The partnership, starting in September 2019, aims to bring an innovative and hands-on approach to journalism. The HuffPost Centre for Journalism highlights HuffPost’s focus on quality journalism and Birmingham City’s University’s passion for breaking traditional media forms, giving the next generation of journalists a first-hand experience of the media industry, says HuffPost.
The partnership will see HuffPost UK and Birmingham City University engaging students with a variety of experiences, with HuffPost setting students real-world challenges in modules, leading tutorials focused on news, lifestyle, politics and entertainment and hosting talks - all of which will be held within the newly created “HuffPost Centre for Journalism”. Students will also be given the opportunity to spend time with the editorial team with the offer of work experiences in the newsroom.
Jess Brammar, Executive Editor of HuffPost UK, said: “We couldn't be more thrilled to be partnering with Birmingham City University to welcome students to the HuffPost Centre for Journalism. We love what Birmingham City University is about – quality learning, that is focused on students and what they care about. It’s exciting to be working with such a diverse student body. At HuffPost, we talk a lot about how important it is to report the UK as people actually experience it and we can't wait to help shape the next generation of journalists.”
Dr Sarah Jones, Head of Birmingham City University’s School of Media, said: “The HuffPost Centre for Journalism is the first of its kind. It places our students on a global stage and allows us to work with HuffPost to do media differently. It will have huge opportunities for our students and allow the HuffPost to work closely with a new generation to understand how news is produced and consumed, telling stories across different platforms. The media landscape is changing and this exciting new partnership will allow us all to make a real difference in ensuring the future of journalism reflects the society we live in.”
The partnership follows on from HuffPost’s project “HuffPost Listens”, which saw the entire newsroom relocate to the heart of Birmingham, opening up its newsroom to its people and telling the real story of Britain from the heart of one of its biggest cities.
The University’s School of Media has over 1,000 students spanning courses including sports, music, mobile and data journalism.
