for
the betterment of all. It will take many considerations before the decision is
made. The bottom line is that, Filipinos are very strong believers and followers.
The Filipino basic unit is the family which contributes and maintains the Filipino
values. The content of the Filipino social unit is the family groups and community
life while the structure is the lineage, marriage decent, neighbourhood, peer
group and villages. 8
As to the monetary compensation as a factor it is very evident that without
earning money they cannot sustain what they need. This generation values
money because money is life itself- nothing in this world is free anymore; for
every person needs to survive and only the weakest will lost in this battle of
survival. As a student, it is naturally set in their minds to find a job where
monetary compensation is big or fair enough to help them for a living.
Educational Attainment is also a part of Filipino culture and status.
Filipinos must attain a certain distinction or a degree that they can be proud of
because nowadays, people are more likely to be when better equipped with
education. They are more competitive to become more stable in life by the

57

degree that they have acquired. It certifies that the more they are educated the
more they have chance for high job opportunities. Filipinos give importance in
attaining the highest possible degree in education. For them life is about
surviving and meeting the expectations of the society especially the people who
expect a lot from them.
Economy is another factor that graduates consider in choosing a job. The
economy right now is not stable because of poverty and scarcity. The economy
plays an important role for every graduates to choose their jobs, since whenever
a job is in demand in the economy, the graduates are made to decide what to
choose as their job or profession. Economic change affects the monetary
compensation of a particular job. This may set in mind the starting salary of an
employee according to what the economy require. If the economy is bad
everyone is affected; no one is safe when the economy falling apart. But if the
economy is stabilizing and is advancing, the need for more educated people
increases making the number of employment increase as well and at the same
time decreasing the number of unemployment.
Graduates sometimes choose a job not because they really want that job
but only as stepping stone for the desired employment. People tend to work
harder for what they really want to achieve in their life. They sometimes start at
the bottom and slowly rises as they acquire more knowledge and gain more
experiences needed to enhance skills and abilities. This also reveals the nature
of humans not being contented in whatever they do. They always strive to

58

achieve something greater that in spite of the challenges and difficulties they
face.
Gadgets and machines are very popular nowadays because of
modernization and technology. It is the product of advance technology and
modernity in this 20th century because it is about living into a new world that is
very important from what there was before. It also plays a vital role in education
because of its advancements that it can almost answer all problems of
humankind- it makes life easier and makes our everyday activity faster and
convenient. Modernization and technology give more access for graduates to find
and eventually land a job since there are immense opportunities and chancesfor
work provided by the internet.
The last factor is continuing further education which is traced from one of
the respondents who is a teacher. This graduate choose the field of teaching
because she wants to pursue further studies which will later help her attain more
success in life and profession.

59

Notes

National Statistics Office, Gender Quick Stat, An Update o NSOs Most

Requested
Sex-disaggregated
Statistics,
Second
Quarter
2013,
http://www.census.gov.ph/content/employment-rate-july-2012-estimated-930percent
2

Ibid.

Christian Filipina, October 18th 2012, Getting a Marriage License in the

Philippines,
,https://www.christianfilipina.com/research/getting-a-marriagelicense-in-the-philippines/
4

The Law on Regular and Casual Employment, A Public Service of the

Sen. Jovito R. SalongaCenter for Law and Development, 2005-2013 The
Negros Chronicle- News around Dumaguete City and Negro Oriental,
Philippines. Date Accessed: 12/08/13
5

Ibid.

60
6

http://www.smcm.edu/hr/HRdocuments/Payroll/payroll_documents/ContractualP
ayrollInstructions.pdf, December 8 2013.
7

Writing,
Content
is
available
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/writing, 10/05/13

under CC

BY-SA

3.0,

2005 Senkotiros Incorporated. All Right Reserved,

http://www.senkotiros.org/Philippines/philippine_culture.html, Date Accessed:
12/08/13

CHAPTER 5
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations of
this study.
Findings
This study presented the employment status of the AB Journalism
graduates from batches 2010-2012. This research is the primary method to
distinguish the employment status of the graduates and identify whether the skills
gained in the college are used or not in their jobs. With this matter, it will help the
researchers to suggest the subjects and other activities that will be most relevant

61

to the field of work of graduates of the Journalism course. A sample size of 67

respondents was taken from the total number of 186 AB Journalism graduates
from batches 2010-2012. The following are the vital findings of the study:
Demographic Profile of AB Journalism Graduates
a) As to the age range of the 67 respondents, 23 respondents are 22 years old,
20 respondents are 23 years old, 13 respondents are 21 years old, seven
respondents are 24 years old, two respondents are 20 years old and also 2
respondents are 25 years old.
b) For the gender, out of 67 respondents, 82% are females while 18% males.
c) For the civil status of the respondents, 93% are single while 7% are married.
d) Of the total number of respondents, 97% have earned a baccalaureate degree
while 3% pursued masters degree.
e) In terms of the monthly salary, 38% are earning 15,000 Php and above, 30%
are earning 10,000 Php to 15,000 Php monthly. A certain 27% are earning 5,000
Php to 10,000 Php and lastly 5% are earning 5,000 Php and below. This is
because of the different categorizations of jobs that they have.
Employment Profile of the AB Journalism Graduates Batches 2010-2012
f) In terms of industry that they belong in, out of the 67 respondents, 77% of the
respondents are working in private offices, organizations or businesses, 18% are
employed in the government offices and agencies, and only 5% are having their
own business.

62

g) As to the Employment Status of the AB Journalism Graduates, out of 67

respondents 79% are employed, 14%are unemployed, 5% are self-employed,
1% is underemployed and also 1% is still a student.
As to the Types of Present Employment of the AB Journalism graduates, out of
the 67 respondents 52% are in a regular status of employment. 23% of the
graduates

are

contractual.

And

lastly,

12.5%

of

the

graduates

are

casual/temporary and probationary.

In terms of Reasons of Unemployment of AB Journalism Graduates, out of 67
respondents 40% are about family concern which is the most common
reasoning, 30% lack of work experience, 20% are further studies and the
remaining 10% are lack of opportunities.
Skills Gained by the Journalism Graduates
h) As to the skills gained in their jobs, 39 of the respondents use writing skills as
the preferred skill in their work. Followed by advertising and copy reading which
balance the same number with 13 out of 67 respondents. The Journalism course
has a certain unit of study for the students to learn the principles and practices of
advertising and even copy reading. Next is broadcasting which gained 12
respondents. They practice broadcasting to use in the radio stations. Eleven
respondents of the graduates choose investigative writing because of their
interests in writing investigative reports or articles. Also, lay-outing and news
casting with 10 respondents who used the skills related to computer skills and
newspaper management. Communication skills had six respondents that allowed

63

graduates to understand the skills in the journalism program that will practice
them to socially relate with others in chosen jobs. Two respondents chose public
relation as less used in the job and lastly, photojournalism and research with one
respondent out of 67.
Database
The researchers made use of Microsoft Excel to sort and categorize the
list of graduates into the following: Family Name, Given Name, Middle Name,
Gender, Permanent Address, Present Employment Status, Contact Numbers and
Name of Company. Through this database, the College of Arts and Letters will be
able to populate its alumni directory and thus, easily access information and
contact of the AB Journalism graduates. (Please refer to Appendix E for the
database of the AB Journalism graduates.)
Conclusions
The following are the conclusions drawn from the study.
In the demographic profile of the AB Journalism graduates from Batches
2010 2012, majority of the respondents are aged 22, single, female and earned
a baccalaureate degree. In terms of the respondents employment profile, it can
be concluded that a high number of the respondents at 79% are employed with
an added 5% who considered themselves as self-employed. Out of those who
are employed, 25% are engaged in the field of customer service and enjoys a
monthly salary of P15, 000 and above. Writing skill is the most preferred ability
according to the 67 respondents. Thirty-nine of them use this skill in their

64

professions and considered it as the most relevant. Lastly, the database

generated from the respondents will provide sufficient information to easily
contact these AB Journalism graduates and serve as reference for the
department and the colleges alumni directory.
Recommendations
The following are the recommendations suggested by the researchers and
respondents of this study.
1. Continue conducting tracer studies and develop a database system to be able to
have a regular update on the alumni of the college and of the Print and
Broadcast Media Department.
2. Expose the journalism graduates to experience the real work in a newsroom.
3. Reinforce teaching methods and activities that would further improve the writing/
editing skills of students, and to promote their critical thinking in the way they
analyze and see situations.
4. Seminars, conferences, and workshops with credible Journalists would also be
good ideas so that familiarity between the practitioners and students will take
place. Public relation and/or employment know-whos will certainly open a huge
opportunity to the AB Journalism students to land a spot in media given such
setting.
5. Suggest elective subjects in the curriculum of the journalism program.
6. Suggest that journalism graduates should take unit in a masters degree to strive
for the higher position or a regular position for a higher salary.
7. Provide adequate facilities in presswork to enable the students to experience and
enhance the skills on newspaper management such as proper lay-outing, making
use of different software and programs.
8. Have some compiled clips on the submitted articles and projects of the students
to be able for them to attach in their applications these accomplished outputs.

65

9. Further improve this tracer study by covering more batches and graduates of the
AB Journalism program.