Ambitious journalists can now learn how to climb the career ladder from the PC on their desks.

Those who have set their sights set on an editor’s chair can follow their dreams by enrolling on a new course from the Department of Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

The bonus is that they won’t have to give up their jobs and go back to lectures full-time: they can learn new skills and achieve university awards, ranging from a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma to a full Master of Arts degree, by setting aside around 90 minutes a day to devote to their electronic learning packages.

The ground-breaking Journalism Leaders Programme is aimed at senior journalists in the newspaper, broadcast, online and magazine sectors, who want to develop their team-leading skills and acquire the ability to successfully manage staff.

They can cherry-pick topics which range from Leading Editorial Teams to Law And Regulation and Creating Effective Content to create their own tailor-made course. And each module will be backed up with an intensive one-week residential session on campus.

Mike Ward, head of the department of journalism, said: “This programme recognises that professionals need lots of flexibility if they are to balance the competing demands of work, home and studies.

“That’s why we offer an innovative mixed-method approach to learning which enables practitioners from across the globe to join in while continuing with their careers.

“This is not just about media management. It’s about vision, about leading editorial teams successfully to fulfil their roles as journalists. It’s about taking people along with you and being able to articulate clearly.”

The programme, which is now recruiting journalists for a September start, has already won praise from the industry.

Society of Editors president Keith Sutton said: “The course is, in its entirety, a complete recipe for editorship. It is comprehensive, imaginative and, in its e-learning packaging, completely accessible.”