The Estonian Media Center is a non-for-profit institution that provides professional training for journalists and other media employees. It was launched in late 1996 by the Estonian Media School Foundation (EMSF, prev. Estonian Media College Foundation).The center runs courses of different content and length, considering the needs and interests of Estonian press, radio and TV. The main emphasis is on developing professional skills through practical hands-on training. Lecturers/instructors come from Estonia and abroad.
After completing a course, the participants will be given a certificate with a certain number of credits. According to an agreement signed by the EMCF and the Estonian Media Educators' Association, part of the center's credits can be transferred, if media studies are continued at one of Estonia's higher educational institutions.
In addition to carrying out seminars/workshops and conferences, the center provides possibilities for professional development abroad, co-operating closely with several international media training organisations.
The Estonian Media College Foundation was established in 1995 by the Association of Estonian Newspapers and the Association of Estonian Broadcasters with the main goal of raising funds to open a practical Media School in Tallinn.
It was decided that a center should be launched first to begin filling a gap as soon as possible in professional media education with an intention to expand it into a school.
The foundation is governed by a 4-member board. Half of the members are nominated by the Association of Newspapers and the other half by the Association of Broadcasters. The chairman of the board is Mr. Rein Lang, President of TRIO Ltd.