Journalism ethicists still argue: Is a journalism school in the hands of big captains of industry likely to train truly independent journalists?
The Paris School of Journalism (ESJ Paris) was delighted, on Friday, November 15, at its acquisition by the most prominent French businessmen. From the Financière Agache of Bernard Arnault (owner of Parisianof the echoes and of Paris Party) on CMA Média (BFM-TV, Provence) by Rodolphe Saadé, by Compagnie de l’Odet by Vincent Bolloré (Canal+, Europa 1, Prisma, The Sunday newspaper…) to Stanislas and Godfrey de Bentzmann (Devoteam, 189my fortune of France according to the magazine Challenges), from the Koodenvoi investment fund of the Habert-Dassault family to the Bayard Presse group of the Catholic religious congregation of the Assumptionists… numerous figures of French capitalism have come together to buy the business of whom a press release presents as “the oldest journalism school in the world” – Founded in 1899, the establishment did not offer training in journalism.
ESJ Paris has nothing to do with ESJ Lille, which celebrated its centenary on November 9. It is not among the fourteen journalism schools recognized by the profession, unlike the Ecole du Nord and the CFJ of Paris, both non-profit associations under the law of 1901, or the University Center for the Teaching of Journalism. (CUEJ) of Strasbourg, Sciences Po Journalism. school, the Bordeaux-Aquitaine Institute of Journalism (IJBA), etc. that are connected with universities.
“It’s something new”
In its press release, ESJ Paris is proud to have “I have seen prestigious professors such as Anatole France, Charles Péguy, Maurice Ravel, Raymond Poincaré, Maurice Schumann and Gaston Doumergue.” For its relaunch, it shows an objective as ambitious as it is clear: “Strengthen its reference position in the field of journalistic training, particularly in economics. »
At the origin of this transaction is Vianney d’Alançon, 38 years old, called to assume the presidency of the training center. The businessman, involved in this acquisition through the Financière de la Lance, is the creator of the “Rocher Mistral” amusement park, located in Bouches-du-Rhône and nicknamed the “Puy du fou Provençal”, condemned in February 2024 by the government of Aix-Provence criminal court for attacks against urban planning, heritage and the environment. He appealed this sentence.
You have 27.14% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
