European Federation of Journalists

IFJ-EFJ Regional Development Fund

Czech Republic

 

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) signed an agreement on 18 December 2014 with the Union of Journalists and Media Workers of Czech Republic (OSNPM) in order to investigate the working conditions of Czech journalists and media workers. The project is implemented with the cooperation of Judith Reitstatter, from the Austrian union GPA-djp.

The online survey was launched on 19 May 2015. Around 2,500 journalists and media workers were invited to participate to the survey. The EFJ, OSNPM and GPA-djp analysed together the main outcomes of the survey during a round table conference, on 19 August 2015, in Prague.

The questionnaire focus mainly on labour rights. “This area is underestimated by the Czech media, journalists themselves and their employers as well,” explains Zdeněk Kučera, chairman of OSNPM.

“Over the past 25 years, journalists’ attention was focused primarily toward freedom of speech, access to information, relations with media ownership and the development of media houses. These are very serious topics. However, journalists’ status remained grossly underrated. A specific problem is the status of freelance journalists, which are increasingly numerous, particularly in regional media.”

The main findings of the survey are available on the EFJ website, here.

FOCUS EFJ

Side event of our project: a high school magazines national competition (Nejinspirativnější středoškolský časopis 2015). Here are the winners (picture credit: F. Cakl):

Czech

Contact details: OSNPM, e-mail: odborovy-svaz-novinaru@seznam.cz, website: http://www.odborovysvaznovinaru.cz

 

Slovakia

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), its Austrian union GPA-djp and the Slovak Union of Journalists (Slovenský syndikát novinárov) organized a meeting in Vienna, on 30 October 2014. Trade unionists and media students from both countries met in GPA-djp offices, in Vienna. The discussion on media convergence was launched by Dr. Roman Hummel, from the university of Salzburg.

Contact details: Judith Reitstaetter, judith.reitstaetter (at) gpa-djp.at

 

Estonia

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Estonian Union of Journalists (Eesti Ajakirjanike Liit, EAL) and the Union of Journalists in Finland (Suomen Journalistiliitto, UJF) agreed on 6 February 2015 to jointly implement the project “Workshops to Strengthen Journalists’ organisation in Estonia”.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen journalists’ organisation in Estonia, through three activities:

  • a freelance workshop in Helsinki,
  • a radio & TV negotiators workshop in Helsinki,
  • an authors’ rights seminar in Tallinn.

An action plan will be proposed for the next period.

Contact details: Juha Rekola, Juha.Rekola (at) journalistiliitto.fi, and Helle Tiikmaa, helle (at) eal.ee

 

Actions

Albania: Authorities must take action to guarantee journalists’ safety without delay

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and the Safejournalists Network (SJN) remain deeply concerned by the frequency and severity of attacks on journalists covering ongoing student-led protests in Albania. Despite the authorities being informed and urged to take action in an open letter dated 14 October and signed by over 30 organisations, attacks have continued with high frequency, leaving journalists vulnerable on the ground. The undersigned organisations strongly condemn all acts of physical violence, intimidation, and obstruction, and reiterate calls on the authorities to thoroughly investigate the cases and hold all perpetrators,…

Hungary: Media freedom mission welcomes initial reforms, calls for consultations and safeguards for second phase

Media freedom in Hungary has seen significant and rapid changes in the first six months of the new government, marking a historic break with one of the worst crackdowns on press freedom in the history of the European Union. This creates a significant opportunity to rebuild independent and pluralistic media institutions, a delegation of international media freedom and journalist organisations said today. Speaking at a press conference in Budapest following a fact-finding mission, the delegation concluded that media reforms have taken significant steps towards dismantling captured Fidesz-era institutions, passing important media law amendments, and creating the conditions for restoring independence…

Luxembourg: We condemn the smear campaign targeting investigative journalist Véronique Poujol

For several weeks, investigative journalist Véronique Poujol of Reporter.lu has been the target of a major smear campaign by a website. The journalist has filed a complaint. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), which have filed an alert with the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists, join the Luxembourg Association of Professional Journalists (ALJP) in expressing their solidarity with Véronique Poujol, reiterating that journalistic criticism is legitimate and that smear campaigns and the dissemination of false accusations should not be confused with freedom of expression. On 3 November 2026, the…

Public service media must belong to the people: solidarity with Czechia

We, the undersigned organisations, express our strong solidarity with our colleagues in Czechia: the Syndicate of Journalists of the Czech Republic (Syndikát novinářů České republiky – SNČR), the employees of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo), and all Czech citizens who are standing up for independent public service media. Public service media belong to citizens. As a cornerstone of democracy, their role is to inform the public, hold power to account, and provide diverse, verified information. To fulfil this duty, they must remain entirely free from political influence. We are following the actions of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government…

Russia: Novaya Gazeta shuts down as press freedom faces its darkest hour

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in raising its concerns over Novaya Gazeta’s, one of the country’s most respected independent media outlets, ceasing of operations following repeated acts of intimidation and harassment by Russian authorities. After more than 30 years of investigative journalism exposing corruption, abuses of power and human rights violations, the newspaper announced that it would shut down its Moscow newsroom on 9 November. On 30 October, Novaya Gazeta announced that it wouldshut down its Moscow newsroom following a coordinated campaign of repression of the Russian authorities and the Federal Security…

AgoraEU: Why Europe Must Stand Up for Funding Civil Society

“Strong culture, free press! Democracy deserves no less!”: These words from EFJ Director Renate Schroeder’s closing remarks were echoed by the many attendants who gathered together earlier today, including over 150 journalists, artists, cultural workers, and civil society representatives to peacefully protest a proposed 30% cut to AgoraEU, the EU’s core programme for culture, media, and fundamental values for the 2028-2034 budget period. The demonstration, organised jointly by Culture Action Europe, Civil Society Europe, the European Civic Forum, and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in partnership with the Future of Europe cohort, sent a resounding message to EU leaders…