Trinity Mirror forms partnership to devise multimedia journalism degree

Trinity Mirror regionals and the University of Teesside have forged a unique partnership to design and run a multimedia journalism degree aimed at producing cub newspaper reporters equipped for digital publishing.

The newspaper group has previously used facilities at the institution to train its staff in video reporting and editing. However, this is the first time in has had in-put to shaping degree courses for students.

The collaboration was devised to ensure that both academic and industry expectations were satisfied with the range of new and traditional skills being taught to prospective reporters.

Teesside Gazette editor Darren Thwaites joined the University of Teesside panel charged with devising the NCTJ-accredited BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism Professional Practice degree, advising on the vocational elements of the course.

In addition to development of the course, which starts in September, all students will be given a patch on the Gazette's hyper-local citizen journalism sites and access to blog on them - with work published on those sites forming core elements of the degree course.

"From the student's point of view it's a great opportunity to set up a genuine news portfolio. We'll also give news briefs that are appropriate, as well as taking news the students are generating," Mr Thwaites told Journalism.co.uk.

"It's not at the expense of the academic side but this is a very practically based course that will produce successful journalists who are ready to join the industry."

The university newsrooms will have access to the Gazette's content management software - combining text, audio, video and web editing - to enable students to publish multimedia pieces directly to the paper's websites.

Senior editorial staff on the paper will also lecture to students on the practicalities of using the new skills they are developing.

"We've got a commitment to meet annually to review changes in technology and what is happening in the industry to keep the programme contemporary," said Andy Price, course leader at Teesside.

"As time goes by we'll probably develop other strands, maybe an MA, but we'd still keep a strong convergence strand in it because, in terms of employability, to be able to say 'I'm comfortable online, with mobile and print,' you'd be a much safer bet for a potential employer."

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