International Federation of Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is a global confederation of journalists’ trade unions and associations. It is dedicated to building solidarity among journalists, fighting for their rights, and upholding ethical and professional standards. The IFJ also supports its member unions’ work for human rights, decent working conditions, professional freedom, and journalists’ safety. The IFJ works on the principle that democracy can only be meaningful when there is press freedom and independent journalism.

The IFJ represents some 600,000 journalists across 187 unions in more than 140 countries. It was established in Paris, France, in 1926, after which it was relaunched twice (the first relaunch was in 1946 and the second in 1952). This entry further describes the organization, its initiatives, and collaborations with other organizations.

IFJ’s headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium, with regional offices in Africa (Dakar, Senegal), Asia-Pacific (Sydney, Australia), Europe (Brussels), and Latin America (Caracas, Venezuela). Apart from its regional offices, IFJ also has regional groups such as the European Federation of Journalists, which coordinates the Labour Rights Expert Group and the Authors’ Rights Experts Group; the Federation of African Journalists; and the Federation of Latin American Journalists. IFJ has three official languages: English, French, and Spanish.

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Membership in IFJ is not open to individual journalists but to journalists’ associations and/or unions that subscribe to the principles of the IFJ which are principally the protection of press freedom and the rights of journalists. Journalists’ unions acceptable to the IFJ are those that are open to all journalists (in their location) and that represent journalists, do not admit employers into their membership, and are committed to the defense of press freedom. IFJ admits organizations that are not journalists’ trade unions but are dedicated to the protection of press freedom as associate members.

IFJ’s affairs are managed by the members of the Executive Committee which are elected by the organization’s World Congress, which meets once every three years. IFJ’s constitution is also reviewed and amended (when necessary) at the World Congress.

Initiatives

IFJ’s Projects Division, established in 1998, oversees the organization’s projects and programs from its headquarters in Brussels and its regional offices. One of the main functions of the IFJ Project Division is generating extra resources to implement the IFJ’s programs. Annual fees contributed by member organizations cover its staff costs, but some of its training programs are funded by outside sources such as development agencies and international organizations.

The IFJ Projects Division also supports the key campaigns of the organization and helps in developing the capacities of member unions to defend the rights and protect the interests of their members. The organization’s global project strategy focuses on three areas: journalists’ safety, the impact of globalization, and capacity building for member unions.

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Journalists are exposed to enormous risks while conducting investigations or covering conflict or war. In order to reduce the number of journalists who lose their lives or come into harm’s way in the line of duty, the IFJ works in collaboration with the International News Safety Institute, established in 2003, to provide practical information on safety for journalists, train them on best practices for ensuring safety, and conduct research to help journalists do their jobs safely. The IFJ also controls the Safety Fund from which it awards grants to journalists who are persecuted or in danger because of their journalism practice. The organization also works to train journalists on the skills needed for best practices and to equip member unions to advocate for good working conditions for their members and the protection of their rights.

IFJ promotes journalists’ adherence to quality standards of professional conduct in the discharge of their news gathering and dissemination functions. At its 1954 World Congress, the IFJ adopted an international declaration (which was amended by the 1986 World Congress) to guide the professional practice of journalists the world over. The nine-point declaration of the IFJ emphasizes the respect for truth, freedom, and appreciation of the right of fair comment and criticism. The declaration also highlights the need to report facts, not suppress or falsify information, and avoid discrimination, bribery, and calumny.

Collaborations

IFJ is focused on creating solidarity among all journalists’ unions for a united front in combating corruption and infringement on journalists’ rights and human rights and creating a conducive environment for cooperation between journalists and other media workers.

IFJ works closely with the major agencies of the United Nations and has consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Labour organization, the World Intellectual Property organization, and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. IFJ also represents journalists in contact with regional organizations such as the Council of Europe and the institutions of the European Union.

Specifically on the issues of human rights and freedom of expression, IFJ collaborates with organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the alliance of press freedom groups in IFEX, formerly the International Freedom of Expression Exchange.

The original version of this article was published by SAGE Publications in The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society.