The Lincoln School of Journalism was today due to be officially opened by award-winning journalist John Pilger.

The legendary foreign correspondent will lend his support to the launch of the school, a development of the Department of Journalism which was set up at the University of Lincoln in 1998.

He will unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the occassion.

Joining him for the official opening will be John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, and Dorothy Byrne, head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, who will both be awarded visiting professorships.

Following a tour of the new school John Pilger will also host a question and answer session: 'Why bother with journalism?'.

The new school is being headed up by professor John Tulloch, former chair of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Westminster, and will offer undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and professional short courses as well as undertaking research.

During the launch week the professor will also give his inaugural lecture, and a round-table seminar on November 4 will be followed by a journalism alumni party.

John said: "We aim to put the Lincoln School of Journalism on the map as a national and international centre of excellence, fully accredited by the industry and offering professionally relevant programmes in journalism.

"I'm hugely impressed by the new facilities which the university has put at the disposal of the school – they are as good as, if not better than, anything I have seen in a UK university."

Back to the training index

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk