Program Investigation: Journalism

Office of Grants & Institutional Research Presentation Convening Meeting October 1, 2012 Presented by: Cherie Davis, Director of Grants & Institutional Research and Andrea Hall-Cuccia, Research Analyst Policy

• Title 5, Section 51022, “. . .College districts are required by current regulation and statute to develop a process for program discontinuance and minimum criteria for the discontinuance of occupational programs.”

• Merced College Administrative Policy 4021 (AP 4021), “. . .There are three potential outcomes of the Program Discontinuance process. A program may be recommended to continue, to continue with qualification, or to discontinue” (emphasis added). Discussion of program discontinuance must include all parties potentially affected by the decision. Enrollment • From Fall 1999-Fall 2008, 212 students enrolled in journalism core courses, representing 141 unique students. • Of the 212 enrollments, 49 were in JOUR-01 and/or JOUR-08, and 163 were in JOUR-32. Table 1: Enrollment Enrollment Annual Term JOUR-01 JOUR-08 JOUR-32 Total Total 1999F 9 0 7 16 2000S 0 13 5 18 34 2000F 10 0 7 17 2001S 0 7 7 13 30 2001F 5 0 5 10 2002S 0 5 3 8 18 2002F 0 0 11 11 2003S 0 0 10 10 21 2003F 0 0 9 9 2004S 0 0 7 7 16 2004F 0 0 12 12 2005S 0 0 11 11 23 2005F 0 0 11 11 2006S 0 0 7 7 18 2006F 0 0 8 8 2007S 0 0 11 11 19 2007F 0 0 12 12 2008S 0 0 5 5 17 2008F 0 0 15 15 15 Enrollment Total 24 25 163 212 Source: MCCD Datatel Retention and Success 79.72% were retained and 74.06% succeeded in the core classes Table 2: Retention and Success Term Retained Successful Total Enrollment N % N % 1999F 12 75.00% 11 68.75% 16 2000S 12 66.67% 10 55.56% 18 2000F 11 64.71% 9 52.94% 17 2001S 9 64.29% 9 64.29% 13 2001F 6 60.00% 6 60.00% 10 2002S 8 100.00% 8 100.00% 8 2002F 9 81.82% 9 81.82% 11 2003S 8 80.00% 6 60.00% 10 2003F 9 100.00% 9 100.00% 9 2004S 6 85.71% 4 57.14% 7 2004F 10 83.33% 10 83.33% 12 2005S 11 100.00% 9 81.92% 11 2005F 9 81.82% 9 81.82% 11 2006S 6 84.71% 4 57.14% 7 2006F 8 100.00% 8 100.00% 8 2007S 10 90.91% 10 90.91% 11 2007F 10 83.33% 10 83.33% 12 2008S 5 100.00% 5 100.00% 5 2008F 10 66.67% 9 60.00% 15 Total 169 79.72% 158 74.06% 212

Source: MCCD Datatel Frequency of Course Offerings

• During Fall 1999-Fall 2008, one section of JOUR-32 was offered in each term and had enrollment counts between 3 and 15 students in a given term.

• One section of JOUR-01 was offered in Fall 1999, Fall 2000, and Fall 2001. Enrollment ranged from 5 to 10 students a semester.

• One section of JOUR-08 was offered in Spring 2000, Spring 2001, and Spring 2002. Between 5 and 13 students enrolled in this course each term.

Demographics

The majority of students enrolled in journalism core courses were 18-24 Graph 1: Age Unknown/Decline to State Under 18 45-49 0.47% 40-44 1.89% 1.89% 1.89% 50+ 35-49 7.08% 4.72%

18-19 30-34 32.08% 6.60%

25-29 9.43%

20-24 33.95%

Source: MCCD ODS Demographics Journalism courses were more commonly enrolled by White Non- Hispanics (45.28%) and Hispanics (31.33%) American Indian/ Graph 2: Ethnicity Alaskan Native African-American 1.42% Unknown/Decline to State 4.72% 8.49% Asian Other 4.72% 0.94% Filipino 3.30%

White Non-Hispanic Hispanic 45.28% 31.33%

Source: MCCD ODS Demographics Female students comprised the majority (53.30%) of students enrolled in journalism core courses Graph 3: Gender Unknown/Decline to State 0.47%

Male 46.23% Female 53.30%

Source: MCCD ODS Program Interest and Graduates

• According to MCCD Datatel, 92 students have declared interest in journalism since 2001: 9 enrolled in Fall 2012, 4 in Spring 2012, 3 in Fall 2011, and the remainder prior to Fall 2011.

• 51 students earned a total of 63 degrees from Merced College in 24 programs of study (some students were awarded multiple degrees).

• 5 received Photography degrees and 5 received degrees in Communication Studies. The most common degree was Liberal Studies (11), which prepares pre-service elementary teachers. 13 did not specify the program for which the degree was awarded.

• According to the National Student Clearinghouse, 6 students received Bachelor’s degrees in journalism from four-year institutions, 1 received a communication studies degree, and 2 received public relations degrees.

Comparable Programs • The 9 community colleges listed below awarded by the 9 community colleges 146 journalism degrees, 226 general media and communications degrees, and 1097 speech communication degrees from 1999-2011. • awarded 993 journalism degrees, 1090 general media and communications degrees, and 5679 speech communication degrees. • The colleges below awarded 14.70% of total journalism in California from 1999-2011 (CCCCO). Table 5: Media and Communications Degrees Awarded 1999-2011

Media and Speech Communications College Journalism Communications (General) Total Bakersfield 45 820 215 1080 24 34 0 58 22 65 0 87 19 0 0 19 11 23 6 40 9 110 5 124 9 0 0 9 4 25 0 29 3 0 0 3 Merced College 0 20 0 20 Total 146 1097 226 1469 Total (California) 993 5679 1090 7762

Labor Market According to the Employment Development Department (EDD) California Industry Employment Projections 2008 – 2018, employment by newspaper, book, and directory publishers (i.e. print media) is expected to fall 31.2%. Radio and Television Broadcasting industries are expected to climb 1.4%. Employment in other information industries is expected to climb 33%. This segment includes internet publishing and news syndicates but also includes libraries and archives and other miscellaneous information services, so this figure should be regarded with caution.

Table 6: Industry Employment Projections 2008-2018 Average Annual Change Employment Industry 2008 2018 Number Percent Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and 52,300 36,000 -16,300 -31.2% Directory Publishers Radio and Television 28,500 28,900 400 1.4% Broadcasting Other information Industries 34,500 45,900 11,400 33.0% Labor Market

With regards to specific occupations, demand for reporters in California is expected to drop 13.1%, and demand for editors is expected to drop 2.8%. Demand for photographers is expected to rise 7.1%, though many do not work in the print or broadcasting industries. Demand for copyeditors/proofreaders is expected to remain flat. Data for broadcast news analysts was not available.

Table 7: Occupation Employment Projections 2008-2018

Average Average Annual Annual Employment Change Openings Occupation 2008 2018 Number Percent Reporters 6,100 5,300 -800 -13.1% 170 Photographers 12,700 13,600 900 7.1% 350 Editors 14,300 13,900 -400 -2.8% 380 Copyeditors/ Proofreaders 1900 1900 0 0% 30 Labor Market (cont’d)

• Broadcast news analysts had the highest average annual wages in first quarter 2012 in California at $90,729.00, according to the Employment Development Department. Copyeditors/ proofreaders had the lowest at $42,681.60. • Editors in the Merced MSA ($34,444.80) earned substantially less than the state average ($61,089.60). • Reporters in the Fresno MSA ($59,612.80) earned more than the state average ($49,171.20) while those in the Stockton MSA ($39,436.80) and the Modesto MSA ($32,260.80) earned less. • Photographers in all four MSAs earned substantially less on average (California $47,008.00, Fresno MSA $28,267.20, Merced MSA $23,275.20, Stockton MSA $33,363.20, Modesto MSA $36,566.40).

Recommendations/Options

• Continue: The program could be continued as is by hiring faculty to teach the core courses.

• Continue with Modification: A review of the curriculum of successful journalism programs, such as , College of the Sequoias, and Sacramento City College could suggest ways to improve the Merced College Journalism Program and make it a viable program. Alternatives to a Journalism AA could be considered, such as offering a certificate or an online program or including journalism courses in other degrees, such as communication studies. Ashford University offers an online degree in journalism. This program could be examined to provide ideas for modification of the Merced College program.

• Discontinue: The results of this study suggest the Journalism Program may not a viable program as it is currently configured.

Recommendations/Options

The final determination as to the viability of the Journalism Program at Merced College lies with the committee charged with investigating its possible discontinuance.

Merced College Program Investigation: Journalism

Questions? Comments?

Merced College Program Investigation: Journalism

Thank you!

The Office of Grants and Institutional Research will be available for any follow-up as needed.

Contact: Cherie Davis, Director of Grants & Institutional Research, phone (209) 386-6786, e-mail, [email protected] Andrea Hall-Cuccia, Research Analyst, phone (209) 384-6370, e-mail, [email protected]

©2012 Merced College Office of Grants and Institutional Research, Merced College, 3600 M Street, Merced, CA 95348 Telephone (209) 386-6786; Internet address: http://www.mccd.edu. Bibliography available upon request.