French media gets new school

France's journalism schools will face increased competition when a new school opens at the elite Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in September.

It will join a dozen other public and private schools or university institutes recognised by the profession, including the Paris-based Centre de Formation des Journalistes and the Ecole Superieure de Journalisme in Lille.

Sciences Po's first intake of 40 students will already have completed three years of higher education. As well as the technical skills necessary for journalists in written, audiovisual and web media, the two-year masters will cover subjects in which the institute specialises - history, economics, political thought, sociology, languages and international relations - plus journalistic ethics and managerial training.

Sciences Po means-tests students, exempting many poor ones from fees while charging those from wealthy families up to €4,000 (£2,700) a year.

The journalism school will also be entitled to part of the training levy paid by employers, which will reduce the share received by the other journalism schools.

The school will offer continuing training for journalists who want to update their skills.

www.sciences-po.fr/formation/ecole _journalisme.htm