The journalist's objective is, from initial information, to investigate, cross-check the information to verify it and then transcribe it as clearly as possible to an audience.
Many schools exist to lead to the profession of journalist, because it corresponds to a very well-known profession and therefore chosen by students.
But be careful of difficult opportunities and unrecognized training!
The profession of journalist
Many suitors, few chosen ones.
It is a difficult profession marked by precariousness, which we must be aware of.
Likewise, you should know that not all journalists are always in the field: TV presenter, web editor, radio, photographer, image reporter… the profession is carried out in different ways but the missions and skills intersect as the media are transforming: radio stations are on the internet, sites have TV studios or produce podcasts… The boundaries between media are blurring.
To access the profession, you can enter the profession without training, relying on your talent and luck, or you go to a school recognized by the State and the profession.
In 2018, 19.9% of journalists holding a press card had attended school, compared to 12.2% in 2000. Furthermore, once on a permanent contract, journalists who graduated from recognized schools earn 400 euros more than those which do not come from it.
Journalists graduated from recognized schools are in television and radio, with an average of 28% of journalists.
There are many journalism schools, but you have to be careful because some of them are not recognized and you risk paying for insufficient training that will never be useful to you.
What are the 14 recognized journalism schools?
In certain fields of activity, professionals provide a label of recognition to schools.
This is only a quality label, but no guarantee of use.
Among the thirty existing journalism schools, 14 are recognized by the National Joint Commission for the Employment of Journalists (CPNEJ) which analyzes the content of the training every 5 years.
Public or private, they recruit at different levels after the baccalaureate, for courses leading to the DUT or the Master of journalism.
You can choose to enroll in
one of the public schools, which are
:
the CUEJ of Strasbourg (University Center for Journalism Teaching);
CELSA of Paris IV (Center for Applied Literary and Scientific Studies);
the IFP of Paris II (French Press Institute);
the EJC of Cannes (Cannes School of Journalism);
the EJDG of Grenoble (Grenoble School of Journalism);
the IPJ of Paris-Dauphine (Practical Institute of Journalism);
the IEP of Paris (Institute of Political Studies);
the IJBA of Bordeaux (Institut de Journalisme de Bordeaux Aquitaine);
the EPJT of Tours (Public School of Journalism of Tours);
the IUT of Lannion (University Institute of Technology);
the EJCAM of Marseille (School of Journalism and Communication of Aix-Marseille).
In addition to these public establishments,
there are private schools
:
the CFJ of Paris (Journalists Training Center);
the EJT of Toulouse (Toulouse School of Journalism);
the ESJ of Lille (Higher School of Journalism).
The courses offered by these schools essentially lead to a Master's degree, that is to say a Bac + 5, with the exception of the EJC of Cannes and the IUT of Lannion which lead to the BUT.
The CFJ of Paris and the ESJ of Lille also have the particularity of
delivering a diploma approved
by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
This is a criterion for the quality of training (and not for an entire establishment).
In fact, this label is only awarded after a major educational check.
It formalizes the academic level of training for private establishments.
The list of targeted diplomas is updated each year.
Obtaining a double degree is also possible, as at the EJDG in Grenoble (Sciences Po Grenoble and Master of Journalism from the University of Grenoble Alpes).
The curriculum offered by each journalism school recognized by the CPNEJ varies from one establishment to another.
The IEP of Paris, for example, offers an international semester
, the CUEJ of Strasbourg allows a work-study course, the duration of studies extends over 2 years at the EPJT of Tours while it is 3 years at Cannes and Lannion.
What are the other journalism schools?
In addition to the journalism schools recognized by the CPNEJ, considered the royal road to the profession, other establishments also train you in the profession of journalist.
Many private schools have in fact emerged,
without however entering the CPNEJ directory
.
There are several dozen in France.
In most cases, the training lasts two or three years.
Some are particularly famous, such as:
ISCPA (Higher Institute of Media);
the EDJ of Nice (School of Journalism);
the IEJ of Paris (European Institute of Journalism).
If you are interested in a course in an unrecognized journalism school, take the time to find out about the quality and methods of its teaching.
For example, make sure that the course results in a diploma recognized by the State.
You can also
verify that Communication and Journalism are indeed distinct disciplines
.
Finally, the question of internships is crucial when choosing your journalism school.
Indeed, it is essentially thanks to them that students build their network and can include experiences on their CV that will offer them real opportunities to start their career.
Tuition fees are particularly high
in
unrecognized private schools.
In fact, there is no scholarship system, unlike recognized private schools.
However, some establishments adjust their prices according to the parents' resources.
In all cases, it costs several thousand euros per year.
It is important to know that it is not essential to have completed training in a recognized journalism school to
obtain a press card
.
This is in fact granted to any person who requests it and who has worked for at least 3 months in an approved press agency and derives most of their income from it.
You can therefore be recognized as a professional journalist, whatever school you have chosen, the attribution of the press card depending on the nature of your employer and not on your training.
How to join a recognized journalism school?
Establishments recognized by the CPNEJ are particularly selective
at entry, often more so than other journalism schools.
Recruitment often begins from Bac + 2 or Bac + 3, but the severity of the selection has the effect of increasing the level of those admitted, who most of the time have a Bac + 4 or a Bac + 5. It is necessary say that places are rare: 30 admitted per year to the CELSA in Paris or the EJDG in Grenoble, 20 admitted to the EJCAM in Aix-Marseille, 36 admitted to the EPJT in Tours, 28 admitted to the IUT in Lannion…
Demanding
entrance exams require real preparation
, to the point that there are specific preparations.
They can be integrated into a university or directly into the journalism school.
The University of Montpellier goes so far as to offer a
DU (university diploma) in preparation for the Sciences Po and journalism school competitions
, for which it is possible to register independently or at the same time as your Bachelor's or Master's degree.
In Tours, you can choose preparation for journalism schools such as a UE (Teaching Unit) worth 3 ECTS.
If you are on a scholarship, you can specifically turn to the Equal Opportunities preparation or to the Chance for diversity in the media.
Naturally, it is entirely possible to train for journalism school competitions independently.
However, the competition remains the most common means of selection.
The results are sometimes weighted by the file, as at the EPJT in Tours.
The competition includes
written and oral tests
.
In writing, several types of exercises are possible, such as rewriting a news report, summarizing a complex article, journalistic criticism or the English test.
The oral test is above all the time to justify your motivation and your appetite for the profession.
Some establishments add
their own recruitment methods
.
In Paris, the French Press Institute, for example, requires you to have already completed at least 1 month of internship before taking the competitive exam.
As for the CFJ, it has set up its own eligibility file.
Available online, it includes an assessment of knowledge of current affairs, a motivation questionnaire, a style test and proficiency in French, etc.
Read alsoParcoursup Calendar: the key steps to register
Post-baccalaureate journalism schools.
Only a few post-baccalaureate courses exist accessible via Parcoursup (BUT & university license).
Like the IUT of Lannion and its “BUT - Information communication Journalism course” in 3 years and on a work-study basis, which you can select in your wishes and which then recruits based on application and interview.
What to do after journalism school?
To begin your career as a journalist after journalism school, the ideal is to have followed options during your training that take you directly into the field that interests you.
Indeed, the profession of journalist is vast.
From sports journalism to war reporter via radio or image journalist, without forgetting the local correspondent or special correspondent, from the investigation lasting several months to the brief video interview, there are many ways to be a journalist , and
schools often have their specialties
.
At Sciences Po, for example, you will find a Master in Journalism and International Affairs.
The ESJ of Lille specializes in scientific journalism.
On the other hand, for example, there is no specific option among recognized journalism schools to become a sports journalist.
To do this, you will need to rely on field experience and your internships or turn to an unrecognized school, such as the IICP in Paris (International Institute of Communication of Paris).
Also read: Specialize, opt for freelance... How to succeed when you graduate from journalism school?
You can also decide to
specialize in a journalistic format
: audiovisual, radio, paper or online written press, photo reporting, etc. Journalist is not in fact a profession solely for writing.
You can choose to also work on your voice or image!
In addition, journalism includes other professions than journalism strictly speaking.
For example, a journalism school can lead to the profession of:
documentalist;
editor-in-chief;
radio or TV presenter;
copyeditor
chief editor
reporter-photographer…
It is not uncommon to
start your career with precarious positions
before being employed by a media outlet.
Please note that it is not essential to hold a press card to work as a journalist.
Fewer than 35,000 people hold press cards.
You can also choose to freelance and thus combine several employers
You can also choose your path based on the more or less regional character of a media.
Specific qualities will then be required of you, such as a high general culture or precise knowledge of the sector in which you work, as well as extensive travel.
In any case,
a journalist is a versatile profession
which involves as much technical skills as knowledge on the theme of the subject addressed.