Scholarship Gives Break To Young French Journalists
By Joseph Derr
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 Euros (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.
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