More than 30 senior editors from around the world will make up the 2023 cohort of the prestigious Journalism Innovation and Leadership (JILeaders) Programme at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
The 32 participants of the flagship programme, which is sponsored by the Google News Initiative (GNI) and International Media Support (IMS), hail from 12 countries across four continents and work in senior roles for a broad range of media organisations, from national broadcasters and news publishers to new digital start-ups and technology companies. The Class of 2023 comprises 18 women and 14 men.
The Programme offers a 30-week part-time, postgraduate certificate and a two-year master of arts course that have been co-designed by a team of practise-led academics and innovative industry leaders to foster the next generation of diverse news media leaders.
For the first time, participants will have the option to attend face-to-face sessions in both the UK and Africa after UCLan extended the JIL Programme to Sub-Saharan Africa following a successful two-year run in the UK.
The Programmes, which will begin in January, will run concurrently and be taught entirely online to make the course more accessible, with the option of attending two intensive learning blocks in person or online – one will be in Preston and the other in Cape Town.
“Journalism is such a dynamic industry and we need innovation to ensure we have a thriving media landscape. I’m looking forward to learning from experts and peers while developing new ideas to reach, engage and monetise audiences around trusted news.”
Jacqui Merrington, Discovery Director at Reach Plc
Thanks to ongoing support from the GNI, 30 of this year’s cohort have been granted scholarships, of which 15 places were reserved explicitly for participants from Sub-Saharan Africa. The GNI also helps to facilitate the industry mentoring programme by offering key network connections and providing access to a pioneering approach and practice across the news industry. IMS, which works to support news organizations operating in some of the world’s most difficult places, has provided support for two editors from Georgia to participate.
