The journalism department at London's City University and the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW) have joined together to bring a unique support initiative to investigative journalists.

Working journalists are invited to apply to have researchers assist them with their investigative journalism projects.

The investigative journalism support scheme will provide researchers from the university's new MA in Science Journalism to help them with their projects.

Full-time and freelance journalists can apply, but they must be working on 'a project of substantive public interest'.

The initiative hopes to provide support to a journalist for a period of six months, with researchers working on the project at least one day a week.

Gavin MacFadyen, leader of the Centre for Investigative Journalism, will guide and tutor the researchers through their projects.

To apply for support, journalists can complete an application form online briefly explaining what the project they are working on entails.