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Article
Reputation Cycles: The Value of Accreditation for Undergraduate Journalism Programs
Journalism & Mass Communication Educator (2012)
  • Robin Blom, Michigan State University
  • Lucinda D. Davenport, Michigan State University
  • Brian J. Bowe, Grand Valley State University
Abstract
Accreditation is among various outside influences when developing an ideal journalism curriculum. The value of journalism accreditation standards for undergraduate programs has been studied and is still debated. This study discovers views of opinion leaders in U.S. journalism programs, as surveyed program directors give reasons for being accredited or not. The most important reason for schools with, or obtaining, accreditation is reputation enhancement. But many directors question accreditation’s value. Some perceive the cap on journalism credits that students can take as a limitation of student development and a hindrance to responding to increasing media industry convergence.
Keywords
  • accreditation,
  • journalism,
  • undergraduate,
  • education,
  • reputation
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 1, 2012
Publisher Statement
Original Citation: Blom, Robin, Lucinda D. Davenport, and Brian J. Bowe. "Reputation Cycles: The Value of Accreditation for Undergraduate Journalism Programs." Journalism & Mass Communication Educator 67, no. 4 (2012): 392-406.
DOI: 10.1177/1077695812462349
Citation Information
Robin Blom, Lucinda D. Davenport and Brian J. Bowe. "Reputation Cycles: The Value of Accreditation for Undergraduate Journalism Programs" Journalism & Mass Communication Educator Vol. 67 Iss. 4 (2012)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/brianjbowe/2/