IPJ - Practical Institute of Journalism

What IPJ - Practical Institute of Journalism does

IPJ - Institut Pratique du Journalisme Dauphine-PSL is a French journalism school founded in 1978 by Pierre Miquel and operated as a department of Université Paris Dauphine-PSL within the PSL (Paris Sciences Lettres) consortium. It delivers a two-year Master in Journalism program (M1 and M2) to cohorts of Licence (bachelor's degree) holders admitted through a national competitive entrance exam, with full-time and apprenticeship (alternance) tracks; IPJ became the first journalism school in France to offer apprenticeship training in 2004. The pedagogical model combines academic instruction with hands-on professional practice, drawing on a faculty of more than 120 active media professionals, including journalists, editors-in-chief, and publication directors. The M2 program offers three specialization tracks (Economic & Social Journalism, International Journalism, Political Journalism), three technical specializations (Written & Digital Media, Radio, TV), and elective options including Agency & Fact Checking, OSINT, Police-Justice Journalism, Climate Journalism, and IA et Journalisme (AI and Journalism, added in 2023). Supporting offerings include the Certificats Médias et Journalisme (CMJ/CIMJ) professional certification and a portfolio of student-produced international reporting projects (Vytis, Slow, Mythos Medias, Populest, Demain Dakar, Nostalg'IA).

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) student tuition for the Master program, with 44% of M1 students receiving scholarships under an equality-of-opportunity policy that has been in place since 2005; (2) the French apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage, 0.68% of gross payroll), which companies can direct to IPJ and which is supplemented by employer-paid apprentice salaries in the work-study track; and (3) institutional funding and resources channeled through Université Paris Dauphine-PSL and the broader PSL consortium. Go-to-market is event-driven and competition-based: prospective students are recruited through annual Open Days (Journées Portes Ouvertes) held both in-person and online, through the school's website (ipj.eu), through partnership-based outreach via the La Chance association across seven French cities, and through Cordées de la Réussite outreach to priority education zones. The institution has no venture capital or private equity ownership, no disclosed revenue figures, no M&A activity, and operates from a main campus at 24 rue Saint-Georges in Paris's 9th arrondissement with administrative offices at Université Paris-Dauphine. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, distinct from the 120+ teaching practitioners who serve as contractors and adjunct instructors.

Name

IPJ - Practical Institute of Journalism

Legal name

Institut Pratique du Journalisme, département journalisme de l'université Paris-Dauphine

Website

https://ipj.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IPJ - Institut Pratique du Journalisme Dauphine-PSL is a Paris-based journalism school founded in 1978, delivering a two-year Master's program and apprenticeship training to cohorts of bachelor's-degree holders, taught by 120+ active media professionals within the PSL university consortium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (Taxe d'apprentissage): IPJ receives funding through the French apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage), a mandatory levy paid by companies (0.68% of gross payroll) that can be directed to educational institutions of their choice
2. Student Tuition: Students pay tuition fees for the Master in Journalism program. Scholarship opportunities (44% of M1 students are scholarship recipients) are available through the equality of opportunity policy
3. University PSL Affiliation: As part of Université PSL (Paris Sciences Lettres), IPJ benefits from institutional funding and resources from one of the world's top-ranked universities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IPJ delivers a two-year Master's in Journalism program that combines academic coursework with hands-on professional training, taught by more than 120 active media professionals. The curriculum covers written/digital media, radio, and TV specializations, with optional tracks in AI & Journalism, OSINT, fact-checking, and data journalism. Students can enroll via a full-time track or an apprenticeship (work-study) track, the first journalism apprenticeship program in France launched in 2004.

Product overview

IPJ Institut Pratique du Journalisme offers a comprehensive journalism education portfolio centered on its two-year Master's program in journalism, which is the core product. The program is structured with multiple specialized tracks (Economic & Social Journalism, International Journalism), technical specializations (written media, radio, TV), and optional specializations including an AI & Journalism track. Supporting offerings include apprenticeship-based training (first journalism school in France to offer this since 2004), Media and Journalism Certificates (CMJ/CIMJ), and intensive student media projects that produce real journalistic content for international audiences. The institute emphasizes practical, hands-on pedagogy combined with academic rigor, with over 120 media professionals contributing to instruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Made IA: Media outlet created by M2 students dedicated to journalism and artificial intelligence
• Vytis
• Nostalg'IA
• Slow
• Mythos Medias
• Populest
• Demain Dakar
• Chaud devant!
• Objectif Maire

Products and services

• Master en Journalisme (Master's in Journalism) Two-year Master's degree program in journalism offered by IPJ Dauphine-PSL. Combines general coursework (economics, media sociology, political journalism, law, data) with professional techniques (investigation, fact-checking, online journalism, radio, TV). Offers specialization tracks (Economic & Social Journalism, International Journalism, Political Journalism), technical specializations (written/digital media, radio, TV), and optional specializations (Agency & Fact-Checking, OSINT, AI & Journalism). Designed for students holding a Licence (bachelor's degree) who seek professional journalism qualification.
• Formation par Apprentissage (Apprenticeship Training) Work-study apprenticeship program allowing students to combine academic training with professional experience at French media companies. Available as a track within the Master's in Journalism program. The apprenticeship is coordinated with French apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage) funding. Designed for students seeking professional integration and income while studying, as well as career changers or working media professionals seeking formal credentials.
• Certificats Médias et Journalisme (CMJ/CIMJ)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 2 out of 3 La Chance prepa students integrate a journalism school; 76% of La Chance alumni work in journalism
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• La ChancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005La Chance is an association promoting diversity in media through a free journalism school preparation program. Each year, 350+ volunteer journalists coach 80 scholarship students across 7 French cities (Paris, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Marseille, Rennes, Bordeaux). Nearly 2 in 3 students integrate a journalism school, and 76% of alumni work in journalism. IPJ actively participates and promotes this initiative for equal opportunity.
• Université PSL (Paris Sciences Lettres)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPJ is a department of Université Paris Dauphine-PSL, part of the PSL university consortium ranked among the world's best universities. Students become PSL students upon enrollment, benefiting from the university's academic excellence and international recognition.
• Fondation DauphinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fondation Dauphine's Equal Opportunity mission for outreach programs with ZEP (Priority Education Zone) middle and high schools, including Entretiens de l'Excellence du Club du XXIe siècle.
• France Inter - Interclass ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPJ students in radio specialization participate in France Inter's Interclass media education program, intervening in priority area schools to produce reportages with students.
• Cordées de la RéussiteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPJ participates in the 'SISO' (Savoir s'informer c'est s'avoir s'orienter) Success Cord program, promoting journalism careers to diverse student populations.
• Le Monde, France TélévisionsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedia partners for the Europe Week immersive program where M1 students produce investigative journalism projects in Brussels under guidance of journalists from these outlets.
• Le MondemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Business Models for New Media course collaboration where M1 journalism and M1 management students work on projects proposed by Le Monde around game development, online courses, and conference development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ESJ Paris (École Supérieure de Journalisme): ESJ Paris, founded in 1926, is one of the oldest journalism schools in France offering a two-year Master's program with strong industry ties. Comparable to IPJ as a leading French journalism school targeting bachelor's-degree holders with competitive entrance exams.
• Celsa (Sorbonne Université): Celsa, part of Sorbonne Université, offers Master's-level programs in communication and journalism, including media training with strong industry partnerships. Comparable to IPJ as a leading French university-affiliated school for media and journalism education.
• ESJ Lille: ESJ Lille is a branch of the historic ESJ network offering two-year journalism Master's programs in northern France. Comparable to IPJ as a competing French journalism school with similar apprenticeship-style training and state recognition.
• EPJT (École Publique de Journalisme de Tours): EPJT is a public journalism school based in Tours offering a recognized two-year Master's program. Comparable to IPJ as another French public journalism school with state-recognized curriculum and competitive entrance exams.
• CFJ (Centre de Formation des Journalistes): Founded in 1946, CFJ is one of France's most established journalism schools offering a recognized two-year professional program. Directly comparable to IPJ as a competing French journalism school with similar apprenticeship-style training and industry placement focus.
• Sciences Po - École de Journalisme: Sciences Po's journalism school offers a two-year Master's program in journalism, leveraging Sciences Po's strong brand. Directly comparable to IPJ as a competitor for top-tier French journalism applicants with similar credentialing and media-industry placement.
• IFP (Institut Français de Presse, Panthéon-Assas): IFP at Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas offers a Master's program in journalism integrated into a leading French university. Comparable to IPJ as a university-affiliated journalism school serving the same applicant pool with similar curriculum depth.
• EJCAM (École de Journalisme et de Communication d'Aix-Marseille): EJCAM is a journalism school at Aix-Marseille Université offering a state-recognized Master's program. Comparable to IPJ as a regional French public journalism school with similar curriculum and apprenticeship-style training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLKddTWoX9YVbOxTSqgPIDtImLleKcTEqk
• Instagraminstagram.com/nostalgia.click

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IPJ - Practical Institute of Journalism