The school of billionaires… When Vincent Bolloré, Bernard Arnault, the Dassault family and Rodolphe Saadé join forces to buy the oldest French journalism school

Getting your hands on large media groups is not enough. Now it's time for journalism schools, whose students represent a pool of future employees, more easily molded into their image. The most voracious press bosses, from the reactionary Vincent Bolloré to the most Macronist Rodolphe Saadé, including the first fortune of France, Bernard Arnault, or the Dassault family combine to take possession of the Higher School of Journalism (ESJ) from Paris.

In total, eleven buyers came forward: Financière Agache, the Bayard press group (the Cross, Pilgrim), Codenvoi (le Figaro), Spes, CMA Média (BFMTV, RMC), Stanislas and Godefroy de Bentzmann, Watchers & co, Pierre Gattaz, Financière de la Lance, TSV Immobilier and Compagnie de l'Odet (owned by Vincent Bolloré).

A school founded in 1899

The announcement was made with a simple press release, published on the morning of Friday, November 15. The oldest school of French journalism – founded in 1899 but not recognized by the profession – thus falls into the hands of the financial oligarchy. “ Supported by French publishers and entrepreneurs, the Paris School of Journalism will thus be able to build a new project”simply summarizes the document.

The school announces that it wants to transfer to one “a true talent incubator” and invest in new premises in January 2025. The distribution of financiers, however, suggests the creation of a reservoir of docile journalists, who will be able to protect the interests of liberal or far-right press owners. A project which is reminiscent of the case of the Free Institute of Journalism (ILDJ), highlighted by the World as the breeding ground for far-right media.

The announcement immediately caused a reaction within the media field. “Already masters of the private media, our oligarchs are taking possession of the oldest school of journalism”for example, was indignant Edwy Plenel, co-founder of the investigation site Mediapart, on his X account. “ESJ Paris is not recognized by the profession and “excellent journalism” has not had its place there for a long time. Ask the students and professionals who have been there. On the other hand, the political objective of such an approach is clear”for her part reacted Nassira El Moaddem, journalist for the media specializing in media criticism, Arrêt sur images. The journalist was also the victim of a wave of harassment fueled by the Bolloré group last May.

“An old employers’ fantasy”

Another worrying point: the appointment of Vianney d'Alançon as president of the establishment. The Lyon entrepreneur, who does not hesitate to display his Catholic beliefs, is behind the opening of the Rocher Mistral, a theme park promoting the “culture of Provence”. Above all, as revealed by the Marseille investigative media Marsactu in 2020, Vianney d'Alançon's project is ideologically and structurally similar… to what Philippe de Villiers – declared support of Éric Zemmour – achieved with the Puy-du-Fou, in Vendée.

“It’s an old fantasy of the employerssummarizes Jean-Marie Charon, a sociologist who has worked extensively on the entry of young journalists into the job market, over the phone. These groups seek to create tailor-made training. Afterwards, their press release is made up of broad generalities, so we will have to see in detail how the situation evolves. »

The former professor at the Journalist Training Center (CFJ) in the 1990s notably interviewed a former student of the ESJ Paris for his book Young journalists: time of doubt (Éditions Entremises, published November 2, 2023). It reports operation that may be unstable: “She came from a disadvantaged background, with a student loan. They combined a system so that she would “supervise” the first years alongside her studies, to finance her course. » The takeover of ESJ Paris thus appears to be a strategic acquisition, destined to perpetuate the control of billionaires over the French media.