VARNA DECLARATION
Stand Up for Journalism Campaign
Stand Up for Journalism!
NEW: Update on 2009 Actions
Belgium
The EFJ and
the Belgian Association of Journalists (AGJPB/ABVV) have unveiled a banner in the
International Press
Center in Brussels calling for ‘Ethical Journalism, Quality
Information, Real Democracy'.
http://www.agjpb.be/ajp/journalistes/actus.php#051109id1
Bulgaria
The Union of Bulgarian
Journalists (UBJ) chose the eve of the "Stand up for Journalism" day to hold
its official ceremony for awarding the prestigious annual prizes of the Union for best
professional achievements.
Austria
The Austrian
Journalists Union (Journalistengewerkschaft in der GPA-djp) sent a petition to
Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann, Vice Chancellor Josef Pröll and
Media Secretary Josef Ostermayer, regarding the state of the public
broadcasting services, labour law, collective agreements for journalists and
the integration of online media in Austrian media law.
http://www.gpa-djp.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=GPA/Page/Index&n=GPA_999_Suche.a&cid=1257346702165
The union of journalists KMSfB organises a forum for journalists
in Innsbrück on the theme "blogs, citizen-journalism and financial crisis:
a deadly threat for journalists?". A letter was sent to all members of the
Austrian Parliament
Croatia
A round
table discussion has been organized in the Journalists' Home by the Croatian
Journalists' Association and Union of Journalists of Zagreb.
Denmark
The Danish
Union of Journalists called for more quality, diversity and pluralism in the
Danish media, as well as stable financial support for future public
broadcasting services.
Finland
A keynote article by the president of the Union of
Journalists, Arto Nieminen, was published in at least a dozen national and
regional newspapers, and has lead to a real debate over the issue of media
support for quality journalism and better working conditions.
France
The
journalists' unions leaders sent a joint open letter to President Sarkozy to
deplore the situation of quality journalism in France. A press release was relayed
by press agencies and some national dailies.
http://www.snj.fr/article.php3?id_article=871
http://www.snj.cgt.fr/spip/spip.php?article204
Germany
The Deutscher Journalisten Verband (DJV) circulated a
press release calling on citizens and politicians to actively defend freedom of
the media and free reporting throughout Europe.
Michael Konken, DJV President also called for the need to make the Stand Up for Journalism Day as a wider
social issue concerning the rights of all citizens.
http://www.djv.de/SingleNews.20+M5bf5414a2e6.0.html
The union of journalists
DJU in Ver.di will organise a broad debate on the journalists' profession at
the occasion of its Congress later in the month, called "Vom Wert unserer
Arbeit" (From the Value of our Work"). For the 5th November the dju
released a press release referring to the media crisis and the Varna
declaration, which had been adopted at this year's EFJ Annual meeting in Varna as a unions'
response to the enormous transitions taking place in the sector.
http://dju.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/showNews?id=33bd635e-c543-11de-6a88-0019b9e321cd
Greece
The
Journalists' Union of Macedonia and Thrace Daily Newspapers (ESIEMTH) ihold a
one-day conference entitled New Media,
New Roles for the Journalists, on November 12 with an intervention of
James Doherty, the President of the National Union of Journalists of the
Great-Britain.
http://www.esiemth.gr/default.aspx?lang=el-GR&loc=gr&page=545&NewsItem=769
Ireland
On
November 6,
the NUJ in Ireland was
joined by students from the Dublin
colleges and supported the National Trade Union Congress campaign
"Get Up and Stand Up" to get involved and highlight the plight of
journalists. On November 5 the Irish Executive Council was holding a meeting in
Dublin to
discuss the challenges facing the media industry.
http://www.getupstandup.ie/getinvolved
Italy
The
Federazione Nazionale della Stampa Italiana organised a debate and a press
conference on media freedom and freedom of information in their headquarters in
Rome, and then
issued a press release.
Switzerland
EFJ
affiliates, Impressum and Comedia handed over a petition for fair remuneration
of freelance photojournalists resisting publishers' attempt to impose unfair
contracts.
http://www.impressum.ch/impressum/de/i-news/i-Express/2009/091005
http://www.comedia.ch/de/news-auf-hauptseite/aktuell/news/rettet-die-berufsfotografie-stand-up-for-journalism/5.html
Serbia
The Journalists
Union of Serbia and Journalists Association of Serbia marked the anniversary
with heated debate at the Department of the Faculty of Journalism in the city
of Nis and
called for better protection of journalists' rights.
Slovakia
The Slovak
Syndicate of Journalists hold a press conference at the occasion of the launch
of a special publication on legal protection for
journalists regarding press freedom
http://www.ssn.sk/?id=20&num=1373&lang=sk
Slovenia
The Trade
Union of Journalists of Slovenia issue a statement available at
http://sindikat.novinar.com/?m=16&id_clanek=332
Spain
EFJ affiliates organises protests and
public demonstrations in Barcelona, Sevilla, Madrid
and Cadix.
http://www.fsc.ccoo.es/webfsc/menu.do?Inicio:67228
http://www.fape.es/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1623&Itemid=125
Turkey
The
Journalists' Union of Turkey (Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikası - TGS) made three
demonstrations and a joint declaration calling for the Turkish authorities to
respect the rights of trade unions, collective agreements for journalists and
journalists' fundamental human rights.
http://www.tgs.org.tr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=421&Itemid=15
The EFJ Campaign "Stand Up For Journalism" has now become a major regular event. On that day, journalists across Europe and in other places of the world come together in solidarity with their colleagues to spotlight some of the challenges they face. Last year we tried to extend Stand Up for Journalism globally and we hope this year it will even be more successful.
One year after the beginning of the global financial crisis which has severely affected media workers through restructurings and massive lay-offs, a bleak future in journalism and media is chilling. At its last Annual Meeting, the EFJ adoped the Varna Declaration, "Journalism at the Vanguard of Change", which calls for a continental campaign to revive commitments to public service values in media and quality journalism and which also highlight the importance of a society of values, dialogue and press freedom for all.
On 5 November 2009 or around the 5th November, unions in Europe and around the world can plan an activity or highlight a campaign in their country as part of a worldwide week focusing on journalists' issues.
ARCHIVES 2008
Austria: The media union KMSFB, the other Austrian affiliate, is organising a discussion with journalists' students on quality journalism in Graz on 7 November.
On November 6, the NUJ in Ireland will be joined by students from the Dublin colleges and support the National Trade Union Congress campaign "Get Up and Stand Up" to get involved and highlight the plight of journalists. http://www.getupstandup.ie/getinvolved/
On November 5 the Irish Executive Council is holding a meeting in Dublin to discuss the challenges facing the media industry.
The journalists' union GPA-djp will present on 5 November a study done by the University of Salzburg on the situation of young trainees in Austrian media companies. It will be followed on a panel discussion on the social status of journalists in general.
See invitation to panel attached.
Copyright: Géneration-Précaire, Frankreich; Plattform Generation Praktikum; Urs Thalmann, Schweiz; GPA-djp
Belarus: The BAJ members in different Belarusian regions were drawing the public attention to the journalists' problems and the absence of freedom of speech in Belarus in different ways.The "Stand Up for Journalism" campaign has been supported by a large number of Belarusian on-line periodical editions and bloggers' communities. Among other, the international campaign banners appeared on the Web-sites: www.naviny.by (BelaPAN News Agency), www.ximik.info (Ximik On-Line Newspaper, Navapolatsk), www.zautra.by (Your Country's Tomorrow Informational and Analytical Portal), www.camadade.biz (Tovarisch newspaper's Web-site) , www.gazetaby.com ("Salidarnasc" On-Line Newspaper of Independent Trade Unions), www.nn.by (Nasha Niva nation-wide newspaper's Web-site) and www.nv-online.info (Narodnaya Vola nation-wide newspaper's Web-site).
A virtual demonstration , dedicated to the global campaign, is held on the BAJ pages in the Live Journal.
See also: http://baj.by/m-p-viewpub-tid-1-pid-5947.html
Belgium: In Brussels, journalists showed their solidarity on 4 November for group photo with the International Federation of Journalists, the European Federation of Journalists, the Belgian Journalists' Association, the European Journalism Centre, International Press Association, National Union of Journalists-Brussels Branch.
Croatia
Both EFJ affiliates in Croatia, the Croatian Journalists Association and the Union will organise a round-table discussion on 5 November in Zagreb under the title: "Journalism - an uncertain profession". It will cover both physical violence against journalists and social insecurity of working journalists.
Cyprus
Within the context of "Stand up for Journalism" day, the Cyprus Union of Journalists has submitted a 4-page petition to the Government, the House of Representatives and the political parties on a number of issues relating to journalism.
In the petition, CUJ demands speedy and result oriented measures on the following issues:
1. Statutory measures towards systematic vocational training of both new journalists about to enter the profession and older journalists.
2. Implementation of the law clauses relating to the operation of radio stations, mainly those providing for collective bargaining and collective agreements relating to the terms of employment of journalists.
3. Termination of discrimination between "permanent staff" journalists and "associate" journalists working for the state run Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and the Cyprus News Agency.
4. The Collective Agreements between the CUJ and employers to be given legal status in order to safeguard employees' interests.
5. Abolishment of legal provisions which are mainly leftovers of the colonial administration, which fetter freedom of expression, e.g. certain libel law provisions amounting to pre-emptive censorship, provisions which prohibit public servants giving information to journalists, law provisions which provide that the majority of public documents are "classified", the Electoral Law provisions which prohibit publishing and broadcasting electoral material the day before any election (these provisions have never been implemented but they are still there in violation of the freedom of expression clause) and bringing up to date legislation relating to the Media.
The CUJ has asked for a meeting of its board with government and legislature officials to discus the above mentioned demands.
Germany: The EFJ affiliate, dju in ver.di invited all staff and freelance journalists to stand up in the company/newsroom for good journalism in broadcasting and print media at 5 to 11 on 5 November.
The EFJ affiliate, DJV had a major demonstration with banners saying "Our work is worth more" on 5 November as part of the Stand-Up for Journalism campaign.
Great Britain and Ireland
Whilst the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Great Britain and Ireland, who were the initiators' of last Year Stand-Up for Journalism campaign, do not plan to have the same level of attention on a single day's activity like last year - the NUJ will be rallying members to stand up for local TV news by backing our campaign to Save ITV News. The NUJ is calling on people to sign a petition on the 10 Downing Street website (http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveITVNews2) and then adding to the online comment board to say why they value their local news on ITV.
Members in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to write to their local member of the Northern Ireland Assembly to stand up for journalism at UTV. The channel is looking to make massive cuts, so we're organising for people to send letters of protest.
Members across the Newsquest newspaper group will be completing a survey into stress at work, that closes at the end of this week. The cuts affecting the industry are starting to have a detrimental affect on our members health and the NUJ is getting members to make a stand by completing the survey to show how the cuts are affecting them at work.
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=965
Denmark
At the Danish Media Festival pooling together about 1400 journalists to discuss professional issues of concern, the organiser, Danish Union of Journalists will also integrate the Stand-Up for Journalism campaign in its ambitious programme.
http://www.fagfestival.dk/sw3700.asp
Former Yugo Republic of Macedonia
The IFJ affiliate, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia will will send an appeal to the Macedonian media and request a 2 minutes work stop at 12.00 as a support of the Union's demands for social and professional security, as had been doen in 2007 for the Stand-Up for Journalism campaign.
France
Union of journalists SNJ-CGT called journalists to demonstrate on 5 November to oppose "the projects of Mr. Sarkozy that threaten freedom of press" and to "organise a real debate on information" in parallel to the official "Etats généraux" opened in early October under the auspices of the government.
The union called for a demonstration in front of 'Agence France Presse, place de la Bourse, between noon and 3pm.
Greece- Thessaloniki
EFJ affiliate ESIEMTH will hold an event on the importance of authors' rights during the Stand-Up for Journalism week. EFJ Authors' Rights Officer Pamela Morinière, a lawyer and a representative of OSDEL (the Greek collecting society) will outline the main challenges for journalists in the changing media environment.
Italy
Italian journalists and their union, the National Press Federation (FNSI), will take part in a day of support for the dignity of journalism under the title of "Stand up for journalism".
On 5 November, the FNSI will organise a day of demonstration and discussion (this year marks the second edition). The main themes will be: protecting journalists' sources, confirming their autonomy, and defining employment contracts. In Italy especially, the occasion is deeply felt and eagerly awaited since Italian journalism is currently being threatened by harmful actions aimed at reducing the autonomy of the profession through a number of laws, such as the draft law "Alfano", which even envisages imprisonment for journalists who publish information of important public interest, which has been taken from the proceedings of judicial investigations. What is at stake is professional secrecy. If a journalist happens to discover a confidential or secret item from the magistracy and considers it to be of interest for public opinion, he or she is entitled to publish it according to legislation governing the journalistic profession in Italy and according to the European Convention on human rights.
On these subjects, and against the manifest attempts to reduce the activities of journalists sanctioned by the Constitution, in recent weeks the FNSI and the Italian Reporters' Union have held more than twenty public demonstrations in the main Italian cities, with the distribution of leaflets and other informative material, involving hundreds of journalists and many thousands of citizens.
On November 5, the FNSI will continue these initiatives by bringing together members and supporters in a large demonstration to be held inside and outside the Capranichetta cinema in Rome.
From 10.00 to 13.00 hrs, colleagues from all over Italy will hold an assembly, followed by a demonstration from 13.00 to 14.00 hrs in front of Palazzo Monte Citorio, seat of the Italian Parliament. Participants will wear white T-shirts bearing coloured slogans ("No news under lock and key", "No censorship, no gagging") accompanied by the logos of the FNSI and the initiative "Stand up for journalism", symbols that will be shown on hundreds of flags. Colleagues from the FNSI will also carry banners and wear coloured caps bearing slogans such as: "Freedom to inform", "Freedom to know", "Press freedom".
During the afternoon, the national council of the journalists' union will meet at the federal headquarters for an in-depth study of the contractual discussions which are starting again, after three years of refusal to negotiate by the Italian Publishers' Federation.
Lithuania
The EFJ/IFJ affiliate in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Union of Journalists organised happenings in the streets of Vilnius with banners and logos raising the awareness of the European Stan-Up campaign and the need to fight for quality. (see pictures in the link).
http://www.lzs.lt/?lt=1225905272
Portugal
The Journalists Union of Portugal, the SJ, will organise a seminar on the problems of journalism, Journalism, dignified profession, profession with rights, and some cultural activities. Further, the union will meet on 5 November the Parliament to discuss a new law on pluralism and media concentration.
Romania
Following the government refusal to reply to the demands regarding salary raise (as agreed in a collective agreement signed in the past) and adoption of measures for diminishing taxation policy in mass-media. EFJ/IFJ affiliate MediaSind decided to continue protest actions adopted by its Congress on 18 October:
- to gather signatures for the start of strike actions at mass-media level, beginning with 30.10.2008;
- to convoke the parity commission at mass-media level, on November 5th 2008;
- to take part in all protest actions organised at a national level by union confederations.
Romanian Federation of Journalists MediaSind calls on all mass-media employees to participate at strike actions organised by the federation.
Serbia
The EFJ/IFJ affiliates in Serbia, the Journalists`Association of Serbia and Journalists' Union of Serbia circulated on 5 November a press release on the Stand Up for Journalism Day in which they expressed their concerns about the growing political influence in media, especially in public service broadcasting. Growing assaults against media workers and the need for an improved social protection were also mentioned. Both union and association were active in media paying tribute to the EFJ Stand-Up Campaign with posters, pictures etc..
Slovakia
The Slovakian Syndicate of Journalists will organise on 4. November a conference under the theme "Journalists in the year 1968 - the way to year 1989".An appeal to support the Slovakian quality campaign will be circulated.
Sweden
For this year's Stand Up For Journalism campaign, the Swedish Union of Journalists has investigated attitudes to protection of media sources among a select number of Swedish editors-in-chief.
The sjf sent out a survey to 60 editors from across the board: Morning papers, national and regional, tabloids, public service, union papers etc. The findings will be posted on www.sjf.se during the SUFJ week.
Spain
EFJ and IFJ affiliates, FAPE and CCOO, participate in the Stand-Up for Journalsim campaign on November 5. In a press release from Madrid, FAPE declares its concern for the increasing "unstable jobs, low salaries, irregular types of contract, the endless days of work" that affect not only to labour standards but also "the quality of the information" given to the citizens in the democratic societies.
In the southern region of Andalucia, FAPE affiliates, together with unions CCOO and UGT, call to participate as part of the Stand-Up for Journalism activities in a demonstration in Cadiz, a city with historical tradition of defending democratic freedom. On the same date, 198 years ago, the initial constitutional Spanish parliament gathered in Cadiz to proclaim the first law for the Freedom of the Press of the country.
Switzerland
EFJ affiliate comedia has launched on November 5 an urgent appeal, which can be signed by journalists and critical readers. Some famous writers have already signed the appeal. With its appeal they in particular criticize the plans of the Swiss Association of Publishers, who question editorial independence of the newsroom and want to abolish the principles of the press council. The Publishers Association is asked the respect editorial independence as well as the independence of the press council. In their appeal, they also urge the employers to restart negotiations on the long awaited collective agreement for journalists.
http://www.comedia.ch/standupforjournalism.html
EFJ affiliate Impressum produced a leaflet on the theme of the collective agreement and the defence of authors' rights (below in German)
Turkey
Unions protested employers' pressure on union rights demands of journalists. Representatives of EFJ/IFJ affiliate in Turkey, the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) made press statements in front of HQ of Sabah and ATV in Balmumcu district of Istanbul and Sogutozu office in Ankara. Workers' and civil servants' unions also supported the protest.
Protestors chanted slogans and carried banners reading "honor of labor means being a member of a union", "no to injustice against union rights in media", "respect for labor", "take your hands off my pen and union" in the demonstrations.
Turkuvaz Group, owning Sabah daily newspaper and ATV private TV channel, cut collective bargaining talks with the TGS without showing any reason and dismissed the representative of the union.
TGS members also gathered in front of Sabah daily's HQ in capital Ankara in order to protest the dismissal of several employees from the newspaper and ATV private TV channel. During the demonstration, protestors carried banners reading "Stand Up For Journalism".
Delivering a statement during the protest, Turgut Dedeoglu, president of TGS's Ankara branch, said that they would file reemployment lawsuits and suits for damages in order to protect the rights of the dismissed union members and they would closely follow the legal process.
"We are determined to carry on with our unionist struggle in Sabah Newspaper & Magazine Group and ATV, sticking to legitimate and legal grounds," Dedeoglu said.
Click here for details of our 2007 Day of Action.