Stand Up for Journalism Campaign
Regions: Europe | Middle East | Information in Arabic
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is holding its annual global days of action to promote journalists rights and protest the dramatic crisis facing journalists suffering from excessive commercialization, political pressure, falling standards, poor working conditions and violent attacks around the world. The events will also be a celebration of the crucial role played by journalists' unions for the promotion of quality journalism.
The Stand up for Journalism campaign highlights both a social and professional crisis in modern journalism.
By standing up for their rights journalists are also standing up for civil liberties and fundamental human rights. Today's action is also an appeal to other workers, to every group in civil society, and to the political community at large.
Europe
Austria: The media union KMSFB, an EFJ affiliate, is organising a discussion with journalists' students on quality journalism in Graz on 7 November.
The journalists' union GPA-djp will present on 5 November a study done by the University of Salzburg on the situation of young trainees in Austrian media companies. It will be followed on a panel discussion on the social status of journalists in general.
See invitation to panel attached.
Copyright: Géneration-Précaire, Frankreich; Plattform Generation Praktikum; Urs Thalmann, Schweiz; GPA-djp
Belarus: The BAJ members in different Belarusian regions were drawing the public attention to the journalists' problems and the absence of freedom of speech in Belarus in different ways.The "Stand Up for Journalism" campaign has been supported by a large number of Belarusian on-line periodical editions and bloggers' communities. Among other, the international campaign banners appeared on the Web-sites: www.naviny.by (BelaPAN News Agency), www.ximik.info (Ximik On-Line Newspaper, Navapolatsk), www.zautra.by (Your Country's Tomorrow Informational and Analytical Portal), www.camadade.biz (Tovarisch newspaper's Web-site) , www.gazetaby.com ("Salidarnasc" On-Line Newspaper of Independent Trade Unions), www.nn.by (Nasha Niva nation-wide newspaper's Web-site) and www.nv-online.info (Narodnaya Vola nation-wide newspaper's Web-site).
A virtual demonstration , dedicated to the global campaign, is held on the BAJ pages in the Live Journal.
See also: http://baj.by/m-p-viewpub-tid-1-pid-5947.html
Belgium: In Brussels, journalists showed their solidarity on 4 November for group photo with the International Federation of Journalists, the European Federation of Journalists, the Belgian Journalists' Association, the European Journalism Centre, International Press Association, National Union of Journalists-Brussels Branch.
Croatia: Both EFJ affiliates in Croatia, the Croatian Journalists Association and the Union will organise a round-table discussion on 5 November in Zagreb under the title: "Journalism - an uncertain profession". It will cover both physical violence against journalists and social insecurity of working journalists.
Cyprus
Within the context of "Stand up for Journalism" day, the Cyprus Union of Journalists has submitted a 4-page petition to the Government, the House of Representatives and the political parties on a number of issues relating to journalism.
In the petition, CUJ demands speedy and result oriented measures on the following issues:
1. Statutory measures towards systematic vocational training of both new journalists about to enter the profession and older journalists.
2. Implementation of the law clauses relating to the operation of radio stations, mainly those providing for collective bargaining and collective agreements relating to the terms of employment of journalists.
3. Termination of discrimination between "permanent staff" journalists and "associate" journalists working for the state run Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and the Cyprus News Agency.
4. The Collective Agreements between the CUJ and employers to be given legal status in order to safeguard employees' interests.
5. Abolishment of legal provisions which are mainly leftovers of the colonial administration, which fetter freedom of expression, e.g. certain libel law provisions amounting to pre-emptive censorship, provisions which prohibit public servants giving information to journalists, law provisions which provide that the majority of public documents are "classified", the Electoral Law provisions which prohibit publishing and broadcasting electoral material the day before any election (these provisions have never been implemented but they are still there in violation of the freedom of expression clause) and bringing up to date legislation relating to the Media.
The CUJ has asked for a meeting of its board with government and legislature officials to discus the above mentioned demands.
Former Yugo Republic of Macedonia: The IFJ affiliate, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia will will send an appeal to the Macedonian media and request a 2 minutes work stop at 12.00 as a support of the Union's demands for social and professional security. Thsi ahd been doen also last year as part of the EFJ Stand-Up for Journalism Campaign.
France: Union of journalists SNJ-CGT called journalists to demonstrate on 5 November to oppose "the projects of Mr. Sarkozy that threaten freedom of press" and to "organise a real debate on information" in parallel to the official "Etats généraux" opened in early October under the auspices of the government.
The union called for a demonstration in front of 'Agence France Presse, place de la Bourse, between noon and 3pm.
Germany
The EFJ affiliate, dju in ver.di invites all staff and freelance journalists to stand up in the company/newsroom for good journalism in broadcasting and print media at 5 to 11 on 5 November.
http://dju.verdi.de/aktuell/termine/aktionstag_5._november_08
The EFJ affiliate, DJV had a major demonstration with banners saying "Our work is worth more" on 5 November as part of the Stand-Up for Journalism campaign.
Great Britain and Ireland
Whilst the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Great Britain and Ireland, who were the initiators' of last Year Stand-Up for Journalism campaign, do not plan to have the same level of attention on a single day's activity like last year - the NUJ will be rallying members to stand up for local TV news by backing our campaign to Save ITV News. The NUJ is calling on people to sign a petition on the 10 Downing Street website (http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveITVNews2) and then adding to the online comment board to say why they value their local news on ITV.
Members in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to write to their local member of the Northern Ireland Assembly to stand up for journalism at UTV. The channel is looking to make massive cuts, so we're organising for people to send letters of protest.
Members across the Newsquest newspaper group will be completing a survey into stress at work, that closes at the end of this week. The cuts affecting the industry are starting to have a detrimental affect on our members health and the NUJ is getting members to make a stand by completing the survey to show how the cuts are affecting them at work.
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=965
Greece- Thessaloniki: EFJ affiliate ESIEMTH will hold an event on the importance of authors' rights during the Stand-Up for Journalism week. EFJ Authors' Rights Officer Pamela Morinière, a lawyer and a representative of OSDEL (the Greek collecting society) will outline the main challenges for journalists in the changing media environment.
Italy: Italian journalists and their union, the National Press Federation (FNSI), will take part in a day of support for the dignity of journalism under the title of "Stand up for journalism".
On 5 November, the FNSI will organise a day of demonstration and discussion (this year marks the second edition). The main themes will be: protecting journalists' sources, confirming their autonomy, and defining employment contracts. In Italy especially, the occasion is deeply felt and eagerly awaited since Italian journalism is currently being threatened by harmful actions aimed at reducing the autonomy of the profession through a number of laws, such as the draft law "Alfano", which even envisages imprisonment for journalists who publish information of important public interest, which has been taken from the proceedings of judicial investigations. What is at stake is professional secrecy. If a journalist happens to discover a confidential or secret item from the magistracy and considers it to be of interest for public opinion, he or she is entitled to publish it according to legislation governing the journalistic profession in Italy and according to the European Convention on human rights.
On these subjects, and against the manifest attempts to reduce the activities of journalists sanctioned by the Constitution, in recent weeks the FNSI and the Italian Reporters' Union have held more than twenty public demonstrations in the main Italian cities, with the distribution of leaflets and other informative material, involving hundreds of journalists and many thousands of citizens.
On November 5, the FNSI will continue these initiatives by bringing together members and supporters in a large demonstration to be held inside and outside the Capranichetta cinema in Rome.
From 10.00 to 13.00 hrs, colleagues from all over Italy will hold an assembly, followed by a demonstration from 13.00 to 14.00 hrs in front of Palazzo Monte Citorio, seat of the Italian Parliament. Participants will wear white T-shirts bearing coloured slogans ("No news under lock and key", "No censorship, no gagging") accompanied by the logos of the FNSI and the initiative "Stand up for journalism", symbols that will be shown on hundreds of flags. Colleagues from the FNSI will also carry banners and wear coloured caps bearing slogans such as: "Freedom to inform", "Freedom to know", "Press freedom".
During the afternoon, the national council of the journalists' union will meet at the federal headquarters for an in-depth study of the contractual discussions which are starting again, after three years of refusal to negotiate by the Italian Publishers' Federation.
Portugal: The Journalists' Syndicate (SJ) will organise a debate and publish a Manifesto on current concerns for journalists in the country. On 5 November the SJ will speak at a Hearing at the Parliament about the so-called «pluralism» law and concentration of media ownership.
Lithuania
The EFJ/IFJ affiliate in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Union of Journalists organised happenings in the streets of Vilnius with banners and logos raising the awareness of the European Stan-Up campaign and the need to fight for quality. (see pictures in the link)
http://www.lzs.lt/?lt=1225905272
Romania
The Romanian Federation of Journalists MediaSind called on all mass-media employees to participate at strike actions organised by the federation following the government refusal to reply to the demands regarding salary raise (as agreed in a collective agreement signed in the past) and adoption of measures for diminishing taxation policy in mass-media. EFJ/IFJ affiliate MediaSind decided to continue protest actions adopted by its Congress on 18 October:
- to gather signatures for the start of strike actions at mass-media level, beginning with 30.10.2008;
- to convoke the parity commission at mass-media level, on November 5th 2008;
- to take part in all protest actions organised at a national level by union confederations.
Slovakia: The Slovakian Syndicate of Journalists will organise on 4. November a conference under the theme "Journalists in the year 1968 - the way to year 1989".An appeal to support the Slovakian quality campaign will be circulated.
Spain:
EFJ and IFJ affiliates, FAPE and CCOO, participate in the Stand-Up for Journalsim campaign on November 5. In a press release from Madrid, FAPE declares its concern for the increasing "unstable jobs, low salaries, irregular types of contract, the endless days of work" that affect not only to labour standards but also "the quality of the information" given to the citizens in the democratic societies.
In the southern region of Andalucia, FAPE affiliates, together with unions CCOO and UGT, call to participate as part of the Stand-Up for Journalism activities in a demonstration in Cadiz, a city with historical tradition of defending democratic freedom. On the same date, 198 years ago, the initial constitutional Spanish parliament gathered in Cadiz to proclaim the first law for the Freedom of the Press of the country.
Serbia
The EFJ/IFJ affiliates in Serbia, the Journalists`Association of Serbia and Journalists' Union of Serbia circulated on 5 November a press release on the Stand Up for Journalism Day in which they expressed their concerns about the growing political influence in media, especially in public service broadcasting. Growing assaults against media workers and the need for an improved social protection were also mentioned. Both union and association were active in media paying tribute to the EFJ Stand-Up Campaign with posters, pictures etc..
Sweden
The EFJ affiliate, the Swedish journalists Union, the sjf, sent out a survey to 60 editors from across the board: Morning papers, national and regional, tabloids, public service, union papers etc. The findings will be posted on www.sjf.se during the SUFJ week.
Switzerland
EFJ affiliate comedia has launched on November 5 an urgent appeal, which can be signed by journalists and critical readers. Some famous writers have already signed the appeal. With its appeal they in particular criticize the plans of the Swiss Association of Publishers, who question editorial independence of the newsroom and want to abolish the principles of the press council. The Publishers Association is asked the respect editorial independence as well as the independence of the press council. In their appeal, they also urge the employers to restart negotiations on the long awaited collective agreement for journalists.
http://www.comedia.ch/standupforjournalism.html
The EFJ affiliate Impressum produced a leaflet on the theme of the collective agreement and the defence of authors' rights (below in German)
Turkey
Unions protested employers' pressure on union rights demands of journalists. Representatives of EFJ/IFJ affiliate in Turkey, the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) made press statements in front of HQ of Sabah and ATV in Balmumcu district of Istanbul and Sogutozu office in Ankara. Workers' and civil servants' unions also supported the protest.
Protestors chanted slogans and carried banners reading "honor of labor means being a member of a union", "no to injustice against union rights in media", "respect for labor", "take your hands off my pen and union" in the demonstrations.
Turkuvaz Group, owning Sabah daily newspaper and ATV private TV channel, cut collective bargaining talks with the TGS without showing any reason and dismissed the representative of the union.
TGS members also gathered in front of Sabah daily's HQ in capital Ankara in order to protest the dismissal of several employees from the newspaper and ATV private TV channel. During the demonstration, protestors carried banners reading "Stand Up For Journalism".
Delivering a statement during the protest, Turgut Dedeoglu, president of TGS's Ankara branch, said that they would file reemployment lawsuits and suits for damages in order to protect the rights of the dismissed union members and they would closely follow the legal process.
"We are determined to carry on with our unionist struggle in Sabah Newspaper & Magazine Group and ATV, sticking to legitimate and legal grounds," Dedeoglu said.
Middle East
Iraq : Iraqi Union of Journalists -IUJ IMSG
- National conference in Bagdad on Press freedom and safety of Iraqi journalists
Iraq : Kurdish Journalists' Syndicate- KJS
- Press Freedom seminars and a "Stand-up" protest in front of the union's headquarters and local branches.
- Demonstration in front of the Iraqi embassy in a campaign against impunity in journalists' killings.
- Meetings with members of the British Parliament and visits to media.
Algeria : Syndicat National des Journalistes - SNJ
- Press Freedom seminar and "Stand-up" in la Placette de la Liberté, in Algiers.
- Algeria Call for Action.pdf (in French)
Bahrain: Bahrain Journalists' Association- BJA
- Seminar for journalists on the campaign's theme "Journalists against sectarianism"
Tunisia: Syndicat National des Journalistes Tunisiens -SNJT
- "Stand-up" protest in front of the union's headquarters under the slogan "No to Marginalizing Journalists", and thematic activities on journalists' professional and trade-union rights.
Jordan : Jorda Press Association - JPA
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Campaign of solidarity with journalists across the region, and call on suppression of journalists' imprisonment for their work.
Kuwait : Kuwaiti Journalists' Association - KJA
- Contact Senate's president to follow up work for Press and publications law.
- Meeting with senators, journalists and the union legal experts, on Press and Publications law.
LATIN AMERICA
In Peru, there was a 24 hour live transmission on November 5th to denounce dire work conditions of journalists in Latin America.
The online radio station was ANP Radio of the National Association of Journalists of Peru. FEPALC, the Latin American and Carribean Federation of Journalists of the IFJ, supported that day officialy launching the human rights alerts and press releases, with the slogan of the campaign against impunity launched in October, in Mexico: "To guarantee the message arrives, protect the messenger".
On 7 Novemver FEPALC is launching a statement condemning impunity in the region, highlighting at least 360 journalists have been killed in the last two decades in the region.
Click here for details of our 2007 Day of Action.