A regional publishing boss is set to return to studying at the university where he trained as a journalist.

Reach Regionals audience and content director Ed Walker has enrolled on the University of Central Lancashire’s journalism innovation and leadership programme.

The course is aimed at working journalists wanting to take the lead in developing modern, digital newsrooms, with guidance from experts.

Ed, pictured, first studied journalism at the Preston-based university in 2004 at the age of 18 and will join the course thanks to a Google News Initiative scholarship.

He said: “It will be strange heading back – many years later – and juggling this study alongside the day job.

“But I like a challenge and having spoken to others who have done the course over the years then the juggle is well worth it and I’ve very grateful to the GNI for the scholarship to give me the opportunity to return to study and continue to develop myself as an editor and leader.”

Google provides funding for 12 scholarship places on the course, of which three are specifically open to Society of Editors member organisations.

South West News Service head of news content discovery Laura Elvin-Knight, formerly of the Leicester Mercury, is one of the three SoE scholars.

She said: “At SWNS we’re already spending lots of time discussing – and coming up with ideas and solutions for – the future of the industry.

“I can’t wait to build on those conversations in a larger and external forum, which I’m very hopeful the course will offer.”

Ed and Laura will be among the programme’s second cohort and will begin their studies in January.

Course leader Dr François Nel said: “Following on from the success of our first cohort, we’re keen to once again bring together a group of like-minded individuals who share a passion for pushing the industry forward, embracing digital transformation and supporting their communities.

“Like the participants before them, we have no doubt they will learn a great deal from each other alongside benefitting from the expertise of their tutors and mentors.”