Viktorija Miktova is a journalist at national TV station Alpha Television and a member of the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) of Macedonia. She is the youngest representative of the union’s Executive Board since December 2022 and the coordinator of the young media workers’ department. 

As a young journalist, what made you decide to join a union?

The reasons are many. In Macedonia, journalism is not much appreciated, and journalists even less. For a young journalist to succeed in the profession, even at the very beginning, is a very high mountain. That was the feeling for me at the start of my career. However, now that I gained some experience, I am determined to help my younger colleagues. 

It is devastating that, at present, journalism studies have six times fewer students than there used to be. If 10 people enrol in journalism studies, not even half of them graduate, mainly because of the precarious working conditions. Additionally, many of us who made it into the media sector work uninsured, without paid health insurance, without contracts, and so on. That is why my primary motivation is to improve the working conditions to keep young journalists in journalism.

What are the main challenges that young journalists are facing today? 

Unfortunately, there are plenty. I have already mentioned the fact that many young media professionals work without contracts, and they are paid neither health insurance nor pension. On top of that, the majority of them work for a very low salary, for the minimum wage in the country, which is very disappointing. 

Then, as young professionals who are at the beginning of their career, they feel that their thoughts are never listened to. While more experienced colleagues have many rights, the younger ones feel powerless. Finally, when young journalists think they are making progress in newsrooms, they are kicked out of their jobs for no reason. This context of instability drives them away from journalism. 

You were elected to the SSNM’s Executive Board in December 2022. Congratulations! Have you seen any changes in the dynamics so far? 

Thank you. I cannot say that the previous management did not function well. We cooperated on several occasions! However, since I became an active member in the trade union, SSNM cooperates a lot with young journalists. On my side, I encourage my colleagues to take part in training sessions, seminars and other activities, and to speak up loudly about the problems we face because that is the only way we will overcome them. We have lots and lots of work ahead of us, and we are happy about how our mandate has started.

Which are the priorities of the newly created ‘young journalists department’,  set up as a result of the Annual General Election Assembly in December 2022, which you coordinate?

We know that the road to success for young journalists is not easy and it is extremely important for us to prove to them that they are not alone. The union is here to help in any way possible. We, the members of the young journalists department, often gather to discuss current problems, and to exchange experiences and difficulties. When you find out that all young journalists share similar problems, it is easier to build a sense of community, empathise with your colleagues and see things from a different angle. 

Currently, we are planning many activities and we want to intensify meetings with young journalists to hear more about their pressing needs.

What advice would you give to other unions that wish to engage young members in their organisations?

To openly discuss the problems faced by young journalists and not “sweep them under the carpet”. We need to prove to them that the union is here to help and that we are sincere in our intentions. Young people want to be supported, and unions are key to enhancing workers’ rights and improving their working conditions, among many others. This should be our message to young journalists, and we should deliver on that promise through our actions.

What are the future plans the SSNM have to continue encouraging young journalists to join a union?

I have about 10 colleagues who are subject to all kinds of pressures and problems at work. I openly tell them that if they join our union, even considering that on some occasions the managers often know how to deter them, they will be supported by our union. It is crucial to remind young people that if we are all together and act in the same direction, it will be very difficult for someone to separate us, in fact, nearly impossible. 

The union certainly plans to organise a series of activities for young journalists, for instance  training sessions on labour rights and workshops on digital journalism, among others. 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) worked with the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) of North Macedonia in the project "Digital Organising - CEE" from 2018 to 2022, in partnership with Union to Union and the Swedish Union of Journalists. The common work has focused on helping the union address the challenges and seize the opportunities digitalisation presents, defend the rights of media workers and, in particular, engage younger journalists and help the union become more effective in representing its growing membership