A surreal illustration representing the journey and costs of journalism accreditation.

Is Your Journalism Program Worth the Accreditation Price? What Directors Really Think

Lena Voss in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Decoding Accreditation: A Deep Dive into Journalism Program Evaluations"

Accreditation is often a hot topic among journalism program faculty, sparking heated debates about its worth and impact. For years, numerous prominent journalism programs in the United States have questioned its value, leading to renewed discussion about its requirements and the true meaning of seeking approval every six years. With developments in ACEJMC(Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications ) closely monitored worldwide, this accreditation has been used as a model for many accreditation bodies in other countries. Understanding the sentiments of journalism program directors is key to understanding the future of journalism accreditation.

Discussions surrounding voluntary program accreditation in higher education aren't usually known for excitement; however, the topic took a dramatic turn in the spring of 2017 when Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications announced it would no longer pursue accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

Medill is not the first prominent program in the United States to forgo ACEJMC accreditation. The University of California-Berkeley also recently announced that it was letting its accreditation lapse. Berkeley dean Edward Wasserman said he generally supported accreditation for undergraduate programs, but that the process was not a good fit for his school's boutique graduate student-only program (Fain 2017). This decision reflects a broader scrutiny of accreditation processes and their relevance in today's fast-paced media environment.

The Core Debate: Quality vs. Compliance

A surreal illustration representing the journey and costs of journalism accreditation.

The central question surrounding ACEJMC accreditation is whether it truly enhances the quality of journalism education or simply enforces compliance with a set of standardized requirements. Concerns have been raised that focusing on accreditation diverts resources from program innovation and responsiveness to the evolving media landscape. Additionally, the high cost of accreditation can be a barrier for smaller programs, limiting their ability to compete with larger, better-funded institutions.

Several journalism program directors have voiced concerns about accreditation, indicating that adhering to set standards conflicts with the innovation necessary in the contemporary media landscape (Fain 2017). Some worry that the accreditation process focuses too much on 'inputs,' such as faculty salaries and facilities, rather than 'outputs,' like student learning and career readiness (Warren 2017b). This concern raises questions about the true value of accreditation in preparing students for the demands of the modern media industry.

Key Challenges with ACEJMC Accreditation:

High Costs: Accreditation fees, site visit expenses, and faculty time commitment.
Limited Flexibility: Restrictions on curriculum design and course offerings.
Focus on Inputs: Emphasis on resources rather than student outcomes.
Barriers for Small Programs: Difficulties in meeting standards with limited resources.

Despite these concerns, many journalism programs continue to seek and maintain ACEJMC accreditation. They view it as a mark of quality that enhances their reputation and attracts students. Accreditation can also provide a framework for continuous improvement and ensure that programs meet industry standards. However, the debate over the value of accreditation is likely to continue as the media landscape evolves and journalism programs adapt to new challenges.

The Future of Journalism Education Accreditation

The future of journalism education accreditation hinges on addressing the concerns of program directors and adapting to the changing media landscape. ACEJMC must consider ways to reduce costs, increase flexibility, and focus on student outcomes. It must also ensure that accreditation remains a valuable tool for improving journalism education, not simply a barrier to entry for smaller programs. As the debate continues, the goal should be to create an accreditation process that truly enhances the quality of journalism education and prepares students for success in the digital age.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/1461670x.2018.1526641, Alternate LINK

Title: Accrediting Council On Education In Journalism And Mass Communications Accreditation: Quality Or Compliance?

Subject: Communication

Journal: Journalism Studies

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Robin Blom, Brian J. Bowe, Lucinda D. Davenport

Published: 2018-10-10

Everything You Need To Know

What are the perceived benefits and drawbacks of ACEJMC accreditation for journalism programs, and what is the core debate surrounding its value?

ACEJMC accreditation is viewed by some as a hallmark of quality, enhancing a program's reputation and attracting students. It can also provide a framework for continuous improvement, ensuring programs meet industry standards. However, concerns exist regarding the high costs, limited flexibility, and focus on resources rather than student outcomes. The key debate is whether it truly enhances the quality of journalism education or simply enforces compliance with standardized requirements. This leads to resources being diverted from program innovation.

Why do some journalism program directors express concerns about ACEJMC accreditation, particularly regarding innovation and student preparedness?

Several journalism program directors have voiced concerns that adhering to set standards conflicts with the innovation necessary in the contemporary media landscape. The accreditation process is perceived by some as focusing too much on 'inputs,' such as faculty salaries and facilities, rather than 'outputs,' like student learning and career readiness. These concerns raise questions about the true value of ACEJMC accreditation in adequately preparing students for the demands of the modern media industry.

What is the primary debate surrounding ACEJMC accreditation, and how does it affect smaller journalism programs with limited resources?

The central question surrounding ACEJMC accreditation revolves around whether it genuinely enhances the quality of journalism education or merely enforces compliance with a standardized set of requirements. Concerns have been raised that focusing on ACEJMC accreditation may divert resources from program innovation and responsiveness to the evolving media landscape. The high cost of accreditation can also create a barrier for smaller programs, limiting their ability to compete with larger, better-funded institutions. These financial implications can impact a program's ability to invest in cutting-edge technology, faculty development, and student resources.

How can ACEJMC adapt to better serve journalism programs and ensure accreditation remains valuable in the evolving media landscape?

The future hinges on ACEJMC addressing concerns of program directors and adapting to the evolving media landscape. ACEJMC must consider reducing costs, increasing flexibility, and focusing on student outcomes. It must also ensure accreditation is a valuable tool for improving journalism education, not a barrier to entry for smaller programs. This includes reassessing the evaluation metrics to place greater emphasis on student work, career placement rates, and alumni success.

What are the major challenges associated with ACEJMC accreditation, and how do these challenges impact different types of journalism programs?

ACEJMC accreditation faces several key challenges, including high costs related to fees, site visits, and faculty time. It also involves limited flexibility in curriculum design and course offerings. A significant critique is its focus on inputs like resources rather than student outcomes, creating barriers for smaller programs that struggle to meet standards with limited resources. This input-focused approach may not adequately capture the dynamic and innovative approaches that some smaller programs adopt to maximize their impact.