WAZ and IFJ Sign Historic Global Media Agreement

 Press Conference in Brussels on July 9

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today signed the first-ever global framework agreement in the media sector with Germany’s WAZ Media Group in a move that commits both sides to work together to protect freedom of the press, to promote quality standards in journalism and to secure fair working conditions for employees in the media.

“It’s a breakthrough, which paves the way for similar initiatives with other trans-national media enterprises,” says IFJ Secretary General Aidan White. “Social dialogue in favour of quality in journalism will secure the future for all media. This agreement opens the door to a fresh social dialogue. It is good for media, good for media staff and good for democracy.”

White and WAZ Managing director Bodo Hombach signed the agreement at noon today at WAZ headquarters in Essen, Germany.

The IFJ and its regional group, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), have received backing for the compact from German affiliates, Ver.di and the Deutscher Journalistenverband, as well as from member organisations in countries where the company operates -- Austria, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Macedonia and Montenegro.

The agreement endorses a commitment to respect basic guidelines on journalism and labour standards that will be used at all of the company’s publications worldwide. WAZ is one of Europe’s leading publishers of newspapers and periodicals.

On Monday, July 9, the IFJ and WAZ will hold a press conference in Brussels with EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding to provide more information about the agreement and how it can be used as a model in the industry. The press conference will be at 13:15 at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westfalia to the EU.

“This is the first step in our work to ensure global media companies set standards worldwide to provide for quality reporting and decent working conditions,” White said.

Click here for the invitation.

Click here to see the agreement.

For more information contact the IFJ at 32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 115 countries worldwide