Oldham University College students will take on Saddleworth News production in the autumn
Digital journalism students from University Campus Oldham (UCO), are to take over the running of local news site Saddleworth News.
Richard Jones, a local journalist who set up the site in February 2010, announced today (5 August) that it had joined forces with the university as he plans to return to full-time work.
As part of the new arrangement, students from the digital journalism degree course at UCO, part of the University of Huddersfield, will take over the running of the site from autumn this year.
Jones claims the site attracts more than 22,000 unique visitors each month. He was running Saddleworth News while raising his young daughter.
"I was worried about what might happen to the site if I went back to work and couldn't give as much time and energy to it," he said in a release.
"I had expressions of interest from commercial companies, but I'm absolutely delighted to be able to hand the site on to the university.
"With the students providing original journalism, this is the best outcome for the community."
Also cited in the release, course leader Caroline Pringle added the opportunity was "too good to ignore".
"The university is always looking for innovative ways to both teach our students, and get more involved in the local area.
"I’m looking forward to seeing how the project develops over the coming months."
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