March 2, 2016

Channel 4 and De Montfort University to launch investigative journalism MA

Channel 4 has teamed up with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) to launch a new investigative journalism masters course.

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

Endorsed by Channel 4, the course will cover areas including: techniques of in-depth research, handling complex data, understanding financial information, using freedom of information, the law, compliance and safety, filming and editing.

Students will learn to identify, pitch, research and film investigative stories.

Channel 4 has a heritage of producing investigative journalism.

Its Dispatches programme has recently highlighted a wide-range of issues in investigations such as Politicians for Hire and Escape from ISIS.

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.”