Update: UCLAN and BBC training course open to freelancers from March 23

A new multimedia training course for freelance journalists in the north west of the UK has begun accepting applications.

The Infuze course, which will be run by trainers from the BBC and University of Central Lancashire's (UCLAN) journalism school, will start on March 23.

The six-week programme for 10 candidates will focus on digital storytelling and includes a four-week paid work placement.

Course organiser and UCLAN lecture Paul Egglestone told Journalism.co.uk at the Society of Editors conference last year that participants would receive around £2,500 for the duration of their placement.

The initiative is particularly aimed at working journalists looking to 'upskill', who won't previously have benefited from such training, said Eggelstone in November.

"This is a professional development opportunity for journalists, who want to get to grips with what is multi-platform journalism," he said.

Freelancers who also work for the BBC will not be excluded, though the scheme is aimed primarily at non-BBC journalists, he added.

The training is part of a scheme led by screen agency Northwest Vision and Media and will take place in UCLAN's Sandbox, which is part of the university's recently opened Media Factory.

To apply freelancers should submit a story of local or national interest told without using text by 5pm on February 27.

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