Among the topics discussed were the legal, professional and financial conditions for online journalism, employment contracts, news content and tools that facilitate better reporting while respecting professional and ethical rules.
The discussions led to the adoption of a set of recommendations to strengthen the unionisation of journalists in the sector:
- Campaigning for the adoption of legislation on electronic media and a code of conduct to regulate journalistic work;
- Providing training for electronic media workers, especially given the negative influence of years of war on broadcast content;
- Increased support for professional journalists to strengthen their independence from official or partisan media;
- Relaunching the local branch of YJS in Ta'izz;
- Establishment of an interactive and neutral platform for publishing unbiased journalistic content;
- Increased IFJ support for journalists working in conflict areas in Yemen, especially those directly affected by the war
The YJS reiterated the view that the increasing presence of digital media requires an improvement in broadcast content by guaranteeing workers' rights and strengthening their professional skills and capacities.
The workshop was funded by Union to Union.
As part of the IFJ's safety programme in the Middle East, the federation also organised two training sessions on the safety of Yemeni journalists on 5 and 6 July in Aden and on 11 and 12 July in Ta'izz. These meetings, facilitated by the IFJ Arab and Middle East Journalist Safety Trainers Network, were attended by 32 journalists.