Not all journalists are journalism majors, nor have they all graduated from an accredited program.
New Mexico had two accredited journalism programs until UNM's journalism program withdrew its application for accreditation two years ago.
Faculty and students discussed whether the loss would affect students' chances to find a job in journalism.
Joe Grimm, recruiting and development editor for the Detroit Free Press, said good journalists can be found all over. A loss of accreditation wouldn't stop him from recruiting out of a school.
But, he said, there is a problem with letting accreditation go.
"If somebody is going to let its accreditation lapse, I would wonder about the future of journalism at that university," Grimm said.
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Journalism programs are not required to be accredited. About 400 colleges and universities have journalism and mass communications programs, and about 1,000 institutions offer some journalism training, according to The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Those that offer scholarships, internships and competitive prizes are usually the universities that get accredited, according to the council.
NMSU is among the 104 accredited journalism programs in the nation.
Frank Thayer, chair of the Journalism and Mass Communications Department at NMSU, said accreditation gives the department bragging rights and keeps it on its toes.
"Accreditation keeps a magnifying glass on us all times," Thayer said.
There was a time 10 years ago when Thayer wasn't so sure it mattered to have an accredited program.
"Now that we have gone through it, I can see the virtues of it myself," he said.
Mandatory advisement for all journalism students was put in place at NMSU. Each student has to pass a spelling, punctuation and grammar test before being allowed in the program. About 30 percent of students pass the test on the first try.
"If you can't pass it, you obviously aren't a writer," Thayer said.
Thayer requires some of his beginning reporter students to publish in the university's newspaper, the Round Up.
"A 4.0 student without any clips is not employable," he said.
Graduating from an accredited program might set NMSU journalism students apart from other students, Thayer said.
When someone is talking about which journalism program they might attend, Grimm said he tells them to run with the big dogs at the universities that have the best programs.
"That's where the recruiters will follow," he said.
But even some of the best universities such as Princeton and Stanford do not have accredited journalism programs.
"I think it would surprise a lot of people," said Brad Hall, chairman of UNM's Communications & Journalism Department.
The council's Web site states accredited programs are not necessarily better than nonaccredited programs.
Hall said students need three things to be competitive - a portfolio, internships and a good relationship with their professors.
"When they are thinking jobs, they need to think those three things," he said.
