The value of accreditation of journalism programmes: A New Zealand perspective

Abstract

Doubts have been raised in both the United States and the United Kingdom about the merits of accrediting university-based journalism programmes. The accrediting agencies in those countries have been accused of being inflexible and focussing on the old world of print journalism. Accreditation of the three university-based journalism programmes in New Zealand has been through a similarly controversial period, but recently a new accord was reached allowing for a more flexible, non-intrusive form of accreditation. This article discusses how this new regime developed. It notes that the new accord is based on three main factors—the importance of accreditation to the journalism programmes, the power relationships existing between the accrediting agency and the schools, and the personalities of those involved.