Scholarship gives break to young French journalists

 

 

Alexandre Paré, a journalist in France, received a scholarship from Le Rotarien magazine to make a documentary film. Rotary Images

Le Rotarien , the certified Rotary regional magazine of France and 38 other Francophone countries, serves more than 39,000 Rotarians. Now through a scholarship program developed in 2002, it also fosters the careers of budding journalists.

The magazine awards four scholarships up to €10,000 (US$13,750) to young journalists to create a short digital video documentary. The jury includes Le Rotarien staff, journalism school professors, and independent media executives.

“The award is an excellent way to develop relationships with the journalist teachers in the 12 major journalism schools in France,” says Brigitte Marquand, the magazine’s public relations and media specialist. “It also helps improve the public image of Rotary in the press circle.”

Alexandre Paré, one of the 2008 recipients, recently graduated from the Centre de Formation des Journalistes in Paris. He now works as a broadcast journalist for BFMTV, a rising 24-hour French cable news network.

For Paré, whose film on a hospital train in Zambia was scheduled for completion in March, the scholarship is worth years of experience in the field.

“There are very famous journalists on the jury, and it was very thrilling to convince them that my project was worth filming,” Paré says. “It’s the best encouragement you can get as a journalist.”

The 32 Rotary World Magazine Press  publications are vital to spreading Rotary International’s messages throughout the world. All Rotarians are required to take either The Rotarian or the regional magazine serving their area. District governors can support the regional magazines by encouraging timely subscription payment by all club members and sending article ideas to the editors.

This article appeared in the April Issue of Rotary World.