By Our Reporter.
The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the pan-African organisation of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in collaboration with the Norwegian Union of Journalists (NJ) held a Webinar on “The COVID 19 Crisis: The Role of Journalists’ Trade Unions in Protecting Journalists and Journalism” on March 1st 2021.
The Webinar brought together leaders and representatives of journalists’ unions and associations across the continent as well as representatives from the African Union Commission (AUC), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC- Africa).
In delivering the official opening address, IFJ President, Mr Younes Mjahed, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had revealed that what the people need is professional journalism. Society, he said, particularly needs good journalists and quality journalism that will help the citizenry to get the information that they want and to engage themselves in meaningful debates. “As journalists and trade unionists, we have to work hard to protect working journalists, defend media freedoms and professionalism as well as defending and promoting democracy”.
The Senior Political Officer at the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the African Union Commission (AUC), Mr John Ikubaje, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on press freedom and the conditions of work of journalists in the world and particularly in Africa. The African Union, he emphasized, has prioritized the promotion and protection of journalists since December 2004, through the establishment of the office of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
In a similar vein, the Africa Officer of the Bureau for Workers’ Activities at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Dr. Mohammed Mwamadzingo, said that the working conditions of most workers are very precarious. “Journalists like other workers during the pandemic have been exposed to very long hours of work, while some of them have lost their jobs and others suffered salary reductions. Journalists’ unions must work together to protect their members from such abuses. The right to freedom of association and collective bargaining are fundamental rights and journalists’ unions must do everything possible to engage employers to protect media workers”.
The General Secretary of ITUC- Africa, Mr Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, salutes the work of journalists during the COVID-19 pandemic noting that journalists and other media workers have to work under very strenuous circumstances in order to get the news to the people. The violations of the rights of journalists are a phenomenon that assail other workers. “These violations can only be mitigated by the roles played by trade unions through their negotiations, and this can only be possible by organizing”.
IFJ Deputy General Secretary, Mr Jeremy Dear, highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the vital role that journalists play. It has also demonstrated the precarious state in which many journalists and independent media exist. The private media have seen a catastrophic collapse in advertising revenue –– meaning titles and stations have closed, online media have collapsed, pagination has been cut and staffing has been drastically reduced. The impact is less scrutiny, less investigative journalism. Despite these huge challenges slammed on the media by COVID-19, many governments have used the crisis to bring in new laws – claiming to tackle fake news – but in reality, being used to silence critical and investigative journalism.
FAJ President Mr Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed said “Despite the difficulties and vulnerabilities being experienced by journalists during the pandemic in almost every country in Africa, journalists are hoping for a brighter future and fighting the battle of quality and safe journalism through their unions. FAJ pledges to amplify their voice and stand together with their struggles.” he said■
