The journalism training operation at De Montfort University, Leicester, will now be known as the Leicester Centre for Journalism (LCJ).

Its director John Dilley will host the centre's official launch this evening, with NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher as keynote speaker.

Joanne will talk about the challenges facing journalism training to an invited group of editors and students.

John, who has 30 years of experience in newspapers and magazines, has been a senior lecturer at DMU since 2003.

He said: "The aim is to raise the profile and recognition of our current courses – the established MA and the new single honours course which had a successful accreditation visit from the NCTJ in March – and three new specialist NCTJ courses in sports, magazines and sub-editing and design to be launched in the autumn."

The launch event will also see the presentation of the Leicester Mercury District Reporter of the Year Award.

Said John: "We have a very close relationship with the Mercury and we are delighted they are once again sponsoring the award to recognise the talents of our best off-diary journalism student."