Former News of the World editor Phil Hall has vowed to make Harlow College’s Journalism Centre the number one training insititution in the industry after being appointed its “ambassador.”

Phil, who also edited Hello! magazine and was director of development at the Trinity Mirror Group, is a former student of the college’s journalism department.

The college, which now offers degrees in journalism as well as diplomas, intends to expand the number of new academic and short-course programmes available to journalists, with the aim of creating a higher education campus based in Harlow by September 2010.

It is also investing in multimedia technology – giving students the opportunity to learn about 21st century media such as podcasts and vodcasts.

Said Phil: “For many years Harlow was considered ‘the’ place to study for journalists. This is an extremely exciting time and we are going to reclaim our title as the number one journalism institution in the country.”

Head of the journalism department Paula Dady said: “Having Phil on board is a big coup for us. Not only is he one of the most influential figures in the British media, but as a Harlow graduate himself he is passionate about the course and knows first-hand the difference training at Harlow can make to someone’s career.”

Harlow MP and education minister Bill Rammell said: “The appointment of Phil Hall is extremely good news for the college. Harlow is renowned for producing some of the biggest names in journalism and having him as a champion should firmly put the development of higher education in Harlow on the map.”

The college’s list of one-time journalism students also includes Piers Morgan, Richard Madeley, Kelvin MacKenzie, Martin Bell, Mark Thomas and Alan Rusbridger.