A masters degree course launched earlier this year has won accreditation from the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Manchester Metropolitan University has been given accreditation for two years following an NCTJ panel visit in November.

The course’s launch was announced in July and took its first intake of students in October.

The degree programme is led by lecturer Dave Porter, pictured above left, former editor of the Heywood Advertiser and Tameside Advertiser.

Said Dave: “It’s taken a lot of work putting the course together and going for accreditation at the same time, but the hard work has paid off and the whole team is really excited about the future.

“We only had our first set of students in October and the following month they were being grilled by industry experts about the course and whether it met their expectations, so it’s been a nervous time to see whether we would be accredited.

“We’re well placed at the heart of Manchester to give students a dynamic entry into the field of journalism, with Media City on our doorstep and a wealth of digital opportunities in the city and beyond.”