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 nation’s growth where

they produce competent people who will help for the solution of one of the

country’s 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.
 2

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 media’s 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
 3

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 accident3, 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
 4

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 one’s 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. 6 This reveals that some graduates tend to end up on jobs which are
 5

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 Department’s

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
 6

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 2010-

2012 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 program’s 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 2010-

2012. 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

 7

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.

 8

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 course’s 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.

 9

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

1Alicia S. Bustos, Ed. D. and SoccoroC.Espritu, Ph. D., 1985,

Psychological, Anthrophological and Sociological Foundations of Education:
Revised Edition II,
2Robert Niles, ©1995-2013, A PDF Version Prepared for McKinley
Elementary School, Pasadena, Calif. Robert Niles. All rights reserved.
http://www.robertniles.com/journalism/
3Barbie Zelizer, 2004, Taking Journalism Seriously; News of the Academy
(Sage Publications, Inc., , Thousand Oaks, California)
4Lee E. Isaacson and Duane Brown, Career Information, Career
Counselling and Career Development 4th Edition (A Viadcom Company,
1997).p.7-8
5Adriano A. Arcelo and Bikas B. Sanyal, 1987Employment and Career
Opportunities after Graduation, (The Philippine Experience).UNESCO.p.1-3
6UNESCO 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
 12

among the educated class and knowledgeable about the privileges society can

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

 13

population as well as the large number of youth outside the formal school system

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 today’s crop of

worker’s 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 employee’s performance on the job and attitude
 14

about the job depending on the degree to which the manager fulfils the needs. 7

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 person’s work life should improve as more and

more needed values are satisfied by the individual’s 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
 15

employment opportunities abroad for a high salary. In the case of the graduates

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 Icaranom’s, “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

 16

order to collect data and update information about the target people. This kind of

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 “Employer’s 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
 17

this present study, the researchers are interested to know how the AB Journalism

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. Belen’s “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 Lucila’s “Job Opportunities for Broadcasting Students”,

discusses that job expectations of the 2nd 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. Macaraub’s 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
 18

the lowest paid workers and are exploited; some are not receiving regular salary

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 Romero’s, “Employment Status of AB English Graduates of Bicol University,”

AB English graduates are highly employable in both private and government

sectors depending on the student’s interest. Also, they are competent enough in

connection to the job for there are respondents who had a problem with their co-

workers in terms of their differences in principles and ideas which are expected in
 19

an agency.19 The previous undertaking is similar to present one as both traced

the job performances of college graduates, whether they are gainfully employed

or otherwise.

Nelita M. Lalican’s “Tracer Survey of Agriculture Graduates” in the College

of Agriculture of University of the Philippines Los Bańos 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
 20

job. Their skills that they found least and most useful in their current job will really

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 system‘s 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

 21

Deming; roughly, 95% of problems belong to the system and the responsibility of

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 Output

Methods
Materials
Strategies
Feedback/
Seminars
People Evaluation
Equipment Processes

Figure 1. Theoretical Paradigm

 23

Conceptual Framework

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 Output

OJT and
Seminars
Trainings and
hands on
Skills and
Journalism Seminars
Experience JOBS
Graduates
Extra
Academic
Curricular
Performance
Activities

Figure 2. Conceptual Paradigm

 25

Definition of Terms

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 graduate’s personal

profile in terms of age, gender, civil status, highest educational attainment.

 26

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.

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 one’s 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.

 27

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.

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

 28

NOTES

1HaraldSchomburg,2011, Tag Archives: tracer study, May 25,

,http://dokterphi.wordpress.com/tag/tracer-study/
2Adriano A. Arcelo and Bikas C. Sanyal, 1987, Employment and Career
Opportunities after Graduation, Unesco, p.123
3AllanB. 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-college-
graduates-2008

4Cristobal M. Pagoso, 1983, Labor economics, , p. 82

5Custodiosa A. Sanches and Fe B. Agpao, 1997, Contemporary Social
Problems and Issues Third edition 1997, New Galaxy Lithographic Arts and
Printing Press, , p.196

6Thomas Powers, Educating for Careers,

7Robert 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.
8Peter
B. Doeringer and Michael J. Piore, 1980, Unemployment and the
Dual Labor Market, Richard D. Irwin Inc.,.
9Robert 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.
10Rhodora G. Kapunan and Rod P. Kapunan, 2006, Labor-Only
Contracting in a “Cabo” Economy, C&E Publishing Inc..

11
Niña 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,.
 29

12Levy Jarito Verona, AY-2004-2005, A Tracer Study of the Employment

Status of PUPQC AY 2004-2005, http://www.scribd.com/doc/50720521/A-Tracer-
Study-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
University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Submitted to AAU JUNE,
http://rc.aau.org/files/anyanwu.pdf , Date accessed: 07/14/13

14Elaine B. Bea, Stephanie Crisanda V. Daep, Jirvanni C. Fungo, Alexa

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

15Jam 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 RizelleC. 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
21Gillies,Dee Ann, 1982, Nursing management a systems approach.
Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 56-74.
22 Ibid.
 30

23 The Merriam Webster Dictionary, (Merriam Webster Incorporated

Springfield Massachussets, 2004), Page 236
24William Collins, Sons, Collins English Dictionary,
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/te, 2009
25 Jonathan L. Goldman, 2005, The New Philipine Comprehensive
Dictionary.
26HaraldSchomburg,May 25, 2011, Tag Archives: tracer
study,http://dokterphi.wordpress.com/tag/tracer-study/
27The Merriam Webster Dictionary, (Merriam Webster Incorporated
Springfield Massachussets, 2004), Page 781
28The Merriam Webster Dictionary, (Merriam Webster Incorporated
Springfield Massachussets, 2004), Page 783
 31

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.

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

 32

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.

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

 33

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.

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 Slovin’s formula in determining the

sample size, as follows:

N
𝑛=
1 + Ne2

Where:
 34

n= sample size/number of respondents

N= total population/total number of graduates
e= margin of error
1= constant value

Wherein:

N
𝑛=
1 + Ne2

186
𝑛=
1 + 186(0.01)2

186
𝑛=
1 + 1.86

186
𝑛=
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 2009-

2010 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

 35

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 Slovin’s formula by

getting the 10 % error, the researchers come up with a total of sixty-seven

respondents.

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 x 100
∑f

Where f = frequency

∑f = summation of frequency

100= constant
 36

NOTES

1BusinessDictionary.com

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/survey-research.html. 10/24/13
 37

Chapter 4

A TRACER STUDY ON THE EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF AB JOURNALISM

GRADUATES OF BICOL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

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
 38

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.

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

terms of population size according to an update of NSO’s (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 2010-

2012.
 39

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

AGE 2010 2011 2012 TOTAL

20 - - 2 2
21 - - 13 13
22 - 15 8 23
23 9 8 3 20
24 7 - - 7
25 2 - - 2
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.

 40

Civil Status Percentage of the AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012

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
 41

Highest Educational Attainment Percentage of the AB Journalism

Graduates 2010-2012

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

Master’s 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.

 42

Employment Profile of the AB Journalism Graduates

Employment Status Percentage of the AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012

1%
1%
5%

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

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

and only three graduates or 5% are having their own business.

 44

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
Casual/Temporary
52% Probationary
12.50%
Contractual

12.50%

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

graduates are contractual while the Casual/Temporary and Probationary both

have the same percentage of 12.5%.

 45

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. 5 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

11%
Customer Service
4% 25%
Writer
5%
Secretarial
7% Advertising
Publishing Company

11% Reporter
21% Announcer
Arts
11%
Editor
12%

Figure 7
 46

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,

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.

 47

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

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
 48

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 Master’s 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.

Relevance of the Job of AB Journalism Graduates 2010-2012

30%

Yes

No

70%

Figure 10
 49

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 Frequency
1 Writing Skills 39
2 Advertising 13
Copy Reading 13
3 Broadcasting 12
4 Investigative 11
5 Lay-outing 10
News casting 10
6 Communication 6
7 Photo Journalism 2
Researcher 2
8 Public Relation 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

 50

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.

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.
 51

Table 3
First Job after Graduation

First Job After Graduation

Rank Jobs Percentage Frequency
1 Customer Service 39% 20
2 Writer 23% 12
3 Correspondent 5% 3
Admin Management 5% 3
4 Marketing Assistant 4% 2
Secretarial 4% 2
Financial Industry 4% 2
5 Editor 2% 1
Education Related 2% 1
Corporate Communication 2% 1
Assistant
Proof Reader 2% 1
Conference Producer 2% 1
Front Office Personnel 2% 1
Children Coordinator 2% 1
Sales Related 2% 1

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%.
 52

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 2010-

2012

6%
7%
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
 53

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

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%

38% 27%
Below 5,000 Php
5,000-10,000 Php
10,000-15,000 Php
Above 15, 000 Php

30%

Figure 12
 54

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

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

 55

Table 4
Factors that Affect the Choice of Job

Factors that Affect the Choice of Job

Rank Factors Frequency

1 Nature and Nurture 31

2 Monetary Compensation 26
3 Educational Attainment 22
4 Economy 13
5 Stepping Stone for desired 12
Employment
6 Modernization and Technology 7

7 Continuing Further Education 1

The nature and nurture ranked first because of the culture of Filipino’s

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
 56

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

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

 57

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

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.

 58

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

1 National Statistics Office, Gender Quick Stat, An Update o NSO’s Most

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

3Christian Filipina, October 18th 2012, Getting a Marriage License in the

Philippines, ,https://www.christianfilipina.com/research/getting-a-marriage-
license-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.
6http://www.smcm.edu/hr/HRdocuments/Payroll/payroll_documents/Contra

ctualPayrollInstructions.pdf, December 8 2013.

7 Writing, Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0,
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/writing, 10/05/13

8©2005 Senkotiros Incorporated. All Right Reserved,

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

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.
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d) Of the total number of respondents, 97% have earned a baccalaureate degree

while 3% pursued master’s 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.

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
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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

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
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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

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 college’s 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.

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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-who’s” 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 master’s 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.

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

AB Journalism program.