French Billionaires Acquire Historic Paris Journalism School

Concerns arise over media moguls' influence on journalistic education following the acquisition of ESJ Paris.

The Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris, founded in 1899, has been taken over by a consortium of French billionaires including Bernard Arnault and Vincent Bolloré.
The acquisition raises fears about potential impacts on journalistic independence, as these investors own significant media outlets in France.
Vianney d'Alançon has been appointed as the new president of the school, aiming to reposition it as a leading institution, particularly in economic journalism.
The school's previous management faced criticism for alleged ideological bias and financial mismanagement, leading to its loss of official recognition in 2015.
Critics argue that the takeover represents a further consolidation of media power, potentially affecting the future landscape of journalism in France.