The International Media Centre (IMC Rhône-Alpes), to be located in Saint-Etienne in east central France, is a joint initiative of WAN-IFRA, Université Jean Monnet and Université Lumière Lyon 2.
"The new centre based in France will be dedicated to training and research in newsroom integration and in the use of new digital technologies and practices in media. The goal is to provide a testing ground for the newsroom of the future and anticipate changes in the work of journalists in coming years," said Christoph Riess, CEO of WAN-IFRA, at the presentation ceremony.
"WAN-IFRA is already the acknowledged leader in newsroom organisation and training through our international Newsplex operations, and this latest initiative will extend and complement this work for the benefit of the future of the news publishing industry world-wide," he said.
The media centre, to be operational in April 2012, is part of the Manufacture Plaine Achille urban development project in Saint-Etienne, a 10-year urban development project that includes an urban campus and creative hub combining teaching, research, economic activities, culture, housing and recreation.
Other partners in the International Media Center (IMC Rhône-Alpes) include the Région Rhône-Alpes, the Conseil Général de la Loire, and the Saint-Etienne Métropole.
