Community Journalism course returns in February

Cardiff University’s free online course on ‘Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media’ returns, starting on 8 February 2016

The course, delivered by the University’s Centre for Community Journalism and hosted by FutureLearn, is open for registration.

Professor Richard Sambrook, Deputy Head of Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and former Director of Global News at the BBC, is lead educator on the course.

Professor Sambrook said: “I am delighted that our free Community Journalism course returns next year. Since we launched the course in 2014 with FutureLearn, over 23,000 people have signed up from over 118 countries worldwide.

“This has resulted in some fantastic achievements, with many learners launching successful community news websites as a result. I look forward to welcoming our next cohort in 2016."

Community news websites such as East Grinstead Online and Grimsby Spotlight have been established as a direct result of the course.

Other learners have also credited the experience with helping them enhance their PR skills, improve perceptions of their local school and create a travel blog.

Learners are also eligible for 30 CPD points with CIPR UK on successful completion of the course.

‘Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media’ runs for five weeks and covers the following topics:

• Basic journalism skills
• Social media for search and promotion
• Verification
• Setting up a website
• Analytics
• Sustainable business models for community news
• Basic media law

The course also includes expert speakers from organisations including Ofcom, BBC, Nesta, Office for National Statistics, Trinity Mirror and J-Lab.

Register now, and use #FLCJ to join discussions with fellow learners, led by the Centre for Community Journalism. 

The University’s Centre for Community Journalism, based in the prestigious School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, is part of the Transforming Communities engagement projects that demonstrate the University’s commitment to the communities of Cardiff, Wales and beyond.