A new research centre focusing on the practice of journalism is to be set up at Oxford University, backed by £1.75m from the Reuters Foundation.

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism will carry out research into contemporary issues affecting news organisations worldwide.

It will also record technological and market changes, identify long-term trends and provide a home for debate.

An established academic will be appointed as director of the institute, with a recognised journalist appointed as a director of journalism.

Tim Gardam, chair of The Reuters Institute Steering Committee, said: “In establishing the new institute with the Reuters Foundation, we have aimed to create an arena where the worlds of media and academia can come together, and give current journalists, as well as academics working in this field, the time and space to reflect on the most pressing public policy issues connecting journalism, politics and our contemporary society.

“Most other media departments in universities are concerned with training the journalists and PR practitioners of the future, along with long-term research. These are all important issues.

“However, the Reuters Institute at Oxford will not offer undergraduate degree courses, but instead focus on supporting high quality research, analysis and comment about how the media operates, and provide an independent forum for exchanges between practitioners and analysts of journalism and all those affected by it.”

Although the centre will not offer undergraduate degree courses in media studies, over time there will be scope for it to play a teaching role in the university, particularly through the supervision of postgraduate students.

It will also establish a summer programme for journalists, academics and students, and host a number of full-time and visiting fellowships for scholars and practising journalists from around the world.

It will be part of the university’s Department of Politics and International Relations based at Green College.

Dr John Hood, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, said: “Oxford is ideally placed to become one of the most influential and authoritative centres for research into all issues governing how media operations gather and disseminate news.

“In addition to the programme for overseas journalists which has been run in conjunction with Reuters Foundation for the past two decades, we have expertise across our academic departments in the legal, technological and political issues which affect modern news organisations, as well as ongoing links with many of our alumni who work for media organisations around the globe.”