Authors’ texts are indispensable for AI Large Language Models, but they receive no compensation. The Dutch Writers’ Guild (Auteursbond), the Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) and the Lira Foundation have sent a formal demand letter to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and developer of the AI model Llama. In the letter, they request that Meta immediately cease the unlawful use of copyrighted work of Dutch writers, translators and journalists in the training of its AI models. According to Liesbet van Zoonen, president of the Auteursbond: “We are not opposed to Large Language Models, but the AI industry is a…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) participated to the public consultation launched by the European Commission on the evaluation of the 2009 Broadcasting Communication (BComm), which provides guidance on how public service broadcasting may receive state funding. The EFJ and its affiliates strongly believe that public service media (PSM) play an increasingly important role in today’s fragile information ecosystem, which is dominated by a handful of private digital platforms. It is therefore essential that PSM are able to operate under conditions of financial viability, full transparency and political independence. According to the EFJ, the BComm has been and remains a…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) publishes its position paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of journalism in Europe, after it was adopted by the EFJ Steering Committee in Brussels, on 30 September.  The spread of AI profoundly affects reporting practices that had been used in newsrooms until now. AI is able to assist journalists’ work in helping with translation and fact-checking. But it can also be used maliciously to generate misinformation, or give preference to a small number of media sources in its training and output, thus harming media pluralism and information integrity. AI in journalism must…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in welcoming the historic entry into force of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which represents a landmark achievement in ongoing efforts to safeguard media pluralism and independence across the European Union. Today, 8 August 2025, marks a new era for media freedom in the EU and comes at a crucial time for the defence of democratic values within the bloc. However, while some limited steps have been taken by national governments, overall progress is seriously lacking and many Member States have either yet to begin…

The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) comes fully into force today, 8 August 2025. Yet, in most EU Member States, the EMFA is still a long way from being implemented. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is calling on all EU governments to fulfil their obligations and execute the necessary reforms without delay for the EMFA to become the long-awaited shield that protects free and independent journalism in the European Union. “It’s historic. For the first time, there is a regulation dealing with the work of journalists, protecting journalism, media pluralism, transparency and many other issues we have never been…

“Collective bargaining for freelancers” was the topic of the second ‘Stand up for Journalism’ workshop organised by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the French journalists’ union SNJ-CGT in Vichy, France, on 23-24 January 2025. Thirty-six union representatives and journalists discussed the challenges specific to the self-employed, such as collective negotiations, copyright, and the European legal frameworks.  Freelance journalists are no longer an exception in the media landscape in Europe and many unions that were previously unable to represent them have changed their rules to enable them to do so. Participants have expressed that freelancer is less and less…

Recognising the indispensable role freelance journalists play in informing the public, upholding democracy and maintaining editorial independence, we, the representatives of freelance journalists in Europe, unite in calling for action to address the precariousness of our profession. This Declaration outlines the fundamental measures necessary to ensure fair working conditions, equal treatment and suitable livelihoods for freelance journalists across Europe. Through their independence, freelance journalists are vital to democracy and the free flow of information.  Dignified Working Conditions Freelance journalists are integral members of the journalistic profession, entitled to safe and equitable working conditions. Employers must eliminate practices of “fake freelance”…

EFJ Freelance Expert Group (FREG) co-chairs, Renske Heddema (Dutch union of journalists – NVJ) and Oddrun Mitbø (Norwegian union of journalists – NJ) contributed to the open letter below, outlining the priorities of FREG. Freedom of the press is essential for all democracies. This freedom is now increasingly under pressure in Europe. Several developments underline the threats for journalists, especially freelance workers, who often stand out for their personal courage. EFJ Freelance Expert Group (FREG) members regularly participate in demonstrations calling for the release of imprisoned colleagues.  The recent release of Julian Assange shows that the relentless fight from people…

On 16 April 2024, the German journalists’ organisations DJV and dju in ver.di are calling on permanent and freelance journalists from all public broadcasters and Deutsche Welle to hold a joint day of action. Under the motto “Fairness sparks”, the employees are sending out a clear signal in favour of fair and appropriate collective agreements in the public broadcasting sector. The DJV and ver.di unions are jointly conducting collective bargaining. At lunchtime, decentralised actions will be organised in German broadcasting companies. Journalists are united by a common call: “We must make those responsible for collective bargaining at the public broadcasters…

This article first featured on the Swedish Journalist union website Some 50 freelance writers at Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) have long been in negotiations with management about their fees. A demonstration supported by the Swedish Union of Journalists was held on Friday 8 December outside SvD in Stockholm following the break-down of negotiations, which had started in the spring of 2023. No significant increase in 20 years In addition to a symbolic adjustment in the spring, SvD’s freelancers emphasised in the negotiations that they have not received a significant increase in over twenty years and that they therefore earn less than…

This article first appeared on Journalisti.fi and is being reposted in English. Read it in Swedish here: https://journalisti.fi/artikkelit/2023/11/medieforbundet-vill-inte-forhandla-trots-konkurrensverkets-besked-om-kollektiva-forhandlingar-for-frilansare/ In September, the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority gave the go-ahead for which the Union of Journalists in Finland had been waiting since a year. In a blog post, special expert Miira Kuhlberg states that there are no obstacles under competition law for a trade union to represent, for example, freelance journalists in collective negotiations on working conditions and minimum fees. The Finnish Competition Authority now confirms the European Commission’s year-old guidelines on the issue. Isn’t it obvious that trade unions should…

Solo self-employed journalists now have the possibility to be included in collective bargaining by their unions. But what does this mean in practice? Almost a year since the implementation of the European Commission guidelines on collective bargaining for the solo self-employed, we take a look at how they have benefitted, or not, our members in the EFJ Freelance Expert Group (FREG). The EFJ has welcomed the Guidelines as an important step towards strengthened collective bargaining and has recognised its counteracting force to rebalance power relations in the labour market. Nonetheless, these are Guidelines and while they may have an authoritative…

On 7-8 June 2023, several European journalists’ trade unions met in Madrid with their counterparts representing actors, musicians, translators, media workers and other cultural figures to discuss collective bargaining for atypical workers. The conference was the final event of the Atypical Workers project, of which the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is a partner, together with the International Federation of Actors (FIA), the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) and UNI-MEI. The goal of this EU-funded project, which started in 2021, was to promote the rights of atypical workers in various sectors and improve the capacity of trade unions in servicing…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) sent on Friday its contribution to the Commission’s Rule of Law report, which reviews every year four key areas: justice systems, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and freedom, and checks and balances. The issues found in most of the countries surveyed are all related to media concentration and the increasing number of SLAPPs. The objective of this consultation – jointly carried out with the EFJ affiliates – is to feed the assessment of the Commission with factual information from the ground in each Member States. Read more of the EFJ’s contribution:   EFJ Contribution…

​The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today publishes its position on the draft proposal for the  European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which was adopted by its Steering Committee in Brussels on 13 January.   While we welcome the European Commission’s initiative to strengthen the free and pluralistic media system, and the commitment to protect journalists and editorial independence within the European Union, we stress the importance of a more robust protection of both media freedom and editorial independence.  In its position, the EFJ proposes urgent amendments which are crucial to be included by the co-legislators, the European Parliament and the European…