A university will launch a new journalism centre tomorrow which aims to support hyperlocal news sites across Wales.

Cardiff University has set up its Centre for Community Journalism to build a network of hyperlocal websites and work towards creating a sustainable business model for them.

The centre, which has been established by the university’s journalism school, will also offer training to those running the sites in areas like media law, which will be delivered by industry experts.

It will be launched at a community journalism conference, which takes place at the university on Wednesday and brings together experts in the field of social media and hyperlocal news platforms.

HTFP reported last summer that the university was setting up the centre, which was originally due to be launched in September.

Professor Richard Sambrook, who is leading the initiative, said: “The Centre for Community Journalism is one of a kind. There’s currently nowhere in the world that unites both research and training to shape the emerging field of community and hyperlocal journalism.

“It’s been a difficult time for journalism and the media recently, with the decline of local news outlets and the issues arising around media ethics.

“The industry has fundamentally changed. This new centre will inform a more positive and sustainable future.”

Speakers at the conference will include Jan Schaffer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who leads American news project J-Lab, Simon Milner, director of policy at Facebook UK, and Damian Radcliffe, internet and hyperlocal media expert.

Centre manager Emma Meese said: “The community journalism conference will examine emerging evidence and look at tools for the effective development of community news hubs.

“It’s also the start of building an exciting and lively network of community news hubs – we encourage voluntary organisations, local news producers, bloggers and more to join the centre and be part of the development of community journalism.”