A mass-learning online journalism course is set to return after a successful inaugural year.

Cardiff University’s Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) will take place in March after its debut run last year, which attracted 8,847 people from 113 countries.

The course is aimed at those interested in becoming community or hyperlocal journalists – and last year spawned hyperlocal websites including East Grinstead Online, which now attracts 50,000 unique visitors a month.

Professor Richard Sambrook, director of the university’s centre for journalism, welcomed the course’s return.

He said: “I am delighted that so many learners from around the world joined us for the inaugural run of the Community Journalism MOOC, and that the course is now returning to inspire a new generation of community journalists.

“It was gratifying to see so many community news services set up as a direct result of the first course, and we hope to see many more in 2015.”