1997 annual surveys of journalism & mass communication surveys of journalism & mass...

1997

Annual Surveys ofJournalism & Mass Communication

Survey of EnrollmentsSurvey of Graduates

Sponsors:

AEJMC, ASJMCCouncil of Affiliates of AEJMC

The Freedom ForumNational Association of Broadcasters

Newsletter Publishers Foundation Newspaper Association of America Foundation

Hearst CorporationJane Pauley and NBC

Radio Television News Directors AssociationScripps Howard Foundation

Grady College, University of Georgia

1997Annual Survey

of Journalism & Mass Communication Graduates

Sponsored by: AEJMC, ASJMC, Council of Affiliates of AEJMC, The Freedom Forum,

National Association of Broadcasters, Newsletter Publishers Foundation,

Newspaper Association of America Foundation, Hearst Corporation, Jane Pauley & NBC,

Radio Television News Directors Association, Scripps Howard Foundation,

Henry W. Grady College at the University of Georgia.

A Release of Data from:

Gerald M. Kosicki&

Lee B. Becker

Annual Surveysof

Journalism & Mass Communication

Henry W. Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

Survey of Enrollments Athens, GA 30602-3018 Survey of Graduates

www.grady.uga.edu/annualsurveys/

www.grady.uga.edu/coxcenter/

The Annual Survey Web Site also can be reached through the home page of the...

1. Specialty within Curriculum of BA Recipients

Source: Annual Survey of Journalism & Mass Communication Graduates

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1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19970

5

10

15

20

25

30

35P

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ntNews-editorialBroadcasting

Advertising

Public relations

Other

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Public Relations Plus

We Are Advertising

2. Campus Activities of BA Recipients


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1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19970

20

40

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Newspaper Yearbook

Radio Television

Media internship Magazine

WWW.Site

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3. Final GPA of BA Recipients


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AB

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4. Final GPA of BA Recipients by Major: Percent with A or A-


39.8

34 32.6 33.6

40.1

32.729.9

26.830.6

34.3

Print journalism Broadcasting Advertising PR Other0

20

40

60

80

100

perc

ent

1996

1997

5. Mean ACT score of BA Recipients by Major

Source: Annual Survey of Journalism and Mass Communication Graduates

25.1

26.5

24.4

24.4

24.6

25.1

25.3

26.4

24.4

25.3

24.8

25.4

Total

Print journalism

Broadcasting

Advertising

PR

Other

11 16 21 26 31 36

1996

1997

6. Mean SAT score of BA Recipients by Major


1090.5

1140.5

1075.3

1090.6

1081

1073.5

1094.2

1151.8

1102.7

1074.1

1059.8

1083.8

Total

Print Journalism

Broadcasting

Advertising

PR

other

400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

1996

1997

7. Jobs Sought by BA Recipients -- Print


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1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19970

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Per

cent

DailiesWeekliesWWW

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8. Jobs Sought by BA Recipients -- Broadcasting


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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Per

cent

Television station

Radio station

Cable television

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9. Jobs Sought by BA Recipients -- PR/Advertising


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1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19970

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Per

cent

Public relations agency

Public relations departmentAdvertising agency

Advertising department

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10. Job Offers For BA Recipients on Graduation: Percent at Least One Job


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Percent at least one job�

11. Job Offers for MA Recipients on Graduation: Percent at Least One Job


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

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Percent at least one job�

12. Employment Status of BA Recipients


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20

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Full-time workPart-time workContinuing schoolUnemployed

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13. Employment Status of MA Recipients


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80

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14. Status of Jobs of BA Recipients:Percent in Permanent Positions


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Full-time Job HoldersPart-time Job Holders

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15. Unemployment Rates of Journalism BA Recipients Compared to National Data

Source: Annual Survey of Journalism & Mass Communication Graduates; US Bureau of Labor Statistics

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5

10

15

20

Per

cent

US Labor Force

US Labor Force: 20-24 yrs. old

J-Grads

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16. Employment Status of BA Recipients -- News-Editorial


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

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Full-time workPart-time workContinuing schoolUnemployed

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17. Employment Status of BA Recipients -- Broadcasting


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Full-time workPart-time work

Continuing school

Unemployed

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18. Employment Status of BA Recipients -- Advertising


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

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Full-time work

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Unemployed

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19. Employment Status of BA Recipients -- Public Relations


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Full-time work

Part-time work

Continuing schoolUnemployed

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20. Overview of BA Recipients' Work Situations


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

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Communication workNon-communication workContinuing schoolUnemployed

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21. BA Recipients Who Are Writing/Reporting


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15

20

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Writing/reporting

Editing/page layout

Combination

Technical writing

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22. BA Recipients Who Are Producing/Selling Ads


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23. BA Recipients Doing Corporate Marketing/Communication


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24. BA Recipients Working for Newspapers


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Daily

Weekly

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25. BA Recipients Working for Television & Radio


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26. BA Recipients Working in PR & Advertising


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5

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PR Agency

Ad Agency

PR Department

Ad Department

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27. BA Recipients Working for Magazines, Newsletters/Trade Press, Book Publishers, WWW


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5

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Magazines

Newsletters/Trade pressBooks

WWW

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28. Employers of BA Recipients -- News-Editorial Emphasis


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20

40

60

80

100P

erce

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29. Employers of BA Recipients -- Broadcasting


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20

40

60

80

100P

erce

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Broadcasting� Action News

30. Employers of BA Recipients -- Advertising


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20

40

60

80

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31. Employers of BA Recipients -- Public Relations


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20

40

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Public relations�


32. Employment Status of Minority and Non-Minority 1997 BA Recipients


70.5

80.7

13.4

8

16.1

11.3

Minority Non-Minority0

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Full TimePart Time

Unemployed

33. Job Seeking of Minority and Non-Minority 1997 BA Degree Recipients


24.2

9.8

18

34.3

13.8

21.7

25.7

22.9

13.5

19.9

11

13.1

23.4

10.6

25.3

25

26.7

14.3

Daily

Weekly

Radio

TV

Cable

PR Agency

Ad Agency

PR Department

Ad Department

0 10 20 30 40 50

Percent

MinorityNon-Minority

34. Employment Status of Minority and Non-Minority 1997 BA Degree Recipients Who Sought Work with Daily Newspapers


66.2

83.7

14.99.9

18.9

6.4

Minority Non-Minority0

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Full Time

Part Time

Unemployed

The Daily

35. Items Used by Current Communication Employer in Hiring in 1996


42.2

19.1

11.7

4.4

25.4

55.3

25.7

12.5

19

23

45.1

18.7

12

4.5

26.1

57

30

10.6

22

21

Clips, tapes, portfolios

Writing tests

Grammar tests

Current events tests

References from professors

References from others

Grades in college

Transcripts of college course work

Parti. in campus chapters of pro. org.

On-the-job tryouts

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Percent

1996 1997

refe

renc

e

Demo

36. Union Membership BA Recipients


Yes3.7%

No96.3%

37. Overall Nominal Salaries and Adjustments for Inflation


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$5.0

$10.0

$15.0

$20.0

$25.0

$30.0

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UG Nominal Salary

UG Salary in 1985 DollarsGrad Nominal Salary

Grad Salary in 1985 Dollars

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38. Daily Newspaper Nominal Salaries and Adjustments for Inflation


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$10.0

$15.0

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39. Weekly Newspaper Nominal Salaries and Adjustments for Inflation


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$25.0

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In 1985 Dollars�

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40. Radio Nominal Salaries and Adjustments for Inflation


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$10.0

$15.0

$20.0

$25.0T

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In 1985 Dollars�

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41. TV Nominal Salaries and Adjustments for Inflation


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42. Advertising Nominal Salaries and Adjustments for Inflation


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43. PR Nominal Salaries and Adjustments for Inflation


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44. Median Weekly Salaries for 1997 BA Recipients with Full-Time Jobs


$442

$404

$378

$385

$360

$404

$423

$444

$423

$446

$525

All

Dailies

Weeklies

Radio

Television

Cable Television

Advertising

Public Relations

Consumer Magazines

Newsletters, Trade Publications

WWW

45. Union Membership BA Recipients


Yes3.7%

No96.3%

Median Annual Salary Full-Time Hires: $23,000

Median Annual Salary Full-Time Hires: $26,000

46. Benefits Available to BA Recipients with Full-Time Jobs


29.5

29.7

33.1

30.6

33.4

36.6

25.1

25.2

27.4

24.8

25.8

28.2

19.1

22.3

22

21.5

22

22.7

45.4

46.3

44.3

48.4

46.6

45.9

47.5

49.1

46.7

51.5

52.4

52

33.1

32.1

33.9

34.9

37.6

38.1

Basic Med. 199219931994199519961997

Major Med. 199219931994199519961997

Disability 199219931994199519961997

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

Employer Pays All

Employer Pays Part



13

12.9

15.8

14.6

16.4

16.5

17.9

19.2

23.1

21.4

21.5

25.8

25.8

28.4

28.2

26.4

28.5

29.9

45.3

48.5

48.6

54.7

55.9

59.3

37.6

39.3

37.1

42.6

44

43.9

29.7

29.2

28.7

32.6

32.7

33

Prescription 1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

Dental 1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

Life Insur. 1992

1993

19941995

1996

1997

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

Employer Pays AllEmployer Pays Part



23.3

24.8

28.7

28.7

30

34.5

2

4.2

4.4

3.4

4.5

4.4

16.2

14.3

16.3

15.8

15.3

16

23.9

29.6

29.6

31.1

35.1

31.8

9.6

12.8

11.9

15.8

15.5

15.8

36.1

39.8

40

42.4

47.3

48.4

Mat./Paternity 1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

Child Care 1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

Retirement 1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

Employer Pays All

Employer Pays Some

49. Job Expenses Not Paid by Employer for BA Recipients with Full-Time Jobs


13.2 12 10.7 11.1 11.7 105 4.2 4.1 3.7 4.4 3.3

19.524.3 24.2 25 24.8 25

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19970

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Must Use Own Car for Work Routine Business Expenses

Working More Than 40 Hours/Week

50. Employed BA Recipients Reasons for Selecting Jobs: Percent Very Important


Available What Want to Do Salary Benefits Location Flexible0

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

1993 (N=1787)1994 (N=1682)1995 (N=1748)1996 (N=1675)1997 (N=1768)

51. Job Satisfaction of Employed Bachelor's Degree Recipients: Percent Very Satisfied


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20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

Full Time WorkPart Time Work

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52. BA Degree Recipients Selecting Major before Entering College


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56.6 55.6 55.6

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19970

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

53. BA Degree Recipients Who Would Choose Major Again


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87.5

75.673.3

71.2 72.775.7 77.4 76

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1995 1996 19970

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

54. Orientation to Work as Described by BA Degree Recipients: What They Said Employers Provided


81.8

83.5

69.9

52.7

68.8

15.6

13.6

24.6

44.2

25.4

2.6

3

5.5

3

5.8

Realistic view of job demands

Explanation of expectations

On-the-job supervision

Orientation Session

Assistance in meeting job demands

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

Yes NoDon't Know

55. Attitudes Toward Work of BA Degree Recipients: Reactions to Statements


63.7

74.2

24.6

31.2

5.8

20.8

21.2

16.9

33.3

34.6

24.7

35.9

15.1

8.9

42

34.3

69.5

43.3

Job Meets Expectations

Had Realist View of Requirements

Want to Remain with Employer

Want to Remain in Occupation

Expect to Retire with Company

Expect to Retire in Occupation

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent

AgreeNeutral, DKDisagree

56. Overview and Summary I

The job market for journalism and mass communication graduates has continued to improve.

The percentage of bachelor's and master's degree recipients reporting they had a job offer upon graduation increased over a year earlier.The percentage of graduates reporting they had a full-time job six to eight months after graduation was greater than a year earlier.

The level of full-time employment for bachelor's degree recipients was higher than it has been since at least 1986.The level of full-time employment for master's degree recipients was higher than it has been since data on these graduates were first gathered in 1989.Both full-time and part-time job holders were more likely to report that their jobs were permanent as opposed to temporary positions than has been true in recent years.The unemployment rate stands at its lowest level since at least 1986 and is following the national pattern of declining unemployment in the labor force and among age cohorts of the 1997 graduates.

Despite the improved job market experienced by 1997 journalism and mass communication graduates, those graduates traditionally labeled as racial and ethnic minorities continue to lag behind other graduates in terms of full-time employment.

Minority graduates generally seek the same types of communication jobs as do other students and are even seem a bit more likely to seek jobs with traditional journalism employers, such as at daily newspapers and with radio and television stations.

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57. Overview and Summary II

The improved labor market experienced by the 1997 graduates also was reflected in salary.

The median salary earned by 1997 bachelor's degree recipients with full-time jobs was $1,500 per year higher than the median salary earned by 1996 bachelor's degree recipients.

The salary gain by 1997 graduates overcame the slight loss to inflation and brought salaries for these graduates nearly up to the peak level of salary compensation in recent years in 1989.

The median salary received by master's degree recipients was just slightly lower than a year earlier but still more than $5,000 more per year than received by bachelor's degree recipients.Nearly all segments of the journalism and mass communication employment market showed improvements in salaries.Exceptions were in advertising and public relations, which were already high in salaries offered graduates.The best salaries were received by graduates taking jobs in the magazine, newsletter, trade publication areas and in online and web publishing.

The salary earned by bachelor's degree recipients taking jobs in online and web publishing was more than $4,000 per year higher than the median salary of graduates overall.

Graduates in 1997 reported receiving better benefits packages than graduates at any time since at least 1992.

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58. Overview and Summary III

Only a small percentage of graduates with jobs reported that they were members of labor unions, but their salaries were higher than were those of other graduates.The mood of the 1997 graduates seems to be good.

The percentage saying they selected the job taken because it is "what they wanted to do" is higher than it has been since at least 1993.Job satisfaction among full-time employees is high.Three out of four of all graduates said they would select journalism and mass communications again as a major if they were making the decision again.

The graduates also expressed satisfaction with specifics about their jobs.Eight in 10 said they had been given a realistic view of job demands.A similar ratio said they had been adequately advised about job expectations.Just fewer than seven in 10 said they had been given assistance in meeting job demands.Six in 10 said the job has met their expectations.

Despite these positive feelings, graduates have little commitment to their employers or their occupations.

Only one in four wants to remain with their employer permanently.Only three of 10 want to remain in the journalism and mass communication occupation permanently.

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59. Overview and Summary IV

Journalism and mass communication bachelor's degree recipients continue to classify themselves as primarily interested in the four big areas of specialization, news-editorial (print) journalism, broadcasting (telecommunications), advertising and public relations.

This contrasts with the official classification of students by specialization from the Annual Survey of Journalism & Mass Communication Enrollments, which shows students increasingly being classified outside these four areas.

The 1997 bachelor's degree recipients reported lower final grade point averages than did graduates a year earlier, yet still about three in 10 report ending with a final grade point average of A.Bachelor's degree recipients once again in 1997 report higher ACT and SAT scores than were reported nationally for students taking those tests when the 1997 graduates took them.Just under one in 10 of the 1997 journalism and mass communication bachelor's degree recipients reported looking for a job with an online or web publisher. About twice that rate looked for work at daily newspapers, and a quarter looked for work with television, public relations agencies, and advertising agencies.

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1997 annual surveys of journalism & mass communication surveys of journalism & mass...

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