The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) in mourning the death on December 10 of the union’s assistant federal secretary Mark Ryan, after a two-year battle with cancer.

A lawyer by training, Ryan was one of the most influential trade union officials in shaping wages and working conditions for journalists in Australia over the past 25 years. Ryan joined the staff of the Australian Journalists’ Association in 1987. After the union merged with other entertainment unions in 1992 to become the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Ryan became assistant federal secretary, a role he maintained until his death.

He was the prime mover in the copyright campaign of the 1980s and 1990s which, uniquely in the English-speaking world, won journalists the right to receive payments for secondary uses of their work.

Ryan also played a key role in restructuring journalists’ awards, including the establishment of starting rates for journalists that, by recognising journalists’ professional status, led the way to significant pay rises across the board.

Despite being diagnosed with bone cancer in June 2009, Ryan continued to work and was instrumental in the process of award modernisation following the introduction of the Fair Work Act in 2009.

“Mark was in many ways the heart and soul of the journalists’ union,” MEAA federal secretary Christopher Warren said.

“He was a tough and shrewd negotiator whose passion for the rights of journalists coupled with an infectious sense of humour earned him the respect of all those who worked with him – and in this I include media bosses who sat across the table from him during negotiations.

“All Australian journalists should reflect on their pay and conditions, for which they can thank Mark Ryan. He will be mourned by his colleagues and friends at the Alliance as well as by all those many members he was able to help.”

Mark Ryan is survived by his wife, Kristine Neill, and his two daughters Caroline and Georgina. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Wednesday in Sydney.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific