the importance of pursuing a college degree in journalism amid the emerging number of non-journalism...

8/11/2019 The Importance of Pursuing a College Degree in Journalism Amid the Emerging Number of Non-Journalism Graduat

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Gonzales, Taduran Importance of College Degree in Journa

Ateneo de Naga University

Department of Media Studies

The Importance of Having a Journalism Degree Amid the

Emerging Number of Non-Journalism Graduates Working

in the Media

Gonzales, Loen May F.

Taduran, Christian S.


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CHAPTER 1

Introduction

RATIONALE

Journalism in the Philippines spurred long before the Martial Law

days even started in 1972. Indeed, even during the very familiar Spanish

Colonization era, nascent signs of the Filipinos need to express their

grievances and to disseminate information in what appeared to be a

country beginning to slide down into passivity on account of the

protracted Spanish occupation were prevalent across the Philippines. Of

course, there was the historic La Solaridad which published hard-

hitting, firebrand stories that challenged the rubberstamp Spanish

government then in the country. After that, there came the Kalayaan

that broke the very first commentary ever published in the history of the

Philippines. This first commentary would later be the prototype of several

other commentaries in the Philippine newspaper dominant even to this

day. All of these were short-lived, however. Although it is indeed

impossible to trace back the very first form of information dissemination


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in the Philippines, it is however safe to argue that Philippine journalism

at least had its landmark growth during the prohibitive age of foreign

occupation, including the imperialist American regime. When the

nationalist Filipinos won over the Spaniards, the Americans took over;

the backlash on the budding Philippine journalism then was, without

doubt, enormous. Quite apart from Spains outright extra-legal practice

of prohibiting anti-Spanish journalistic and literary works, the Americans

did it legally by enacting laws that discouraged, if not entirely stopped

the editorialist nature of the Philippine newspaper. Freedom of the press

would eventually be at the Filipinos disposal, several years later, right in

the aftermath of the legendary ouster of Dictator Ferdinand Emmanuel

Edralin Marcos in February of 1986.

Today, Philippine journalism has obviously reached its peak. This

research will, however, focus on local newspapers only. With the

multitude of newspapers sprouting in every corner of the country,

literally and figuratively, the demand for journalists has likewise

flourished. This might be the reason why the executive board in every

newspaper company has since hired the help of non-journalism

graduates in the field. Veteran journalist and Former CNN Jakarta

Bureau Chief Maria Ressa was taking a pre-medical track in Princeton

University when she started her journalistic career in Asia.


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Despite the number of schools here in the Philippines that offer four-

year journalism degrees, scores of journalists today in the media

graduated with degrees not actually related to the field they are working

ona number of them being educated in journalism by the actual

experience as apprentice staffers in certain newspapers. As a result, this

questions the importance of attending formal journalism classes in

universities for more or less four years. Furthermore, this places the very

foundation of those currently enrolled in journalism courses on a very

shaky foothold.

This is the reality in the modern media that the researchers have

observed today. In connection to such reality, this research will focus on

the importance of the journalism degree to the actual field. The

researchers, with the help of the local media experts, hope to bolster and

reinforce the need for aspiring journalists to pursue a journalism degree

if they ever plan to land a job on certain newspapers.

This research, citing actional realism as its guiding ontological

paradigm, also dawns on the choice of graduateswhether by need or by

wantto pursue a career in journalism regardless of their college degree.

Apart from the fact that they need to get a job related to the course they


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took in college, they also have the choice to work according to their

environment. This could be the lack of job opportunities for them or that

reporting is truly their passion from the very start. On a constructivist

setting, on the one hand, this research will not be dwelling on empirical

data but more on the interpretation and analyses by some veteran

journalists. Therefore, the research will be more or less theoretical and

descriptive in nature.

In the end, this will basically juxtapose journalism and non-

journalism graduates and explain how mere journalistic skill can

outweigh a degree in journalism. At best, it will explain why many of

veteran journalists today who either took up other college courses

unrelated to journalism before or did not finish college entirely still can

compete with journalists who had degrees in journalism. But at the very

most, this will push journalism students not to rely on a simple degree in

journalism but gather even better knowledge and experiences that

cannot be learned within the four walls of the classroom.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

With the emerging number of non-journalism graduates working as

professional journalists in the field of media, the researchers came up


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with this study which aims to know the significance of journalism as a

course. Specifically, the study attempts to answer the following

questions:

1.

How can someone be considered as a journalist?

2.

What are the exact qualifications the executive boards are

looking for from aspiring journalists for them to be hired?

3.

What are the skills necessary for non-journalism graduates for

them to become a journalist?

4.

What is the edge of journalism graduates over non-journalism

graduates as they go over their journalistic endeavors?

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to know the importance of a bachelors degree in

journalism in the midst of non-journalism graduates working as

professional journalists in the field of media. Specifically, this study

attempts to know the following:

1.

The standards of being a journalist.

2.

The exact qualifications the executive boards are looking for

from aspiring journalists for them to be hired.


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3.

The skills necessary for non-journalism graduates to become a

journalist.

4.

The edge of journalism graduates over non-journalism

graduates as they go over their journalistic endeavors.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will benefit the field of media, specifically journalism.

Furthermore, this can be of help to:

Journalism aspirantsHigh school students, journalism undergrads,

journalism degree holders, non-degree holders and non-journalism

graduates who dream to be journalists. This study will aid them to make

wise decisions as they pursue their journalistic endeavors. This study

will further answer their queries on the advantages and disadvantages of

pursuing a degree in journalism and whether journalism is still a

worthwhile course.

Journalism practitionersPeople who are in the media, specifically in

print, such as the editors, columnists and researchers. This study will be

beneficial to them as this research may be a subject of interest to the

editors or the executive board, to be a reference as they hire journalists.


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Columnists and other non-executives may refer to this research in

assessing the edge of journalism graduates over non-journalism

graduates and vice versa.

AcademesColleges, universities and other educational institutions that

offer courses in journalism. This study will be beneficial to academes as

it may lead an improvement on the standards of journalism as a course.

This research may provoke the academe to take a look at the future of

their students and realize the unfairness of career opportunities landing

on the same position as other journalism aspirants who hadnt gone

formal education in journalism.

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This research study is concerned with the importance of taking a

college degree in journalism to the actual field. This study will be

conducted in Ateneo de Naga University for the 1st semester of academic

year 2012-2013.

Out of all the types of mass media: print; outdoor and; electronic, the

researchers chose not to include all three types but to only focus on print

media. Furthermore, although the researchers wish to analyze and


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interpret the nationwide pattern created by the reportorial abilities of

journalism and non-journalism graduates today, they will only limit the

research on newspapers making the rounds within Camarines Sur.

However, on the interpretation and analysis by veteran journalists,

the researchers interviewees will not be restricted within the local scene.

The researchers may therefore ask for opinion from journalists in

national newspapers such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer,

BusinessWorld, Philippine Star, among others.


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CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature and Studies

RELATED LITERATURE

The importance of journalism and the media at this age and period of

democracy is undeniable. In a democratic equation, there are three

types of identities: the politicians, the public, and the publication. The

three elite Ps of the democratic process which, through their correlation

with each other, make modern democracy unique compared to other

political philosophies (djussila, 2009).

Having such impact in the face of democracy, a career in media,

specifically journalism, is sought after by many aspirants. These

aspirants go over decision-making: to jump over a career in journalism

with pure luck, backboned with courage and innate skills, or risk money

and time and go for a degree in journalism.

Journalism is a job, not a profession, because a profession requires

certain criterion for admitting people into the profession, and on the

same note, expelling undesired people out; and a job only requires being

hired by an employer. Earning colleagues respect or not would not kick


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you out from being a journalist (Bernstein, 2009). Journalism has always

been a craftin rare moments an artbut never a profession. It depends

too much on the perception, skill, empathy and honesty of the

practitioner rather than on the acquisition of technical knowledge and

skills (Smith, 1970). It does not require formal education. Thus,

journalism is considered by some as a vocational course and not a

worthwhile degree.

In the Philippines, where the basic education curriculum, which was

followed since time immemorial and had just been amended this present

year, is not enough to give you a decent job, therefore a college degree is

given stress on. A diploma is considered as a ticket to the future

(Gonzales, 2009). The value of a college degree is as important as ones

gate pass to success. But how can a journalism aspirant, with no enough

money to waste on an unsure path be in the best track towards the job

he or she dreams of?

Cons of a Journalism Degree

As much as aspirants would want to be in the limelight, quite a

number of disparaging comments against going for a diploma in

journalism because of practicality make them think twice.


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As late as the 1950s, more than half of all reporters lacked a college

degree (Smith, 1970). Many in the news business will tell you that the

basic skills of reporting, writing, and interviewing are best learned not in

a classroom but by covering real stories for the college newspaper. That's

how many journalists learned their craft, and in fact, some of the biggest

stars in the business never took a journalism course in their life (Rogers).

Topping the Daily Beasts 20 Most Useless Degrees is Journalism

(2011). While landing a job as a journalist is definitely tougher than its

ever been, it is possible. A degree does not entitle you to a job, but hard-

work might (Prentice, 2011).

Past employers knew that journalists with one of the trade

qualifications would have the basic competencies of the trade, while

those without qualifications would lose nothing but a little dignity by

trying to become journalists. And if they were good, they would make it.

The same still holds truebut the qualified and the hopeful have now

been joined by the journalism graduates, plenty of whom will have

passed through courses defined as suitable for the job by no one but

their directors. And a significant number of them have been conned by

their institutions (Hann, 2001).


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Sarah Lacy (2009), in her article Who the Hell is Enrolling in

Journalism School Right Now? at TechCrunch.com hastily undermined

journalism schools. Lacy is an award-winning author, 15-year reporter,

senior editor at TechCruch.com and the founder of the news site

PandoDaily who hadnt gone to a journalism school and became a

journalist through getting a job at a weekly business journal. She talks

about her personal journey and compares it with her friend who had

gone into a Journalism school but is no longer in the field, unlike her.

Foot-binding, as she described Journalism schools, she breaks

conventional journalism by having her own style.

International Journalist Network (Ijnet.org) posted a question, Is the

journalism degree becoming obsolete? Nine out of fourteen commenters

agreed that journalism is not an important degree. Comments have it

that a journalism degree was never a requirement and they rather take

other majors to specialize in a certain field, and then jump into

journalism.

Pros of a Journalism Degree

Amidst the pessimism brought by which certain people call

practicality, people, especially those who had gone from Journalism

schools would encourage a degree.


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According to Rachel Dheal, some of the biggest perks of journalism

school are the connections it offers. While learning invaluable skills

about what journalism is and how to craft and report stories, youll meet

professors who likely have strong ties in the media world. The other big

plus of journalism school is that, while its not required for entry level

jobs, many employers nonetheless like seeing it on a resume. Another

advantage of journalism school is that it gives you on-the-job experience

thats hard to get anywhere else.

Prentice is incorrect in saying that all journalism school grads would

say their degree was a waste. A journalism degree is in no way useless.

Kate Stemsteff, an environmental reporter, said that her degree allowed

her to get where she is. Julieanne Pepitone, staff reporter, stated that her

internships and experiences for class assignments let her train to be in

the real world. All of the other reporters agreed that nothing quite takes

the place of actually working in a newsroom. But they also all said the

skills you learn studying journalism gives you an edge (Zack, 2011).

It is not just about the advantage of learning and having the edge over

non-journalism graduates through alumni connections and internships

with big newspapers. The society has never had more urgent need of

reporters with advanced academic, professional and technical skills.

Serious journalism is the lifeblood of democracy. It keeps powerful


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institutions under pressure to be honest and informs popular choice on

crucial issues (Luckhurst, 2009).

RELATED STUDIES

The question on the importance of a college degree in journalism

lingers. In a book by a long-time journalist Peter Lawrence entitled, The

Complete Journalist, a guide for beginning journalists, he reiterated

what editors and executives want from aspiring journalists. He

mentioned that, according to statistics, a majority of all graduates want a

job in the media. Indeed, with a competition this big, it pays to ensure

that you stand out from the crowd.

Lawrence enumerated what editors look out for: a commitment to

career in journalism; self-confidence that stops way short of arrogance

and; an eagerness to learn and a keenness to help and get involved. It

is further stated that one of the things that augur well for commitment to

a journalistic career is the degree in journalism or media studies. But he

backpedalled, saying that a journalism degree does not impress an editor

as much as skill and dedication do. He added that editors tend to think

twice about the worth of a journalism degree because journalism


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students are likely to have been bombarded with more theories than

practice.

Lawrence furthered: But unless the degree includes a certificate to

say you have got your shorthand speed to (ideally) 100 words per minute,

a thorough grounding in media law and court reporting, a basic

understanding of local and central government and proof that you know

how to construct a news story, a degree in journalism or media studies is

unlikely to lead to ajob.

Yet, a great deal of training happens within universities and

universities in United States (Irby, Bird, English, & Cuillier, 2007). That

was what has been stated in the book, Reporting That Matters: Public

Affairs Coverage. Also stated in the book is that journalism is the

profession that does not require training unlike medicine and law. To be

a journalist in United States simply requires an assertion to be one;

neither permit nor license is necessary (Koppel, 2000). Today, editors

often favor the generalistsjournalists who can take pictures and write

stories (Irby et al., 2007).

Meanwhile, a March 2008 undergraduate study by Ateneo de Naga

University journalism graduates Rossan Charmaine Agura, Diellyn Lirag,

and Ramir Vincent Mannog entitled, The Journalists Code of Ethics


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And The Banner Stories of Bicol Mail and Bikol Reporter In The Year

2006 And 2007, is one way or another also related to the research at

hand, specifically with regards to the methodology used by the said

researchers to analyze their study. They accordingly applied Philip

Mayrings method of focusing on qualitative content analysis; formally

called thus far as the Inductive Category Development Procedure.

Agura, Lirag, and Ramir tried to find out if Bicol Mail and Bikol

Reporter, newspapers of Camarines Sur, had broken certain code of

ethics from 2006 to 2007. After juxtaposing the banner stories from both

local newspapers with the Journalists Code of Ethics formulated by the

Philippine Press Institute and the National Press Club, it turned out that

Bicol Mail and Bikol Reporter accumulated 145 and 246 ethics

violations, respectively.

Likewise, the study, Blogs of War: Weblogs as News presented by

Melissa Wall in 2005 shares the same essence of methodology, although

not directly stated as the methodology devised by Mayring. Wall

explained that she used the theoretical sampling to interpret and

analyze her study qualitatively. This type of sampling, according to her,

is the process of gathering cases that epitomized a certain phenomenon

to assess topic of the research (Altheide, 1996). She furthered that there

is no exact number of cases to take up; in this kind of sampling, Wall


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stopped interpreting cases the moment she deemed the gathered cases

have already been enough. This sampling uses ethnographic fieldwork so

that a phenomenon is understood rather than observed objectively

(Altheide, 1996).

Using this method, Waller interpreted the rise of warblogs during the

US-Iraq war in spring of 2003. She concluded that blogs in general,

following the accession of the digital world, are a new genre of journalism

with their own elements which are in contrast with those of the

traditional news stories.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The media is the industry of mass communication. It, as the industry,

can be anything from print, broadcast, or online. These media forms are

also the institutions that vet out aspiring journalists and send them

harrowing into the field of journalism to cover events and issues. College

students taking up four-year courses on journalism and other courses

related to media in respectable schools go directly to these institutions,

hoping to land a job on any of these media institutions. In light of this

researchs topic, it would be crucial to separate the two types of aspiring

journalists: these applicants would eventually be the journalism students


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as well as the non-journalism students, including those who have not

even finished their degrees, competing for the job; hence, the simplistic

conceptual framework which would later be presented.

As noted above in Chapter 1, this research would largely be

theoretical and descriptive in nature as it seeks to understand and

analyze the present situation happening in certain media institutions

that is, the rising number of non-journalism graduates working as media

practitioners. In a nutshell, it sees to it that the qualitative element of the

problem be understood more than it tries to measure the quantity of the

issue at hand. It is for this very reason that the researchers chose to

analyze the issue through the lenses of the media practitioners

themselves.

Among the seven traditions in the field of communication devised by

University of Colorado communication professor Robert Craig, the

Phenomenological Tradition strikes right at the heart of this research.

According to him, knowledge and information can be best drawn from

the people who have and are currently immersing themselves in the field.

Furthermore, it is the analysis of ideas from the vantage point of the

people experiencing such problems and thus banks more on the

experiences of each person (Griffin, 2008). In the book A First Look at

Communication Theory by Em Griffin, he said that for the


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phenomenologist, an individuals story is more important, and more

authoritative, than any research hypothesis or communication axiom.

In this case, analysis on the importance of a journalism course in

actual journalism depends on the media practitioners, within the ranks

of the executive boards or news executives as they are popularly called,

in local newspapers here in Camarines Sur. Likewise, south Luzon

Correspondents working in national newspapers deemed worthy to

elaborate on the topic will be interviewed. More importantly, this theory

also suggests that the likelihood of being accepted into the world of

journalism lies mercifully on the aptitude of the journalists in the

making. The journalistic skill in this context is at one time or another

associated to the years of first-hand experience of journalists in the field

such as writing for certain community publications in their younger

years.

The theory of Cultural Approach to Organizations by Clifford Geertz

and Michael Pacanowsky is also considerably related to the research.

This theory aims to understand various organizations by the reading a

wide array of cultural factors that define them. Media institutions, being

organizations in their own right, have a set of culture stencilled to their

systems as well. What is more, this theory also analyzes a certain

organization through every aspect of the organization.


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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

HYPOTHESIS ASSUMPTION

1.

This study assumes that there is a significant difference between

journalism aspirants who hold a college degree in journalism and

those who do not have as they go about their journalistic endeavors.


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2.

Journalism graduates have an edge over non-journalism graduates

in terms of education, ethics, and technicalities.

3.

This study presupposes that there is importance in pursuing a

college degree in journalism amidst the emerging number of non-

journalism graduates working in the media.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

College Degreea four to five year course taken up in an institution

offering such higher education which leads to a professional career in a

specific field of endeavor

Journalismas a course, it is the field of study in which aspirants are

trained to be professional journalists; as a profession, it is the actual

practice of reportage of current events and issues that shape the truths

in a society

Non-journalism GraduatesGraduates of courses which are not related

to journalism, high school graduates or non-graduates

Mediathe industry of information dissemination which publishes

stories that shape public opinion


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Journalism Aspirants- High school students, journalism undergrads,

journalism degree holders, non-degree holders and non-journalism

graduates who want to work in the field of journalism

Journalista person who gathers first-hand information and writes

about them for a publication such as newspapers and magazines at a

regular interval

Executive BoardGroup of individuals within the newspaper company

composed of editor-in-chief, associate editor and the managing editor

that has the authority to employ applicants as their staff


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CHAPTER 3

Methodology

RESEARCH DESIGN

This research is qualitative. A qualitative approach to a research

means an assessment of the phenomenon by way of direct and personal

interaction with an individual or individuals. As a result, a qualitative

approach covers only a smaller number of respondents if compared to a

quantitative approach, but it would amass greater, narrower, and even

more in-depth information just the same as to why a certain

phenomenon happens to a particular group of individuals (Hancock,

1998). Collection of necessary information in a qualitative research is

therefore protracted or time-consuming since interviews, focus groups,

and observation are difficult to use as means to gather insights.

The design of this research is the Grounded Theory by Glacer and

Strauss (1967) wherein researchers use a phenomenon to create new

theories or knowledge about it. Researchers take a phenomenon which is

relatively known but with little or no study delineating its depth, then

they build up theories and new knowledge upon the collection of

information after trying to understand that certain phenomenon. In a


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nutshell, the theory would be based or grounded on the data or

information gathered; hence, the name.

According to Hancock, one example of the theory is the very familiar

grief process. He said: This is not a new phenomenon, people have going

through these stages for as long as society has existed, but the research

formally acknowledged and described the experience. Now we use our

knowledge of the grief process, new knowledge derived from grounded

theory, to understand the experience of bereavement and to help the

bereaved to come to terms with their loss. We recognise when a person is

having difficulty coming to terms with loss because we use the knowledge

to recognise signs of abnormal grief and can offer help.

New theories start to unfurl as data collection through interviews or

observation build up. As the researchers delve deeper into the

phenomenon, they begin to gather raw information to be used in mixing

up the theories necessary for the understanding of the said phenomenon.

The researchers also begin to connect the dots, test the hypotheses, and

interpret the relationship between variables, which then lead to the

creation of new theories.


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RESEARCH METHOD

Following the descriptive and theoretical nature of this research,

gathering of necessary and key information will be done solely with the

help of first-hand interviews with media executives of chosen local

newspapers. The researchers believe that in order to understand,

evaluate, and assess the problematic scenario, they will have to look into

the experiences of the said media highflyers themselves, as mentioned

earlier in the theoretical framework.

Interviewing is one of the three types of information gathering under a

qualitative research design. There are three types of interviews: highly

structured, semi structured, and unstructured (Hancock, 2002). A

highly structured interview is characterized by posting very objective

questions, almost akin to a questionnaire, in such a way that the

responses can be very restricted; these same questions will be given to

each interviewee as well. A semi structured interview, on the one hand, is

asking a set of open-ended questions rather than objective ones, is open

to unexpected responses, and the interviewers are free to follow a new

line of topic whenever necessary. Quite similarly, unstructured

interviews involves very little or no structure at all. The interviewers will

only prepare a broad question or two; the following ones will be highly

dependent on how the interviewee will answer the said questions.


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This research will take up a semi structured kind of interview. After

all, a qualitative research should either be semi structured or

unstructured because an interview that is too tight and restricted will

prove detrimental to further exploration of the phenomena being

investigated (Hancock, 2002). Moreover, a semi structured interview will

be most effective if the researchers or interviewers have already identified

the major points they need to raise.

Guided by the Phenomenological Tradition, there is nothing more

enlightening than the impression and experiences of media practitioners.

A semi structured interview will give the researchers enough leeway to

ask further questions outside the boundaries of a largely objective

questionnaire that will shed light on the aforementioned journalistic

setting. Apart from that, interviews also cover answers in areas that no

questionnaire can ever reach, develop interviewer-interviewee

relationship and that the researchers can be flexible with the

interviewees as far as questions are concerned, further inciting even

more in-depth response to the questions. By taking into consideration

each personal account of these media executives, the researchers can

fully provide a full-blown assessment of the current problem and thus a

multi-sectored solution to such problem.


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Indeed, these interviews will be more on measuring the problem

qualitatively rather than quantitatively. Furthermore, these interviews,

albeit they will follow a specific scientific process, will largely be

conversing rather informally and not with a final set of objective

questions; follow-up questions not included within the final set of

questions will be asked if deemed necessary by the researchers.

AREA/RESPONDENT PROFILE

This research will be gathering data from journalists working in the

field, who is the perfect claimant to talk in the field of this study.

Specifically, this researchs respondents will be people in the executive

board to answer the queries posted in this study.

As mentioned in Chapter 1, this research will focus on newspapers

here in Naga City. Geographically, Naga City has a total land area of

8,448 hectares and is located within the province of Camarines Sur. To

the north are Canaman and Magarao which border the city. It is likewise

bordered by Mt. Isarog and Pili on the East, Camaligan on the west and

Milaor down south.

There are three types of media thriving in Naga City: Television,

Radio, and Print. For Television stations: Bicol Broadcasting System,

DZGB-TV PBN Broadcasting Network (TV5), GMA Network, Inc., National


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Broadcasting Network, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Associated

Broadcasting Company (TV5), Studio 23 (ABS-CBN), DWNQ-TV

(Sonshine Media Network International, GMA News TV, Radio Mindanao

Network, and Global News Network.

For FM Radio Stations: DZTR 89.5Ateneo de Naga University Radio:

The Beat 895 (Manila Broadcasting Company), DWMY90.3Star FM,

DWNX 91.1DWNX (Radio Mindanao Network Inc.), DWAC 93.5MOR

For Life! (ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation), DWQJ 95.1Home Radio

(Aliw Broadcasting Corporation), DZRB 95.9WAV FM (Southern

Broadcasting Network), DWOK 97.5OK FM (PBN Broadcasting Network),

DWRV 98.3The Mother's Touch (Radio Cartias Network), DWYN 99.1

Love Radio (Manila Broadcasting Company), DWEB 99.9WEB (Filipinas

Broadcasting Network), DWQW 101.5Campus Radio (GMA Network

Inc.), DWOS 103.1Magic FM (Century Broadcasting Network), DWQN

104.7Power Radio (Caceres Broadcasting Corporation), and DWBQ

106.3Energy FM (Ultrasonic Broadcasting System, Inc.).

For AM Radio Stations: DWRB 567Radyo ng Bayan (Philippine

Broadcasting Service), DWLV 603Bicol Broadcasting System, DWRN

657Radyo Pilipino (Radio Pilipino Corporation), DZLW 711Peafrancia

Broadcasting Corporation, DZGE 855Radyo Numero Uno(Filipinas

Broadcasting Network), DWAR 891Radyo Oragon (Caceres Broadcasting


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Corporation), DZRH 981Manila Broadcasting Company (Naga), and

DZNG 1044Bombo Radyo Philippines.

For Internet Radio stations: Zone FM Naga (KZ Multimedia Services,

Inc.), Cool 96.7 (Cool Radio Network Philippines), and Power Tambayan

92.3 FM Naga City (Independent Radio).

For newspaper: Bicol Mail, Kaiba News and Features, Bikol Reporter,

Vox Bikol, and Bicol Herald.

Although there are five newspapers operating in Naga City, this

research will however only take two newspapers into study. These

include, Bicol Mail and Bikol Reporter.

Both Bikol Reporter and Bicol Mail have regular circulation. Bicol

Mail is a weekly publication that distributes 2500 copies of an issue to

four provinces and six cities in the Bicol Region. It also has its website

(www.bicolmail.com)which helps in the promotion of the newspaper as

well as publishing articles online.

Also, journalism practitioners, including those who are graduates and

non-graduates of journalism will be asked for further sharing so as to

give this research an actual view of the comparison between the
http://www.bicolmail.com/http://www.bicolmail.com/http://www.bicolmail.com/http://www.bicolmail.com/


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journalism graduates and non-journalism graduates who were once

aspirants and now in the practice of the craft.

METHOD FOR DATA GATHERING

The semi-structured interview method will be the means to gather the

needed information to answer the questions posted by this research. The

researchers have decided upon this method for data gathering since the

needed information to comply with the query raised requires a direct

interaction with the respondents of this research.

The researchers hope to achieve a smooth and at the same time, a fair

flow of the interview. With this, recording the interview via voice recorder

and minimizing on the spot note-taking will be applied as a part of the

method. By this approach, the interviewer will be able to concentrate on

listening and responding to the interviewee, thus, obtaining a smooth

flow in the exchange of questions and answers between the two. Note-

taking increases the risk of bias between both the parties because the

interviewer will most likely make notes upon answers with immediate

sense, at the same time, interviewees may feel inhibited upon this, they

may wonder what part of what they said drawn particular interest

(Hancock, 1998).


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METHOD FOR DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

After all the interviews are done and recorded, the researchers opt to

transcribe the data into written form than just merely listening to the

recorded interview. In transcribing the data, the researchers will take

into consideration keen details such as the tone and the level of certainty

of the interviewees as they go on from a question to another until the

interview progresses and ends.

To analyze transcribed data, the researchers will be mainly using

content analysis. This tool analyzes the manifestation, significance and

relationships of words in the interviewees answers. With the aid of such,

the researchers will be able to explore not just the superficial answers,

but also in-depth structures within the answers of the respondents. With

the use of summative content analysis, data will be studied with regards

to the frequency an information is mentioned and the comparisons

among the contents in each interview.

Quasi-statistics looks at how many times a data has been mentioned.

In this research, the researchers will determine the standard skills and

qualifications needed to become a journalist through the enumerations

that may be mentioned by the interviewees.


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Hermeneutical analysis will also be used to answer the first and last

questions posted in the statement of the problem: the considerations to

be a journalist and the edge of journalism graduates over non-journalism

graduates as they go over their journalistic endeavors. This kind of

analysis, wherein the objectivity of words is set aside for a while to give

way to a deeper analysis of where the respondent is coming from because

they are actually telling their own stories, which gives a subjective view of

things, will be used because the respondents narrative may vary at

different degrees since they are, at some point, assessing themselves.

Thus, constructivism, the theory in which this research lies, is well

defined at this point. Furthermore, this analysis considers the biases

that may be fed by the respondents since they may talk not just in behalf

of the general picture, but also in behalf of themselves, who by nature is

the core subject of the study.


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CHAPTER 4: NARRATIVES

Narrative: [] Niola, Non-journo grad

Niola finds journalism schools as important because classes in journalism teach students the

discipline and ethics necessary in working in the field. For him, there are certain parameters in

journalism which journalists will have to work within and that which they cannot cross over. This

is where journalism schools can gain the upperhand because only in schools are students truly

formed and molded by the ethics taught to them. But for him, not everything is taught in

schools nonetheless. While ethics and discipline are necessary in journalism, how you

psychologise with what your readers and audience want to know proves to be equally

important. More than that, he also hints on the importance of practice and experience, which

he calls street journalism, pertaining to the fieldwork done by practicing journalists on the

streets. He recalls his college years when he joined the university newspaper of Naga College,

The Naga Collegian, as an editor and DWRN, a radio station, as a field reporter to help him withthe finances in college. According to him, he does not regret taking a different course in college

as these experiences, and the seminars he has been attending at the moment as a member of

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility,

have earned him enough knowledge in news reporting to jumpstart his career in journalism. He

says he may not have the basic skills taught in journalism schools, but he sure does know where

to tickle the fancy of his readers and audience.

Narrative: Jose Perez, Executive Board

As an Editor in Chief of a thriving local newspaper, Bicol Mail, Perez sees the importance of

formal education in journalism. Perez said that a journalism degree is important because it is

only then that you can call yourself a professional journalist because you have a diploma to

show it. Furthermore, if an applicant is a journalism graduate, the executive board of any

newspaper company can be sure that the applicant truly has knowledge of the nuts and bolts of

journalism because they have been molded in school for many years. But he says that among

the applicants and journalists he had encountered, most of them acquired more knowledge in

journalism from outside the school, on the streets, rather than inside the school. He also shares

that what he does is to look at the product or the articles of the applicant first before he looks at

the educational background. If the product is good, he says that the executive board can send

the applicant to the field regardless of the educational background. In human enterprises such

as newspapers, he says that skill is over and above other things; skills can offset an applicants

lack in credentials. He cites veteran journalist and columnist Conrado de Quiros who did noteven finish college in Ateneo de Manila University.

For him, a journalist is one who dedicates himself to putting into records the stories of today

and make comments about it. . . a journalist is a keeper of history taking place in the present

tense. He says that a journalist should have the necessary technical skills in writing a story and

the character to go with it. Character helps a journalist build himself a credible reputation.


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Narrative: Mr. Eduardo Yu, Bikol Reporter EIC

For Bikol Reporters Editor-in-Chief, a journalist is someone who has been writing news for quite

a reasonable period of time, so as his writing can be considered as his living. Consistency inpublished articles and by-lines is also a basis for regarding ones self as a journalist. Yu has been

in his post for more or less five years. Being the EIC of a paper composed of contributory

columns and news, he chooses articles to be published with regards to the papers quality and

the writers articulateness and the choice of topic where a good percentage of readerships rely.

In the local scenario, he points out the lack of journalism graduates in the field of media. With

this, he says that people need not to be a graduate of journalism to write. Even holding a

diploma does not guarantee a smooth land to a job as a journalist. He says, though, that

journalism schools are essential for they give avenues to train aspiring journalists academically

through theories and field works. While non-degree holders of journalism may be misled of the

ideals and may lack a comprehensive grasp of how it is becoming a journalist, until he/shebecomes one; a degree-holder in journalism would have advantages because of the years in

training as he/she is in the course.

Mr. Yu reminds the role of the press as the fourth estate and as one of the influences of public

opinion. With this, he gives weight on the importance of a journalism degree and encourages

journalism graduates to work in the field, specifically in the local scene. He says that the lack

journalism graduates practicing the career, in the local scene, is one reason why non-journalism

graduates are thriving in the field.

Narrative: Ms. Bernice Paita

By choice and guarded by some limitations, Ms. Bernice Paita, a 2010 AB Journalism graduate, is

now working in the field, but more in the course of advertising. She says that she did not regret

taking up journalism because she wanted it so, only that she is more interested in production.

Journalism, according to her, is very specific. She advises that if a person has his/her heart set to

being a journalist, it is advisable to get a degree in journalism. If not, a course which is broader,

such as Communication or Development Communication, should be taken in consideration.

A degree in journalism is advantageous in a way that it served as a training ground for aspirants.

While in the course, several traits such as working under pressure and being flexible are

developed, characteristics that sure are helpful in the job.

General Perspective

Eagerness and qualification lands a person a job; his/her dedication makes him build a career

he/she can be proud of; further education leads him/her to a profession; and calling to be of


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service to people guides him to a vocation. A journalist can classify where his line lies in these

categories according to the path he took.

As the researchers went through the study, interviews with journalists disclose the real

happenings in the field: from admission into the job, to the quality of the paper a writer should

submit or an editor would go for, until the gist of the study which cores upon the importance of

a degree in journalism. With different perspectives, coming from the executive board to both

journalism graduates and non-journalism graduates who are all working in the field, this study

had an equal grasp on proving or falsifying the assumption.

Journalism does not require anything other than the skills of being a journalist. With such skills

present and a trace of attendance to several symposiums and talks on journalism, one, with

luck, can be a journalist. A degree does, in a way, backbone an aspirant to land a job and

practice in the field. But anyone can be hired, as long he/she is qualified.

All of the journalists we had interviewed upon stressed the importance of pursuing a degree. As

it was said by Mr. Jose Perez of Bicol Mail, Not everybody is Conrado de Quiroz (who has not

finished the course, yet is one of the most looked up columnists in the country). A journalism

degree is seen not as a requirement but a bonus.

With information at hand, the researchers can say that the problem is not actually a problem.

Taking up journalism is a choice. An aspirant need not to trouble himself/herself with the

dilemma of deciding upon whether a journalism degree is helpful or not, because indeed, it is.

Jumping right through a pool of aspirants, degree-holders would definitely be notable. But then

again, this does not articulate that they have better skills when compared to non-journalists.

Skills are looked upon with highest regard among other classifications. Skills which are learnt in

the actual field work are what counts as an aspirant immerses into his/her endeavour.

Reform with the academes standards on producing quality journalists who can be lined upon

professionals should be taken seriously. With quality-journalism graduates willing to work in the

field, specially in the local scene, there can be favourable events that should lead to the

betterment of the kind of media we have today.

Personal Reflection

From what we have gathered during the series of interviews we have conducted in the course of

our research, there is only one thing clear about it: that journalism schools should learn to adapt

to its surrounding, which are the newsrooms to be specific. Most of the respondents shared that

journalism schoolswhile being hampered by the fact that non-journalism graduates can

compete with the journalism graduates they churn outare still important and therefore should

stay.


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But what struck me the most was what one of the Editors in Chief of a newspaper said on the

importance of journalism schools. He said that the product of an applicant outweighs his

educational background and credentials and that in human enterprises, skill is most important.

While he thinks journalism schools are important, he definitely does not care about the degreeyou bring to the editors table. Perhaps, journalism schools can make editors care about the

degree their applicants bring to the table.

Journalism schools have been cited by their success in teaching their students the ethics and

proper attitude toward journalism as well as the parameters in journalism. But most of the

respondents often backpedal, saying that not everything is taught in journalism schools and that

most of the journalists today more often than not learned their craft on the streetsa term

journalists use to refer to the actual fieldwork done in mainstream media, or more basically,

anything beyond the four walls of the classroom.

Therefore, the best thing journalism schools should do is to teach everything in schools as a wayto counteract the notion that journalism students are more bombarded by ethics and theories

rather than actual experience. Perhaps, journalism schools can bend their curriculums into

something that can be more usable in the field. For example, give more emphasis on the writing

styles and photojournalism.


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Reflection

Upon having brainstormed for a research topic which concerns thought-provoking dilemmas

which may be encountered by people who rigorously aspire to be in the same track, I waspositive about the outcome of this research. I knew that this would not just answer queries

stated in its statement, but would bring forth individual sensibilities on the importance of what

we seem, as students, to throw our lives into.

Why study journalism if we see people working in our dream field who are non-graduates of

the degree anyway?

This question was what drove our research. Throughout the course, we looked for the

importance of a journalism degree. This search led us to several stories and opinions of media

practitioners whom we had interviewed.

Throughout our interviews, none ever told us that the course is useless. In fact, they seem tosupport our path. Such is not to please us nor be biased upon our research, but to give strength

to the idea of journalism as a job, a career and a profession.

We chose to immerse ourselves to learn the perks in the field. As what the fourth law of

economics says, People respond to incentives. With our diplomas as a bonus as we package

ourselves and offer what we can render to the domains of our career, lets make the best out of

it. We are like special offers in a stall, along with other promising aspirants, only that we have

these special boxes wrapped to attract a perspective buyer. There, still lies an equal prize for

such items, bargains only exclusive.

A diploma is a proof of hard work and dedication. It entitles an aspirant of an advantage, among

others who doesnt have, but does not assure better skills which is the most essential

equipment in the job. Skills are learned even outside the four walls of a journalism school.

Sometimes, street journalism better teaches an aspirant of the practical to dos in the field.

Nevertheless, formal education gives a guiding principle toward the ideal scenario. These

principles are learned, nurtured, applied and acquired. Such principles fuel passion. Passion, in

any means, comes from the heart and vibrates through the spirit. This passion is actually shared

by both degree holders and non-degree holders of journalism for they choose to be in a field

where such job is a calling.


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Interview Questions:

1.

How do you consider a person as a journalist?

Executive Board:

1.

How is the process of employment in the newspaper industry?

2.

Who do you employ? Who do you prefer to employ?

3.

What are the qualifications for employment?

4.

Through your observations, how are journalism graduates different from non-

journalism graduates as they work in the field? Or is there a difference at all?

Journalism Graduates:

1.

What do you think was/is your edge over non-journalism graduates as you look for

jobs? Immerse in the career? Work in the field?

Non-journalism Graduates:

1.

Do you think there is any significant difference between a journalism graduate and a

non-journalism graduate as they both go about journalistic endeavors?

the importance of pursuing a college degree in journalism amid the emerging number of non-journalism...

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