Keith Sutton has been appointed as an industrial fellow for the new course for editors at the University of Central Lancashire.

The editorial director of Cumbrian Newspapers, who retires from the post later this month, will be involved in teaching as well as the on-going course development of the new Journalism Leaders Programme which starts in January.

He will be joined by Nigel Kay, the former head of journalism development for the BBC’s Nations and Regions, who has also been appointed as an industrial fellow.

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

After completing a module on the principles of journalism leadership, participants can then cherry-pick topics to build and develop their skills or get a qualification.

The course blends intensive on-campus residential sessions with online discussion and support.

Keith, who helped devise the new programme, said: “This course fills a void that we in industry have long been aware of.

“I’m very pleased to have this chance to contribute to such a well-established and well-respected journalism school.”

Keith (pictured) and Nigel will also advise on industry-relevant research and coordinate the programme’s Journalism Leaders Forum series.

Programme course director François Nel said the pair’s expertise in two very different parts of the industry would be a great asset.

He said: “Still, Nigel and Keith concur on two key issues: they are both passionate about journalism and, like the rest of the team, recognise the industry’s future success depends not only on taking advantage of the opportunities new technologies offer us to tell stories in new ways and, in many instances, to speak with new audiences.

“It’s also about inspiring the people who will make it happen.”