Union Renewal for Stronger Media

Supporting Asia-Pacific journalist organisations to recruit organise and campaign for journalists' rights in the new digital economy. The IFJ’s global digital strategy is helping build unions through tailored institutional strengthening programs, while also providing scope for unions to create national approaches and responses to media development, research, representation and recruitment.

Key Activities:

  • Development of research and evaluation strategy by IFJ for union reform programs, campaigns and activities.
  • Pilot country union reform and youth programs.
  • Development of toolkit of training materials including modules on core skills.
  • Capacity building and mentoring at national levels.
  • Establishment of digital youth working groups.
  • Global conference youth, union reform and media digital economy.

Duration: 2018 - 2022

This project is funded by Union to Union 

IFJ-UTU Union Strengthening Projects - 2022

As part of the IFJ Global Union to Union project the IFJ launched its program of projects for 2022 to enable IFJ affiliates working to reform and strengthen their unions in the Asia-Pacific. The aim is for our affiliates to undertake national projects to address some of the key issues faced by journalist representative organisations and media unions, including adapting to the digital economy, reforming union approaches, recruiting, organising and campaigning for journalists’ rights and freedom of association, and developing best practice skills and training.

Free Media Movement (FMM) - Union Strengthening and Promoting Professional Journalism in Sri Lanka

Project Objectives

The purpose of the project is to reinforce professional and ethical journalism and create a more sustainable media in Sri Lanka through effective research and by strengthening capacities of young and working journalists in union leadership and raise voice on the issues that affect them in their professional work as journalists.

Indian Journalists Union (IJU) - Strengthening Unions: Engaging Young Journalists Towards Digitalisation

Project Objectives

To strengthen the union towards the protection and promotion of media rights and enhance media professionalism through research, communications, campaigns, and advocacy, including in the digital media landscape.

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) - Revival of Union Organizing in the Philippines

Project Objectives

To teach digital media workers on labour rights, reverse the stigma of union organizing and lay the groundwork for union building.

SINDIKASI - Advocating for Freelance Journalist Social Security

Project Objectives

Strengthening the capacity of the SINDIKASI to advocate for freelancer’s rights to secure social security.

Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) - Young and Women Journalists for Enhanced Media Freedom

Project Objectives

Reform the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) by revising the SLWJA constitution to include more women and young journalists in the SLWJA executive committee and by providing responsible digital journalism training.

Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions (FMETU) - Equipping Young Media Workers for Union Leadership in the Digital Economy

Project Objectives

Mobilise and empower young media workers and journalists to steer the Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions (FMETU) within the digital environment by mapping the professional status of FMETU’s members, providing evidence-based lobbying and advocacy for professional rights, and networking with young journalists so they may play an active role in unionisation.

Featured Action

SINDIKASI - Collective Bargaining Agreement

SINDIKASI signed a collective bargaining agreement between Project Multatuli and Sindikasi, Greater Jakarta chapter, as part of SINDIKASI's fifth anniversary celebration. Watch the video here!