European Federation of Journalists

Covid Recovery Fund

TRADE UNIONS FOR A FAIR RECOVERY: Strengthening the role of trade unions in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 crisis

COVID-19 has underlined the importance of Social Dialogue in societies across Europe. While it has come to the forefront during the pandemic, it is crucial that effective social dialogue is at the heart of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs). Strong unions are essential for a fair recovery !

The pandemic has been asymmetrical, affecting different countries in different ways. To adequately tackle this, the EFJ and the ETUC are launching an initiative funded by the European Commission which will “cascade” capacity-building funds to national trade unions. These funds will help trade unions in their efforts to build digital trade unionism, supporting digital skills and digital tools of trade unions, which will overall strengthen their organising capacity, communication with members and their role within national social dialogue institutions. Overall, this initiative aims to support unions in their activities to shape national recovery plans that deliver secure jobs with decent pay and conditions.

As partner of the project, the EFJ is launching its own cascading fund to journalists’ unions and associations tackling the issue of media freedom, democracy, corruption and whistleblower protection in Europe, and particularly so in the Balkan region.

A call for proposals has been launched for journalists’ unions and associations in the EU and candidate countries to apply for the fund. A selection procedure will be launched to evaluate the applications according to the awarding criteria set out by the EFJ and the ETUC.

Actions

Trade unions leading ways to a fairer recovery

A delegation of 30 EFJ members has joined over 80 trade union delegates from Europe to conclude the final conference of a 2.5 years project “Trade Union for A Fair Recovery project” held in Brussels, co-organised by the European Trade Union Confederation and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ). Maja Sever, EFJ President together with Tea Jarc, ETUC Confederal Secretary, and Joost Korte, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission kicked off the conference by congratulating the delegates leading the ways to support journalists and millions workers towards a fairer recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. Jarc,…

Spain: Women journalists’ working and professional conditions are deteriorating in the post-pandemic period

In a new survey launched by the Federation of Journalists’ Unions in Spain (FeSP), 52% of journalists say that their professional and working situation has deteriorated, 45% point to a greater workload with the same income and 39% of freelancers say they have fewer assignments. The Federation of Journalists’ Unions-FeSP has launched a survey in October-November 2022 to find out the impact of the pandemic on the professional situation of women journalists and freelancers at the national level, as well as to identify possible training needs, mainly regarding ICT tools, that could help improve their employability and adaptation to the…

Portugal: Portuguese Union of Journalists’ initiative to help reduce risks of burnout in journalism

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomed the Portuguese Union of Journalists (SJ)’s project on mental health of journalists and media workers in Portugal. The initiative aims at raising awareness and helping employed and freelance journalists navigate the rising challenges of digital journalism, especially difficult in these post-pandemic times. It includes a research study, three workshops, digital trainings and a concluding conference. It is headed by SJ’s former Vice-President Isabel Nery and board member João Miguel Rodrigues. The study: Analysing the digital journalism sector The project kicked off in March this year with a study on journalism as a high-risk profession, focusing on the digital journalism…

Journalism in the “Hinterland” – the Future of Local Reporting

Local journalism is in a dire situation. To address the problem, the Journalists’ Union of Germany (DJV) has launched a project with the aim to revive local journalists. The project highlights the important role of reporting exactly where people don’t expect (but journalists truly find) the biggest headlines: in the province. Far from big media metropolises, in small towns, communities or villages, the so-called “Hinterland”. An increasing migration to the cities, financing difficulties that often end in fusion and not to forget the adaption of modern working techniques and consumption patterns, are problems which most local journalists are familiar with.…

Montenegro: SMCG launched new video series on collective bargaining

The Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) just launched a new video series called “Dvije sindikalne” (“Couple of words on unions” in English) discussing the working conditions in Montenegrin media and the work of the unions. The project is part of the national actions carried in the framework of the COVID Recovery Fund project, which is funding capacity-building activities developed by European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) affiliates. Each of the ten episodes will offer insights into the trade union world. Using a combination of traditional and new journalistic formats, SMCG approaches the theme of working conditions from a new…

Journalists organisations launch projects to address challenges during pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has a great impact on journalists and journalists’ organisations across Europe. The working conditions of journalists has been greatly affected. The pandemic has underlined the importance of journalists’ unions and associations in supporting journalists in this challenging time. More than ever, stronger unions are essential to protect the rights of journalists and their working conditions. Together with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has launched its funding scheme, co-funded by the European Commission, to support its members to continue and develop their core union activities to support the work of journalists.…