One of three Charles Sturt University (CSU) Foundation scholarships offered by Sky News will be renamed in honour of the late Mr Ian Cook, a leading news director and mentor of young journalists.

The scholarship to a selected journalism student in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries will be known as the 'Ian Cook Memorial Sky News Scholarship'.

Mr Cook, the former Chief Operating Officer and News Director of Australian News Channel, died on Wednesday 25 June 2014, aged 68. He also served as Director of News for Sky News in London which led to his key role in the establishment of Sky News Australia in 1995. After serving as founding Chief Operating Officer, he went onto be a director for BSkyB and the Nine and Seven networks at various times. Mr Cook later joined Sky News as News Director and helped establish Sky News New Zealand. In recent years, despite his advancing illness, Mr Cook continued to contribute to the network, offering advice and mentoring journalists.

CSU Alumni and Donor Relations senior officer, Ms Gael Evans-Barr, said, "This is a fitting and significant tribute by Sky News to one of its outstanding executives. The University offers its condolences to Mr Cook's family and colleagues, and acknowledges the generous scholarship support of Sky News over many years. Future recipients of the 'Ian Cook Memorial Sky News Scholarship' will be inspired and motivated knowing the high standards and achievements Mr Cook attained during his career, and the high esteem his colleagues had for him."

Mr Angelos Frangopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of Australian News Channel, said, "It's a great honour for Sky News to pay tribute to Ian Cook in this way. Ian made a great contribution to the mentoring of hundreds of young journalists. Charles Sturt University's journalism degree and its students were very close to his heart, and it's appropriate that his name be associated with this scholarship."

Mr Cook's family has accepted the invitation for one of his children to present the scholarship annually to the CSU journalism student.