Highbury College, Portsmouth, is breaking down the traditional barriers between journalism and public relations by teaching its students skills in both disciplines.

Students on the NCTJ newspaper journalism course at the college are already assigned patches around the city as part of their coursework and regularly uncover stories which are published in local daily The News and other media.

Now the College’s media students are being given the chance to add to their skills by taking part in the News Bureau project, run by the college’s marketing office.

Students who take part are given the opportunity to write press releases for the college and see their writing in print and online.

The college believes the portfolio of work produced during this will give them an advantage when it comes to finding jobs.

Shena Mitchell, head of marketing and public relations at the College said: "This is a really exciting project and one that benefits everyone involved.

"The students get practical work experience and the chance to add to their portfolio, and we get the opportunity to cover more of the events and inspirational stories that happen around the college every day."

Student Vincent Whiteman, 24, added: "I think the News Bureau programme is like our part of the vocational experience at Highbury.

"I worked at the college before I came on the course and so I'm quite familiar with the surroundings and the staff. I'm looking forward to writing about how Highbury can help change people’s lives and prospects."