Working journalists and academics have contributed to a newly published book and website focusing on the problems, challenges and opportunities posed by journalism in the UK.

The book has been produced by the Journalism Knowledge Exchange, or JKX for short, which was founded with the intention of making findings from academic research into journalism more accessible to those working in industry.

It aims to instigate potential collaborative projects between academics and industry to improve education of journalism students and inform journalistic practice.

The book, entitled ‘Problems, partnerships and putting things right: Enhancing modern journalism with key collaborations’ and sister website feature short essays from journalists and academics addressing some of the big issues and opportunities presented by journalism in the UK today.

They include discussion of election coverage, assessment of journalism training in industry and higher education, the challenges presented by AI and on-demand digital lifestyles and the use of satire in telling stories.

Contributors include Hannah Thaxter, editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post, Professor Richard Sambrook and Dr Stephen Cushion, of Cardiff University, Dr Julie Firmstone and Dr Katy Parry, of the University of Leeds.

The publication was edited by Dr Richard Thomas, of Swansea University, and Rebecca Whittington, journalism researcher and lecturer at Leeds Trinity University.

Rebecca, whose ten-year career in journalism included editing weekly titles in Yorkshire and working as a head of news at Yorkshire Post Newspapers, said: “Academic research can sometimes be so remote from its subject; an article can take years to appear in an academic journal or book and as a result loses the potential positive impact it might have on the industry it is scrutinising.

“We wanted to make new interesting and important findings quickly available to a wider audience – which is why we founded JKX.

“We are really keen for people from industry, journalism students and those in academia to get involved with the project – JKX is all about sharing ideas and knowledge and making connections with others.”