International Federation of Journalists
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| International Federation of Journalists Fédération internationale des journalistes Federación Internacional de Periodistas |
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| Founded | 1926 |
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| Members | 600,000 in 120 countries (2008)[1] |
| Country | International |
| Affiliation | Global union federation |
| Key people | Aidan White, general secretary Jim Boumelha, president |
| Office location | Brussels, Belgium |
| Website | www.ifj.org |
International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists. It is also dedicated to working for solidarity, social justice, labor rights, globalization, democracy, human rights, and fighting poverty and corruption.
First founded in Paris in 1926, the federation was relaunched twice in 1946 and in 1952. Today, the IFJ represents around 600,000 members in more than 100 countries. The main office is located in Brussels, Belgium.
The IFJ claims that they do "not subscribe to any given political viewpoint" but also states that "The IFJ is the organisation that speaks for journalists within /.../ the international trade union movement."[2]
Full membership is open to journalists' trade unions only. Other national organisations of journalists that are devoted to media freedom may be admitted as associate members. The IFJ has regional branches, such as the Latin American Office, the Asia-Pacific office, or the European Federation of journalists (EFJ) which organizes the Labour Rights Expert Group(LAREG) and the Authors' Rights Experts Group (AREG).
The IFJ is a founding member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, a global network non-governmental organisations that monitors press freedom and free expression violations worldwide and defends journalists, writers, Internet users and others who are persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The IFJ launched the Ethical Journalism Initiative [3]in 2008, a global campaign to defend standards and to raise awareness of the importance of quality journalism.
The President of International Federation of Journalists, Mr. Jim Boumelha, is member of the International Advisory Board of the African Press Organization.
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[edit] Monitoring journalists killed worldwide
Since 1994, the IFJ has published an annual report which documents cases of journalists and media staff killed during the course of each year. It uses the information to campaign for greater safety for journalists, particularly local and freelance reporters and support staff who lack the resources to protect themselves in conflict zones. The annual reports are archived on the IFJ website.
[edit] Journalists Safety Fund
The IFJ Safety Fund was established in January 1992 and has become internationally recognised as an important and crucial source of support for journalists under threat. It is the only international assistance fund for journalists established by journalists.
The Safety Fund is an integral part of the IFJ Safety Programme which includes casework, protests, campaigns, provision of information and production of various publications. As the Safety Fund provides immediate financial relief to a particular journalist, the Safety Programme strives all year round to highlight and improve the plight of all journalists.
[edit] International News Safety Institute
The IFJ, in co-operation with the International Press Institute, and more than 100 other professional organisations, press freedom groups, international media, and national journalists' associations came together at the beginning of 2003 to establish a global media safety network—the International News Safety Institute. Launched on World Press Freedom Day, the institute is dedicated to the safety of journalists and media staff and committed to fighting the persecution of journalists everywhere. It also promotes safety standards that will make journalism safer and more professional.
[edit] Expulsion of Israeli Journalists
In June of 2009, the IFJ expelled the 800-member National Federation of Israeli Journalists for not paying dues, but claims against Aidan White have been made that the expulsion was politically motivated. A representative of the NFIJ believes tension between Israeli journalists and the IFJ began during the Second Lebanon War. During the war the Israeli Defence Forces began a bombing compaign of Al-Manar, Hezbollah's state-run media. The International Federation of Journalists condemned Israel's attack on Al-Manar headquarters, claiming it "threatens the lives of media staff, violates international law and endorses the use of violence to stifle dissident media." It was reported that the INF did not offer any condemnation after Israeli journalists were wounded by Hezbollah militants. Israel and the European Union considers Al-Manar to be a vehicle for Hezbollah propaganda and has since banned their programs from satellite.[1]
It was reported that the IFJ published a report criticizing Israel's policy on foreign journalists during the Gaza War and also rebuked its involvement in the conflict. According to Haim Shibi, the report about Gaza was compiled without "consulting a single Israeli source." Shibi also stated that the International Federation had hosted a series of conferences in Europe about current media issues, but the Israeli unions were never invited. He believes the IFJ's decision "reflects the European sentiment to portray Israel as an aggressor and support the Arab world." Shibi also believe the decision contradicts NFIJ's proposal to build a media club for Israeli and Palestinian journalists to work together.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153291961355&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Israeli journalists pull out of IFJ
- ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1246443788924 Israeli journalists ousted from union
