Valeria Ghiri and Alexandre Portes, winners of the Arcy grant from France Télévisions

Two students from the Lille School of Journalism won the Arcy scholarship this year: Alexandre Portes, as a journalist editor, and Valeria Ghiri, as an image reporter. The two winners were presented with their prize by the information director of France Télévisions, Alexandre Kara, on Wednesday May 31.

The Arcy scholarship was created in 1984 by Hervé Bourges in homage to Jean d’Arcy, who was one of the great pioneers of television. It is the first television journalism prize which, instead of rewarding its winner with money, rewards him with a contract within a company. First at TF1, when it was a public channel, then at Antenne 2, from 1989, after the privatization of TF1.

The Jean d’Arcy scholarship is, since, “the” journalism competition of France Télévisions, its “royal” way. Its newsrooms are populated by winners of this prestigious award. The Arcy stock exchange has evolved over the years and the transformations of the company. It was first a prize for writers, then from 1997 a prize for JRIs. The events which take place in two rounds have also evolved over the years but it is always from a report that the finalists are decided.

This year is special because of the profile of the laureates. It’s a double for ESJ Lille, since the editor and JRI candidates come from it! A first for the ESJ and only the third double since the creation of the exchange.