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[av_heading heading=’Professions waiting for a communicator’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RHODA GARZON CAMPILLAN
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“MA’AM ano puwede ko ubrahon pag mag-graduate ko sa MassCom?”
This is one of the many concerns an AB Com graduating student has. Some would think that being a graduate of this program, you will end up only on TV and radio stations or in newspapers and nothing more.
A seminar I attended Friday last week sponsored by the Graduate students of the Masters of Mass Communication program of West Visayas State University obliterated the anxieties of the students. The seminar was entitled “Media Mindset: The Millennial Media Professional # Exploring 21st Century Careers.” The topics were: The Media Professional as Catalyst of Change, The Media Professional as Broadcast Media Practitioner and Educator, writer, public official, PR/Advertising/Marketing and Freelancer. The talk enlightened students that there are numerous career opportunities that await them when they step out from the university.
Miss Christine Gomez of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board and one of the speakers discussed about the millennial work setting. According to Dictionary.com, millennial is “a term used to refer to the generation, born from 1980 onward, brought up using digital technology and mass media; the children of Baby Boomers; also called Generation Y.” In relation to this generation, Miss Gomez gave the participants (who were mostly AB Com graduating students) options where to work after they graduate.
She said graduates can teach in the academe and be Communication teachers. However, I advise that they practice their profession first; meaning they have to be a media practitioner before they teach. Based on my experience, students can truly learn a lot if their teachers are media practitioners. What they teach in the classroom is beyond theories; they teach based on their own experience.
In this case, the students will be trained to be problem solvers early on as what Miss Gerthrode Mabilog stated. There are also several skills a student can learn from a teacher who has a media background.
AB Com graduates can venture into the corporate world and be part of the corporate communication office or be information officers. This is the kind of job where they will be exposed to various types of people. In this job, a communication professional is expected to bridge their respective organizations to the external audience.
Research is also one area where an AB Com graduate can flourish. There are different types of research they can produce. It ranges from market, audience even up to medium research.
In audience research, they can generate ratings to programs of networks. This can be a basis for networks to improve their programs for the benefit of their viewers or listeners.
Another area is Human Resource, although majority of the employees in this division are graduates of BS or AB Psychology. Still, according to Miss Gomez, AB Com graduates are in also in demand in Human Resource. AB Com graduates are trained to relate to clients – one of the major cores of Human Resource.
Online jobs and content creators are also choices offered to AB Com graduates. Online jobs give opportunities to graduates to earn dollars and work in flexible hours. This type of job exposes the graduate to foreign clients, hence widening their networks. This could be an alternative to the conventional jobs available.
Of course, an AB Com graduate is expected to contribute in media production. They can be on-cam talents or off cam crew. I remember this is one of my major motivations why I took this course. I want to be an on-cam talent. In short, I want to see myself on TV.
Being in this industry, an AB Com graduate is trained to multi-task and acquire skills in problem solving. A production crew cannot afford not to do something if there is an error in the script or if there is a technical glitch. The mind of a production crew is programmed to respond to problems as quickly as possible.
Marketing and Advertising are also potential areas for a communication graduate. They say there is a lot of money in these fields. I would like to agree. An advertising professional is expected to produce responsible creative ads. Brands trust a marketing and advertising expert to promote their products soundly.
And lastly, an AB Com graduate can serve the country by being a government employee as part of the communication office. The compensation package in government is attractive. Aside from that, you are able to contribute to the welfare and well-being of the Filipino people through your honest and untainted service.
My advice to graduates of AB Com is to study hard and the moment you step out from the university practice your profession. As what Ma’am Gerth Mabilog say, you have to give justice to yourself after crying buckets of tears because of a failed production or erroneous scripts; might as well practice what you have toiled day and night.
There are a lot of opportunities waiting for you. For now, do well in your studies and excel. Your hard work while still in the academe is your ticket to get good jobs in the future./PN
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