[NUJ Bristol] IFJ meeting report

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IFJ EXECUTIVE
REPORT No.10 November 02
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Dear Colleagues,

Here is my report of the latest IFJ Executive Committee meeting on 16-17th=
=20
November 02. Please get in touch if you want more information or full=20
documents.
Jim Boumelha
Jimboumel@aol.com
____________________________________________________________________________=
______

1. Attendance
Apologies from Vice President Linda Foley and North America Adviser Arnold=
=20
Amber who was replaced by Rogaciano Gonz=E1lez. As this was the first=
 meeting=20
of the ExCom at IFJ new HQ the General Secretary introduced members of the=
=20
IFJ secretariat including those from the regional offices.

2.      Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting, Washington, June 2002
Agreed without corrections.

3. Report of the General Secretary
3.1. Future Congress Preparation
The General Secretary presented a report arguing that the business of next=
=20
Congress should be set to facilitate exchange of views and brainstorming=20
instead of adoptions of unilateral declarations. He presented a draft list=
=20
of potential themes for  discussion at the Congress.  I proposed that=20
beyond sports which will be the theme of an eve-of-Congress event, the IFJ=
=20
should also look at globalisation themes and identify clearly what it meant=
=20
for journalists and their unions. Concerning the working rules for the=20
Congress, proposals should be prepared for next Spring's Adminisitrative=20
Committee. Affiliate members could then prepare their motions as soon as=20
the precise dates for submission are fixed.
Agreed:
lProposal for a seminar on sports on the eve of  Congress
lProposal to modify working rules
lBackground documents to be circulated two months in advance of Congress
lSpecific website for Congress to be set up six months in advance as a=20
"showroomn" for unions and members.

I raised the question of issuing an invitation to the All China=20
Journalists=92 Association to the next Congress which was agreed despite=
 some=20
opposition.

3.2. Missions
Palestine: Recommendations were endorsed. One of the main obstacles remains=
=20
the political and professional paralysis among journalists themselves.=20
There was no dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian journalists, or even=
=20
among foreign correspondents.

Venezuela:Problems in the country were deteriorating. Other international=20
organisations which had carried out missions had ignored the improper role=
=20
of some private media in the country. Recommendations of the Mission report=
=20
=93Missing Link in Venezuela=92s Political Crisis=94 were endorsed.

Algeria: Difficulties about the journalists' Centre in Algiers were being=20
solved. The centre will be relaunched next year under the direction of the=
=20
Syndicat national des journalistes (SNJ) with a sub-regional role for=20
Algeria. The objective was to gradually transform the Centre from an IFJ=20
office to a genuine SNJ office.

Turkey: The general situation in Turkey had not improved since the=20
elections. It was reported that the Turkish union had withdrawn from an IFJ=
=20
project on trade union development because they did not wish to accept=20
funds coming from the Soros Foundation. Unions representing the mission=20
participants  two German unions, the Swedish Union and the NUJ, Great=20
Britain and Ireland  had paid for membership fees of the Turkish union.

4. Projects Division

The Director of the Projects Division, Oliver Money-Kyrle, presented an=20
overview  including project objectives, partners involved, and donors, the=
=20
largest of which is the European Union. He said a major objective of the=20
IFJ and its projects work was to improve the work at regional level. At the=
=20
same time there was an attempt to centralise the information on financing=20
and distribution of funds to ensure most efficient application.

A projects strategy meeting on November 14 had reviewed the projects=20
implementation process and tried to enhance capacity to find local donors=20
in the regions. It was agreed that the Administrative Committee should=20
evaluate progress of this work at its next meeting.

Regarding donors and in particular the Soros Foundation, I argued that the=
=20
IFJ should not have anything to do with the Soros Foundation, since Soros=20
had caused considerable economical hardship to workers in many countries by=
=20
manipulating markets. In response, the GS said that the IFJ had worked=20
together with the Soros Foundation in a variety of projects and our=20
experience so far was positive. He added that although the IFJ had to=20
respect concerns of national member unions, such as the Turkish union, he=20
recommended that at this stage the IFJ should continue to work with the=20
Soros Foundation, as and when appropriate.This view was supported by the=20
President Chris Warren.In the end the ExCom instructed the GS to prepare a=
=20
list of the current donors and their criteria and to put the issue on the=20
agenda for the next meeting.

4.1. IFJ Prize Projects: The ExCom discussed a balance sheet of  the=20
Lorenzo Natali Prize which had been very successful. The prize co-ordinator=
=20
Christina Hansen announced the date for the launch of the next prize by the=
=20
end of December. and pleaded for better coordination with the regional=20
co-ordinators  With regard to the tolerance prize,  the Asia-Pacific Office=
=20
has been tasked for its implementation.

4.2. Safety Fund and Proposals of  Treasurer

I presented the conclusions of my report "the Safety Fund, Planning for=20
Growth" which included 5  recommendations. My analyses revealed that from=20
1995 to 2001,  73% of income came from 3 countries -- Sweden, Denmark and=20
Australia. I proposed a relaunch of the Fund to coincide with the=20
establishment of the safety centre, engaging a part-time fund-raising=20
specialist, beefing up the merchandise, establishing a website linked to=20
affiliates and making consistent appeals to rich affiliates that don't=20
donate regularly or have never donated.
Most of the recommendations were accepted but there was a difficult debate=
=20
on two issues -- hiring a fund-raiser and building income from the=20
merchandise (my analysis showed that a mere 1.1% on the income fund came=20
from the sale of merchandise).
The President, in particular, opposed  any large scale merchandising for=20
fund raising arguing that it would change the nature of the Safety Fund.=20
Instead of hiring a fund-raising specialist, he wanted more efforts=20
spent  in reinforcing the sense of solidarity among journalists=92=20
organisations.
In the end it was agreed to find funds to employ someone for a short time=20
to organise a relaunch of the Fund and to send a letter to all unions on=20
behalf of the ExCom  to remind them of the importance of the Fund.

4.3. Safety Institute

Following up the decisions taken by the ExCom in Washington, it was=20
proposed to have a meeting in Brussels with the IPI and other media=20
organisations by the end of November 2002 on the issue. Major broadcasters=
=20
have shown an interest.
The aims are to create a structure that will become independent through=20
self-financing  and it was reported that SIDA (Swedish Development Agency)=
=20
might be willing to fund an application in 2004. The Institute should be=20
active in 2003 for World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, and UNESCO will also=20
be involved in the project.

4.4. Relations with Other Organisations: UNESCO

It was announced that the IFJ had been upgraded to associate relations=20
within UNESCO. It was agreed to invite the Deputy General Secretary of=20
UNESCO at the next ExCom meeting. It was also agreed to instruct the GS  to=
=20
investigate with UNESCO, the Education International, Public Services=20
International, Union Network International and North American affiliates=20
the organisation of an international forum on defence of academic freedom=20
and press freedom in the context of freedom of expression.

4.5. Human Rights Report

A Human Rights report and a report on the IFEX annual meeting were=20
noted.  The IFJ is now back on  the management board of IFEX.

4.6. Regional Reports

4.6.1. Africa: The project officer for Africa, Bertrand Ginet, gave an=20
update on activities by the IFJ in Africa. Also present were  Mohamadou=20
Mahmoun Faye, the IFJ regional officer in Dakar office, and Gabriel Ayit=E9=
=20
Baglo, the West African regional coordinator. With regard to the Media for=
=20
Democracy project it was announced that  the Commission would no longer=20
support regional co-operation and  that the IFJ had to adapt  to the=20
donor=92s revised policy. I pushed for an evaluation to  be carried out on=
=20
how best to support national unions. In response, the GS said that there=20
was a commitment to involve the national unions, but sometimes it was=20
difficult. Above all, there were contractual obligations in IFJ project=20
work, which had to be met.

4.6.2 Asia-Pacific: Big developments in the office -- see their website=20
www.ifj-asia-org.  There has been a rise in membership in Asia. ExCom=20
member Sabina Inderjit said that the Asia region was looking for solidarity=
=20
and not workshops. The workshops could be a beginning for launching more=20
cross-border information and solidarity. She argued for the IFJ to open a=20
regional office in Delhi or another place in South-Asia.

4.6.3. Europe: IFJ Senior Vice-President Gustl Glattfelder  outlined the=20
major problems facing journalists regarding both social issues, such as=20
dismissals, worsening of relation with employers etc and professional=20
issues, especially protection of sources. I reported on the situation in=20
the Ukraine and requested support for the  Parliamentary Hearing in Kiev in=
=20
December. It was agreed that follow up work should be taken.

4.6.4. Latin America:The IFJ officer in the Caracas office, Gregorio=20
Salazar, said that 2002 was a very difficult year for the region.=20
Journalists are very affected by the precarious and risky work. IFJ=20
Vice-President Osvaldo Urriolabeitia argued that GAL-FIP (the IFJ regional=
=20
organisation up in Latin  America) has to be clear about its future=20
activities, especially in the current context, where Latin America, and=20
Argentina in particular, have been literally robbed by corporations and=20
financial institutions at both national and international level. GAL-FIP=20
really has to work as group and must coordinate its work with the IFJ. It=20
was agreed that this was  the right moment to define future programmes in=20
Latin America and to reinvigorate work in the region.

Safety Center in Colombia: Angela Castellanos presented the situation in=20
Colombia.  The Solidarity Center itself has two mandates: safety and=20
relations with press or the government. The work is very delicate not only=
=20
because of the physical violence, but also because civil society and=20
trade-union activities are sensitive areas in the country and there is a=20
high degree of resistance from the authorities. The statutes of the centre=
=20
have been adopted and, after three years, it is anticipated that there will=
=20
be a real legacy for journalists  a database, experience, expertise and=20
project toolkits for journalists. Once other organisations will be=20
identified for partnership, the structure could be a basis for a national=20
organisation of journalists in Colombia.

4.6.5. Middle East

The project officer Stefania Bork gave an update on the  Media for=20
Democracy in the Mediterranean region and  the Arab world.  A proposal was=
=20
agreed for a meeting between the Federation of Arab Journalists and the=20
IFJ  to be organised by the Moroccan's syndicate in the last week of April=
=20
2003.

Serious problems with the Israeli Federation of Journalists were discussed,=
=20
in particular the disintegration of the journalistic community in Israel.=20
The ExCom instructed the GS to organise a low-key visit to Israel=20
specifically to meet with leaders of the Federation and to go to Haifa and=
=20
meet with journalist there.



5.      Report of the Administrative Committee

5.1. Finance Report: I presented the quarterly management account. The=20
finance office is now able to present accounts every quarter and the annual=
=20
accounts would be ready for the next Administrative Committee in April 2003.
Bad debts: Concerning unions in debt for more than three years it was=20
agreed that the GS should write  warning them they face expulsion unless=20
they either pay the owed fees or seek an appropriate arrangement. and that=
=20
ExCom  members should follow this with unions in their regions.
Requests for arrangements were agreed with SDRP Poland, Mali, Brazil,=20
Paraguay, Uganda.
Regarding the Assistance Fund, which I circulated details to all ExCom=20
members, the General Secretary proposed in future not to circulate this=20
information. It was agreed to refer this back to the Administrative=
 Committee.

5.2. Membership: The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and the=20
Federal Union of Journalists of Pakistan were admitted as full members. The=
=20
Sindicato Dos Jornalistas Angolanos (SJA) of Angola was readmitted as a=20
full member after clearing their debts. Decisions were postponed=20
regarding  the Kurdistan Journalists=92 Association of Irak, the Bangladesh=
=20
Journalists=92 Rights Forum  (BJRF), the  Timor Lorosa=92e Journalists=92=20
Association, the  Working Journalists=92 Association and Union of=
 Journalists=20
of Sri Lanka, the Journalists=92 Association of Serbia, the  Print and Paper=
=20
Union, Journalists Section in Austria, the Slovak Association of=20
Journalists and the Association of Journalists of Djibouti. Applications=20
from the Cameroon Employed Journalists TU and the Trade Union of Employees=
=20
in Education, Journalist Heart, Libraries (Senjousmel) of Rwanda were=20
rejected.
The Haifa and North Journalists Association in Israel were asked to rewrite=
=20
their application which was incomplete. Finally the GS  informed the=20
meeting on the continuous correspondence between himself and the UK's CIoJ=
=20
representatives. As the last ExCom meeting agreed to inform them of=20
their  right to appeal to Congress, it was agreed to prepare procedures for=
=20
an appeal to be presented to the next Executive Committee.

5.3. IFJ Website Review: The webmaster Anna Rosengren reported on the=20
establishment of a network of union webmasters to share information and=
 ideas.

6. Current Working Programme

6.1. Broadcasting Campaign: Report noted.
6.2. Quality Campaign: The GS presented a report including three elements:=
=20
(i) Union rights and working conditions, (ii) Media pluralism and=20
diversity, (iii)Ethics and self-regulation and in particular protection of=
=20
sources. Protection of sources has now become a mainstream issue.=20
Journalists not only need to maintain their right to confidentiality of=20
sources, but also maintain their right to neutrality and independence.
And it was agreed to include Protection of Sources as part of the IFJ=20
policy statement to the UN Summit on new information and society.
6.3. Constitution and Regional Representation WP: The working party met=20
prior to the ExCom meeting and made 11 recommendations -- mainly confirming=
=20
the status quo and no revision of the Constitution. All were accepted with=
=20
the exception of point 5 which asked for deliberations of the regional=20
groups to be funded centrally.
6.4. Authors=92 Rights Campaign: New member of staff Pamela Morini=E8re gave=
 an=20
update on the European Directive on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights.The=20
AREG  (IFJ Experts group) issued a protest on the situation in France where=
=20
the government plans to introduce legislation that assigns complete=20
authors=92 rights to the employers. AREG proposed re-establishing the=20
Creators Forum that was set up during preparation of the copyright=
 directive.
6.5. Globalisation Issues:
World Summit on the Information Society (2003): already dealt with.
World Sports Forum Meeting (Lausanne, 2002): proposal arising out of the=20
forum to set up a  sports journalism prize.
Sustainable Development Summit (Johannesburg): The GS was authorised  to=20
contact the UN General Secretary, Kofi Annan, to offer IFJ=92s participation=
=20
in the Global Compact.I asked how the elevation of the IFJ status in UNESCO=
=20
and the extra work that it will inevitably involve would be dealt within=20
the secretariat.
6.6. Freelance Experts Group: Renate Schroeder  presented the report which=
=20
focussed on the economic crisis in the media in Europe,  forcing more=20
journalists into casualisation. In response the EFJ had applied for EU=20
support to produce a study on the legal and social situation of freelances=
=20
and casuals.
6.7. Labour Rights Experts Group: EU enlargement has become a major issue=20
as candidate countries have no social dialogue, no collective agreements=20
and  very poor union representation. LAREG is trying to make use of=20
European Works Councils as a tool for improved and practical cross-border=20
assistance, eg. the Norwegian Journalists Union=92s work in Poland with=20
journalists employed by the Norwegian company, Orkla.
6.8. Gender Equality Working Party: The Gender Council Steering Committee=20
is due to meet later in the day and ExCom members were encouraged  to join=
=20
the work of the Committee.

Next Meetings
The next meeting would be held in Brussels, 7-8 June 2003. There is a=20
proposal to hold the November meeting in India. The next Administrative=20
Committee meeting is planned for Morocco,  in April 2003.

Jim Boumelha
30 January 2003






Bristol branch - National Union of Journalists
10-12 Picton Street
Montpelier
BRISTOL
BS6 5QA
http://lists.southspace.net/listinfo/nuj_bristol/
http://www.gn.apc.org/media/nuj.html
http://www.nuj.org.uk
0117 944 6219

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