The School of Journalism in Sarajevo opened its doors on October 5 and quickly secured a grant to help ensure its future, according to spokespersons from the European Commission in Brussels.

The commission on October 8 approved 35 projects of support for the independent media in the countries of former Yugoslavia valued at approximately ECU 8.58 million ($9.76 million), according to a report from the European Journalism Center (EJC).

This includes an approximate ECU 224,000 ($273,000) to ensure the continuation of the Sarajevo school next year. The school, set up with the financial support of the commission and the French government, was developed by Media Plan, an organization aiding development of independent media in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in association with the Journalism School of Lille (ESJ) in France. Since 1994, the European Union has supported the development of media that are independent of government or private interests and professional in terms of ethics, techniques of journalism and management, EJC said.

Journalism education is a strategic issue for the further development and democratization of Bosnian media. The ranks of Bosnian media staff have been reduced to half their pre-war size, according to Media Plan.

The school, a private nonprofit organization, is the first of its kind in Bosnia, Media Plan reported. It offers young journalists a nine-month program in general journalistic skills and standards and an emphasis on ethics. It will include a laboratory for the press, radio, television and access to the Internet.

French and Bosnian lecturers will work at the school together. Media Plan’s Education Center in cooperation with ESJ will train local lecturers. The school aims to enable students to become a staff foundation for all Bosnian media when they graduate. The first three generations of the school’s students will be chosen at the suggestion of the media outlets that now employ them. The program is to include study of the French language.

For more information about the school and Media Plan contact Media Plan Sarajevo, Obala Kulina Bana 4, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. E-mail: safax-mp@bih.net.ba, Mediaplan@zamir-sa.ztn.apc.org. Tel/Fax: (387-71) 667-734; (387-71) 206-542. Web site:http://server1.hypermart.net/mediaplan/ekontakt.htm.