The International Federation of Journalists and its European group, the European Federation of Journalists, today gave their full support to their affiliate in the Republic of Macedonia, the Association of Journalist of Macedonia (AJM) which plans to hold a public meeting to defend journalism on Wednesday this week to mark Macedonia's Independence Day.

"Macedonia is in the heart of Europe but the country has a poor record when it comes to defending the independence of journalism and the rights of journalists," said Aidan White, the General Secretary of the IFJ who visited the country last month to encourage fresh union activity to improve working conditions. "The country and its political leaders and media employers need to improve the conditions for journalism, but there is also a challenge for journalists who need to organize themselves and to build professional solidarity".

On 8^th September, journalists will start the uprising to express their deep discontent. The protest will be the first in a number of actions planned by journalists to improve the social and professional standards in which they work.

With the slogan "It's about journalism", journalists are urging their colleagues to join them for a peaceful protest. The journalists want to convey the message to all owners, political parties and government that they expect concrete action to improve social and professional rights as well as for a genuine editorial independence.

"This is not a protest against anyone in particular", says the AJM in a statement, "it is a protest in favour of strong rights for journalists". At the same time the AJM is seeking to become a trade union able to negotiate and reinforce journalists' rights across the country.

The IFJ, which was already involved in the past years in a framework agreement with the German media outlet WAZ in Macedonia covering Macedonia and other countries in the region, believes this initiative is timely and highlights a crisis of professionalism that is peaking not just in Macedonia, but across the South East Europe.

For more information contact the EFJ at   +32 2 235 2215      
The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists in over 30 European countries