De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and Channel 4 are to launch a new investigative journalism masters course.

The new MA course aims to equip journalism graduates with the investigative skills needed for 'hard-hitting current affairs journalism'.

The course will cover; techniques of in-depth research, handling complex data, understanding financial information, using freedom of information, the law, compliance and safety, filming, and editing.

MA students will also learn to identify, pitch, research, and film investigative stories.

The MA course is being endorsed by Channel 4, which has a history in investigative journalism.

Dorothy Byrne is head of Channel 4 news and current affairs, and also currently a visiting professor in media at DMU.

Of the new course, Byrne said: “Channel 4 is committed to training the next generation of investigative journalists. Our current Investigative Journalism Training Scheme provides training in investigative skills to working television journalists with more experience.”