„Quality reporting depends on decent working conditions for all media workers and young journalists are no exception,” says the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). On October 7, the Federation will mark World Day for Decent Work by launching a global survey to assess the needs of young media workers.
In recent decades, including dangerous working conditions Poor pay, lack of contracts, heavy workloads, stress and job insecurity have ravaged the news industry. Young workers are particularly affected.
Sharply rising inflation has brought the problems to a head, exacerbated by anti-union policies in the media and laws restricting freelancers’ rights to organize. The loss of physical newsrooms after the coronavirus pandemic contributed to the isolation of those who joined the profession.
In Uganda, A A study by the African Center for Media Excellence It shows that three-quarters of journalists earn no more than 1 million Ugandan shillings (€250) a month.
In Indonesia, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI)Reporting similar results, a large number of journalists are said to be paid less than Jakarta’s 2023 provincial minimum wage of 4.9 million rupiah (€300) a month.
2023 census in Switzerland highlighted A level of pessimism among young journalists about the future of the profession Majority consider it impossible to work as a journalist for their entire career.
Around the world, journalists and media workers are taking industrial action to protect local news (UK) and demand higher pay (ArgentinaSpain, Egypt) and fight for decent working conditions (Turkey, America) In many cases, young journalists are spearheading campaigns.
Unions have begun to offer support to young people in these poor working conditions. In Argentina, the Press Union of Buenos Aires (SiPreBA) launched a campaign on press workers’ rights in August 2023 targeting young journalists. „Toolbar”. It consists of a series of videos highlighting the daily challenges of young journalists.
In the Asia-Pacific region, IFJ and its affiliates are conducting a series of regional bootcamps to build the capacity of young union leaders and activists under the central theme of 'Future Power’.
The IFJ wants to hear from more young journalists and has invited all media workers under the age of 35 to take part in its survey (Here)
It is available in English, French and Spanish and asks journalists about daily work challenges and expectations for unions.
IFJ President Dominic Pratali said: “Becoming a journalist today is like jumping off a cliff blindfolded. Unions provide a safety net to protect the future of journalism. Young reporters and photographers must be empowered to tell the truth, adhere to strong ethical standards, and earn a decent living. The quality of information depends on it. Democracy requires reliable information. Our poll is a unique opportunity for young journalists to have their say on a global scale. We encourage affiliates to share it widely to maximize results.