Experts on investigative reporting are organising a summer school in London next month.

The venture is being run as a non-profit course by a group of investigative journalists from the Observer, the Sunday Times, World in Action, Panorama, NPR, Frontline and Channel 4.

Director Gavin MacFadyen, said: "We've designed the school to equip younger journalists with skills that are rarely taught in the real world.

"It is the first time that the full IRE training course will be available in Britain and both basic and advanced courses will be available."

Reporters who want to know how to research and understand company accounts, filings and other financial documents will be offered seminars led by experienced financial journalists, leading corporate investigators and a forensic accountant.

Media law experts will provide classes covering libel, privacy, qualified privilege, contempt, protection of sources and other important current legal issues.

British, American and continental investigative journalists will discuss how to mount quick investigations, covert technology, war reporting, how to use freedom of information acts in the UK, the US and Europe, the 'PR menace', working on the continent, investigating sport, and seminars on police, organised crime and the security services.

The summer school is being organised for July 18 to 20 in central London at the University of Westminster and more information can be found at the website www.investigativereporting.org.uk, where full programme details and guest speakers are listed.

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