Professional competencies for the outputs of media departments in Saudi universities: A field study applied to the press release

Author

Faculty of Media and Communication, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, KSA

Abstract

The current study dealt with evaluating the cognitive and professional competencies of the outputs of media departments in Saudi universities in light of human capital theory. This was accomplished by applying it to writing a press release and designing a questionnaire for a deliberate sample of 150 graduates during the period from 2019 to 2023. The questionnaire includes 10 cognitive and professional criteria for writing press releases that have been endorsed by the National Center for Measurement, an affiliate of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These criteria are an integral part of the project aimed at developing higher education outcomes.
The study aims to measure the knowledge and skills that graduates have acquired in writing press releases during their university studies, their reflections on their professional practices, and their response to the demands of the labor market. The study's importance also lies in the fact that it is the first to apply the criteria of the National Centre for Measurements to judge the level of output of media departments in writing press news.
The study concluded that the cognitive and professional competencies of the members of the study sample were average in general, with a mean score of 1.88 out of 3.00. The cognitive competencies of the media departments’ outputs also excelled to a moderate degree (2.32 out of 3), compared to the professional competencies with a weak degree (1.43 out of 3). The study also revealed that media departments' outputs lacked proficiency in press writing skills, which is a crucial requirement for media jobs in today's labor market.

Keywords

References

Abu Al-Roos, M.(2015), The Role of Human Capital in Recruiting Funds in Civil Institutions, Unpublished Master's Thesis, Gaza, Islamic University, College of Commerce, p. 38.
Abu Al-Saeed, A. (2009), The Reality of Teaching Media in Palestinian Universities in Light of the Application of the Principles of Total Quality, Sana'a, University of Science and Technology, Arab Journal for Quality Assurance in University Education, 3(2), 2009, pp. 37-88.
Abu Ayyash, Q. (2017), Attitudes of Department Heads and Students Towards the Difficulties of Teaching Media in Palestinian Universities, Riyadh, King Saud University, Saudi Society for Media and Communication, Arab Journal for Media and Communication, 17(May), pp. 320-339.
Al-Haizan, M. (2007), Teaching Media in Saudi and American Universities, Riyadh, King Saud University, Saudi Society for Media and Communication, Arab Journal of Media and Communication, 2, pp. 223-226.
Al-Haizan, M.(1999), Media Research, Its Foundations, Methods and Fields, Riyadh, p. 20.
Al-Jumaiah, A.(2010), Professional Journalistic Practice and the Factors Influencing It, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Riyadh, College of Da'wah and Media, Department of Media, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, pp. 346-352.
Al-Rajhi, M.(2011), Problems of Qualification and Training in Media Departments and Colleges in Arab Universities, Evaluative Study, Jordan, Zarqa University, Zarqa Journal of Humanities and Research, 11(2), pp. 33-34.
 Al-Zahrani, A. (2022), Professional Competence of the Communicator in Licensed Saudi Electronic Newspapers, Riyadh, King Saud University, Saudi Society for Media and Communication, Arab Journal of Media and Communication, 30( June), p. 257.
 Al-Suwaid, M. (2016), Media Professionals' Evaluation of the Reality of Employing Media Graduates and Their Career Future: A Field Study on a Sample of Academics, Officials, and Professionals Working in the City of Riyadh, Riyadh, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 40, pp. 145-209.
 Al-Sadiq, S. (2012), Inputs for Qualifying and Training the Specialized Journalist in Academic and Journalistic Media Systems, a Field Study, Cairo University, Faculty of Media, the Eighteenth International Scientific Conference: Media and Building the Modern State, pp. 1001-1004.
Al-Abbadi, H.(2014). A Study of the Relationship between Human Capital and Social Capital, University of Kufa, Faculty of Administration and Economics, Al-Ghari Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 31(8), pp. 174-176.
Al-Qahtani, S.(2023), Professional Competencies of the Communicator in Content Creation on Digital Platforms, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Riyadh, Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University, College of Media and Communication, pp. 56-59.
Al-Qaari, M. (2021), Press News... Professional Skills and Practical Applications, Riyadh, Al-Rashd Library, pp. 62-82.
Al-Nassar, O. (2015), Professional Competence of Sports Journalists in Saudi Print and Electronic Journalism, Riyadh, King Saud University, Saudi Society for Media and Communication, Arab Journal of Media and Communication, 14(November), pp. 279-328.
Belkacem, C., Qanifa, N. (2020), Human Capital... An Introduction to Building of Development - A Sociological Reading, Algeria, University of Oum Al-Bouaghi, Journal of Human Sciences, 1(7), March, pp. 243-246.
de-Cózar, R. & Ostúa, N (2022). Digital competencies for new journalistic work in media outlets: A systematic review. Media and communication, 10 (1), 27-42.
Fakhr El-Din, A.(2021), Academic Qualification of Students of Media Departments and Faculties According to the Labor Market Requirements in the Digital Age, Egyptian Journal of Media Research, Cairo University, Faculty of Mass Communication, 1(77), p. 237.
Fawzi, H. (2008), Evaluation through the Theory of Human Capital and the Concept of Competencies: Diagnosis or Design?, Cairo, Journal of the Arab Society for Economic Sciences, 43-44, pp. 36-45.
Hussein, S.(2008), Using the Introduction to Quality Assurance of Education and Academic Accreditation to Confront the Challenges Facing Government Media Education in Gulf and Arab Universities, Riyadh, King Saud University, Saudi Society for Media and Communication, Arab Journal of Media and Communication, 3, p. 16.
Hamdi, A. (2021), The Relationship Between Studying Media Courses and the Level of Media Students’ Acquisition of the Functional Competencies of the Communicator, Scientific Journal of Radio and Television Research, Cairo University, Faculty of Media, 22(July/December), pp. 124 and 125.
Lazo ,C  & Patricia, G. & Eva, H., (2018) Professional Skills and Profiles in Journalism Demanded by Companies: Analysis of Offers at LinkedIn and Infojobs, magazine  Communication & Society ,p. 223.http://www.unav.es/fcom/communication-society/en/resumen.php?art_id=715    
Masoud, S. (2015), Academic and Professional Preparation of the Media Persons in the Libyan Press - A Field Study, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Cairo University, Faculty of Media, Department of Journalism.
Musa, I.(2017), Curricula of Media Colleges in Arab Universities in Light of Total Quality Requirements, Riyadh, Asbar Center for Studies, Research and Media. http://asbar.com/ar_lang/?p=22192
Mu’ayyad, H.(2021), News Arts, Riyadh, Al-Muqhim, Publishing and Distribution House, pp. 31-35.                 
Rajab, Ashraf (2017), Professional Competencies of Educational Media Specialists Within the Framework of Media Education Requirements and Twenty-First-Century Skills (case study), Cairo University, Journal of Educational Sciences, 3(3, July), pp. 197-250.
Radwan, Bouab (2014), Professional Competencies Required for University Faculty Members from the Students’ Point of View, Unpublished PhD Dissertation, Algeria, Setif University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, p. 64.
Serrano, P, & Barba, R, & Pallares, R (2015). Communication Market and Journalism students. Structure of the demand for professional profiles. Latin Magazine of Social Communication, 70, 209-229.
UNESCO Series on Journalism Education, 2007, p. 32. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000151209_ara
 

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics