DMU and C4 launch Investigative Journalism MA

Channel 4 has teamed up with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)'s Leicester Media School to launch a new Investigative Journalism MA.

This unique MA programme will equip graduates with the journalistic and investigative skills needed for hard-hitting current affairs journalism.



The course, which is endorsed by and developed with Channel 4, will cover areas including techniques of in-depth research, including handling complex data, understanding financial information, working undercover, financial information , using freedom of information, the law, compliance and safety,  alongside filming and editing.  Students will learn how to identify, pitch, research and film investigative stories.

It will equip graduates with the technical skills, resourcefulness and newsgathering expertise necessary to produce quality, hard-hitting investigative documentaries and reports.

Channel 4 is renowned for its news and current affairs broadcasting and its dedication to producing content which digs deeper into the stories affecting people around the world. Its award-winning Dispatches programme has recently highlighted a wide range of issues in investigations such as Politicians for Hire and Escape from ISIS.

DMU’s National Council for the Training of Journalists-accredited Leicester Centre for Journalism has established a strong track record in launching graduates into the highly competitive world of journalism for the past 20 years. DMU graduates work for a range of broadcasters including the BBC, Sky, as well as news agencies and national magazines, regional newspapers and top PR agencies.

Dorothy Byrne, Head of Channel 4 News and Current Affairs and Visiting Professor in Media Discourse at DMU, said: “Channel 4 is committed to training the next generation of investigative journalists. Our current Investigative Journalism Training Scheme provides training in investigative skills to working television journalists with more experience. 



“This collaboration with DMU takes our commitment a stage further providing a very high quality MA with teaching provided by professionals who are themselves television journalists of the highest calibre. It’s vital for the future of investigative television journalism that we train up a new generation and widen the pool of talent to include people from diverse backgrounds.

“Quite a number of people have general television making skills, but lack the sort of specialist knowledge required.”

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Andy Collop, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the Leicester Media School at De Montfort University to work with Channel 4, which has an outstanding and award-winning track record in investigative journalism across their news and current affairs output.
 
“DMU has a superb history of nurturing and developing talented journalists through its NCTJ-accredited Leicester Centre for Journalism and we are excited to work with Channel 4, which has an outstanding and award-winning track record in investigative journalism across its news and current affairs.”

This new MA programme is planned to begin in September 2016 and will be run through DMU’s Leicester Media School. It is ideally suited to established professionals who wish to develop their skillset or change careers, as well as students progressing from undergraduate study.