ifp- Institut für publizistische Ausbildung

What ifp- Institut für publizistische Ausbildung does

ifp - Institut für publizistische Ausbildung is a Catholic journalism school (Katholische Journalismusschule) founded in 1970 in Munich, Germany, operating as a registered non-profit association (e.V.) under German law. The institution delivers structured journalism education across seven core programs: the three-year study-accompanying Stipendium for university students (since 1970), the Christian media Volontariat (since 1976), Volo-Kurse for daily newspaper trainees (since 1993), training for church employees (since 1977), the Ostkurs/Sommerakademie for Central and Eastern European German-speaking journalists (since 1993), the Führungsakademie leadership program for media executives (since 2016), and Fachjournalismus Religion (since 2020). These are supplemented by modular add-ons including one-week specialist seminars (videojournalism, podcast, data journalism, social media strategy, research, moderation), media training, a two-year mentoring program, journalism trips, the Pater-Wolfgang-Seibel-Preis award, and an annual Jahrestreffen. Cumulative alumni exceed 3,000 across all programs.

The underlying technical footprint is modest and domain-specialized: a professional TV studio, radio studio, and audio studio at the Munich headquarters (the historic former Capuchin monastery St. Anton on Kapuzinerstr. 38), supplemented by the Digitales Adressbuch (alumni networking platform integrated with LAN Software's address management and accessed via seminareonlinebuchen.de), the eCircle mailing list, a quarterly Infobrief PDF newsletter, Recruitee as the applicant management system, and Zoom for remote seminars. Course fees are positioned as professional-services unit pricing (€990-€2,070 per multi-week program including accommodation and full board), with accommodation priced €82-€104/night, Förderverein annual memberships at €10-€150, and a freemium Stipendium track with financial support for students. The Förderverein support association of ~600 members funds scholarships and the Pater-Wolfgang-Seibel-Preis. GTM is primarily direct-to-consumer via the website, social channels (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook) and the alumni network, with institutional partnerships across Catholic/Protestant church media and major secular publishers (SZ, BR, Spiegel, Stern, Ippen, 1&1) serving as placement and internship channels rather than revenue anchors.

Name

ifp- Institut für publizistische Ausbildung

Legal name

Institut für publizistische Ausbildung e. V.

Website

https://journalistenschule-ifp.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ifp is a Catholic journalism school in Munich, founded 1970, training journalists through multi-week programs in multimedia, Christian media, and church communications for university students, apprentices, church employees, and media executives across German-speaking markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Journalism Education and Professional Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ)

Keywords

• Journalism education
• Journalist training
• Media training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Voluntary service

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training and Seminar Fees: Primary revenue stream from course fees for journalism training programs including Volontariat, Stipendium, modules, and media training. Fees typically include accommodation and full board.
2. Venue and Accommodation Rental: Revenue from renting out guest rooms (24 rooms), conference rooms, seminar spaces, and video/audio studios to external parties. Single rooms from €87/night, conference facilities with full technical equipment.
3. Förderverein Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from alumni and supporters, with contributions ranging from €10 (during training) to €30-150 annually.
4. Event Fees: Revenue from Jahrestreffen (annual meetings) and specialized seminars with varying ticket prices for different participant categories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

ifp is Germany's Catholic journalism school providing vocational and academic training in multimedia journalism. It delivers structured programs combining in-house seminars with on-the-job apprenticeships at partner media organizations (church media, daily newspapers, broadcasters). Training encompasses video, audio, podcast, text, and digital content production, delivered through modular week-long courses, multi-year apprenticeships, and a free scholarship program for university students, with all programs featuring spiritual/reflective components rooted in Christian values.

Product overview

ifp (Institut für publizistische Ausbildung) is a Catholic journalism school offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and professional development services. The institution operates a platform-plus-modules architecture combining core training programs with specialized add-on offerings. Core programs include the Studienbegleitende Journalismusausbildung (study-accompanying journalism training/stipendium), Volontariat christliche Medien (voluntary service in Christian media), Volo-Kurse Tageszeitungen (daily newspaper voluntary courses), Journalistisches Training für Mitarbeitende in der Kirche, and the Führungsakademie (leadership academy). These are supplemented by modular add-on offerings including specialized seminar weeks (Videojournalismus, Podcast, Datenjournalismus, Social Media, Recherche, Moderation), Medientraining (media training), Mentoringprogramm, Journalismusreisen (journalism trips), Spezialseminare, the Digitales Adressbuch (digital address book for alumni networking), and Jahrestreffen (annual meetings). Additional services include conference facility rental with TV/radio studios and guest accommodations at their historic Munich location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studienbegleitende Journalismusausbildung (Journalismus-Stipendium) Three-year funded journalism training program for university students, combining academic studies with practical journalism education in audio, video, and text during semester breaks. Program is free for participants with financial support provided for internships.
• Volontariat christliche Medien Vocational training program combining apprenticeship in Christian media editorial offices with intensive seminars at ifp. Includes Grundkurs I and II, Aufbaukurs, special seminars, and spiritual programs for apprentices at Catholic, Protestant, and other religious media outlets.
• Volo-Kurse Tageszeitungen Advanced and basic courses tailored for trainees (Volontär*innen) at daily newspapers, providing extra practice and theory during voluntary service. Includes Grundkurse (basic) and Aufbaukurse (advanced) covering multimedia journalism basics and advanced reporting skills.
• Journalistisches Training für Mitarbeitende in der Kirche Four-seminar-week course over two years teaching journalism fundamentals in text, audio, video, and social media for church employees, religious orders, and broadcast officers. Next intake: January 2027.
• Führungsakademie (Leadership Academy) Training program for media executives and leaders focusing on leadership skills, digital transformation, crisis management, AI adoption, and team leadership.
• Sommerakademie/Ostkurse (Summer Academy) Three-week summer academy for German-speaking young journalists from Central and Eastern Europe, providing journalism training, German cultural immersion, and European journalism exchange. Max 15 participants per cohort.
• Fachjournalismus Religion Specialist program focusing on religion journalism, training journalists to cover religious topics with expertise. First cohort 2020 with 15 participants.
• Medientraining (Media Training) Practical media training including voice training, interview techniques, presentation skills, TV studio practice, and crisis communication for executives and experts from church, justice, media, and politics.
• Modulwochen (Module Weeks) Specialized one-week seminar modules including Videojournalismus, Podcast, Datenjournalismus, Social Media Strategie, Magazingeschichte, Freiberuflichkeit, Recherche, and Moderieren und Präsentieren. Available as open enrollment or in-program.
• Mentoringprogramm Two-year mentorship program connecting trainees with experienced journalists for career guidance, professional development, and industry networking.
• Journalismusreisen (Journalism Trips) Journalism-focused travel programs to European capitals including Sofia, Bulgaria and Strasbourg, France, with visits to political institutions, media outlets, and cultural sites.
• Spezialseminare (Special Seminars) Specialized seminars including 'Begegnung mit dem Leid' (Encounter with Suffering) for ethical reporting on traumatized people, and courses on right-wing extremism coverage.
• Jahrestreffen (Annual Meeting) Annual gathering of ifp community for continuing education, networking, and celebration, held in different cities with 200-250 participants.
• Tagungshaus/Vermietung (Conference Facility Rental) Rental of conference rooms, seminar spaces, TV/radio studios, and 24 guest rooms in the historic former Capuchin monastery St. Anton in central Munich.
• Förderverein (Support Association Membership) Annual membership program for alumni and supporters of ifp, providing financial support to trainees through scholarships, grants, and the Pater-Wolfgang-Seibel-Preis journalism award. Nearly 600 members; annual fees ranging from €10 (during training) to €30-150 (voluntary higher contributions).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 journalists trained since 1970
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Redaktionskonferenz 'Zukunftsfähiger Lokaljournalismus beginnt mit exzellenter Führung' - a three-day conference for future media leaders covering digital transformation, AI, crisis leadership, and team management.
• Seminar für Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaft, Uni ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the Jahrestreffen 2026 in Erfurt, cooperating on the event with the theological faculty and Katholisches Forum im Land Thüringen.
• Theologische Fakultät, Uni ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the Jahrestreffen 2026 in Erfurt.
• Katholisches Forum im Land ThüringenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Jahrestreffen 2026 in Erfurt.
• Eurostar Sofia City HotelminorOthersDesignated hotel partner for the Sofia journalism trip 2026.
• Media School BayernminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcasting partner for student-produced video and audio content created during training.
• Kirchliche Redaktionen (Church Media Outlets)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch media outlets (Catholic, Protestant, and other religious media) that hire Volontär\*innen and participate in the ifp Christian media training program. Partners include diocesan press offices, church radio and TV stations, religious magazines, and church communication departments.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Henri-Nannen-Schule (RTL Journalistenschule): Hamburg-based journalism school founded 1979 and now operated by RTL; competes directly with ifp for early-career journalists, offering 18-month Volontariat-style training with multimedia focus and editorial residencies at major outlets.
• Deutsche Journalistenschule (DJS): Munich-based post-graduate journalism school and ifp's most direct domestic competitor; offers similar Volontariat-style training with secular emphasis and broader editorial partnerships, operating in the same city and same target audience of early-career journalists.
• Burda Journalism Academy: Offenburg-based journalism training academy connected to Hubert Burda Media; offers Volontariat and seminar-based training for print, digital, and multimedia journalism comparable to ifp's courses.
• Axel Springer Academy of Journalism: Berlin-based journalism academy training Volontäre for the Axel Springer media group; comparable in target audience (early-career journalists) and curriculum (multimedia, investigative, digital), competing for the same talent pool.
• Evangelische Journalistenschule / ejd: The Protestant counterpart to ifp's Catholic journalism training in Germany; trains Volontäre for Protestant media (church radio, magazines, online), directly competing for the religious-media-volontariat segment that ifp also serves.

Regional players

• MAZ – Die Schweizer Journalistenschule: Swiss journalism school in Lucerne providing modular seminars, CAS, and MA programs for Swiss and German-speaking journalists; comparable curriculum structure to ifp's module weeks and Volontariat courses, but operating in Switzerland rather than Germany.

Emerging players

• Don Bosco Medien GmbH: Salesian Catholic publisher producing youth, religion, and educational media content; comparable as a Catholic-media ecosystem partner where ifp alumni frequently take up placements, though not a direct training competitor.

Broad incumbents

• ARD/ZDF-Medienakademie: Joint training arm of German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, providing professional development for broadcast journalists; overlaps with ifp's media-training and module offerings but operates at much larger scale as the public-broadcaster training body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/journalistenschuleifp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/journalistenschule-ifp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ifp- Institut für publizistische Ausbildung