European Federation of Journalists

Confronting Austerity in Journalism

[eqfw-layout][{“css”:”eqfw-layout_row is-right-sidebar”,”cells”:[{“css”:”eqfw-layout_cell is-main”,”widgets”:[{“name”:”WP_Widget_Text”,”data”:[{“name”:”widget-text[_id_][title]”,”value”:””},{“name”:”widget-text[_id_][text]”,”value”:”The economic crisis is severely affecting journalists and media workers, in particular in Southern Europe, where austerity measures also affect the media, in particular public broadcasting and local media. Often, media owners are cutting jobs, reducing salaries and benefits and no longer guarantee decent working conditions for journalists._EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_A recent survey by the EFJ has shown that the number of unemployed journalists is dramatically increasing, media are closing down which also has a devastating impact on the work of freelance journalists._EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_With the financial support of the European Commission, the EFJ held a two-day seminar (20 & 21 March 2014, Vienna) to discuss challenges around austerity and its impact on journalists’ working and social conditions within a changing media environment going increasingly digital but not providing sustainable job opportunities, employment conditions and economic income for journalist working online. _EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Unions and journalists need to find best practices and innovative ways to move on and create long term perspectives for journalists, especially the young and freelances._EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Discussion concentrated on:_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Sustainable (alternative) business models for freelance journalists (is self-publishing or crowd funding a solution?);_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Best practice on collective bargaining in online journalism (challenges and advantages);_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Debate with Social partners on financing journalism and keeping decent working conditions in place within framework of austerity and profound changes in media structures (technological changes);_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_…_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_ _EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Here you can find all relevant materials concerning the seminar:_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Background information (reading material)_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Agenda (French, English)_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Biographies (speakers)_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Presentations_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Andreas K Bittner: Survey result_EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Prof. Jane B. Singer: _EQFW_QUOTE_The Journalist \u000bas Entrepreneur:\u000bResponse to Disruption_EQFW_QUOTE__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Gianluca Schinaia (Italy): _EQFW_QUOTE_FpS Media_EQFW_QUOTE__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Martine Simonis (AJP, Belgium):_EQFW_QUOTE_Appreciate freelancers: AJP’s digital Platform_EQFW_QUOTE__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Luis Palacio Llanos (editor of Informe anual de la Profesión Periodística): _EQFW_QUOTE_An introduction to APM´s report on new media launched by journalists_EQFW_QUOTE__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_Conclusion (English; French – still work in progress)._EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N__EQFW_SLASH_R__EQFW_SLASH_N_There will be a follow-up meeting end of June and Andreas Bittner will publish an in-depth report on the conducted survey among participant”},{“name”:”widget-text[_id_][filter]”,”value”:”on”}]}]},{“css”:”eqfw-layout_cell is-sidebar”,”widgets”:[{“name”:”MetaSlider_Widget”,”data”:[{“name”:”widget-metaslider_widget[_id_][title]”,”value”:”The project is funded by”},{“name”:”widget-metaslider_widget[_id_][slider_id]”,”value”:”2077″}]}]}]}][/eqfw-layout]