JournalismPakistan.com | Published 6 years ago
Join our WhatsApp channel
BRUSSELS - The Dutch union of journalists Nederlandse Vereniging van Journalisten (NVJ, an IFJ and EFJ affiliate) and its photojournalist section, the NVF, have announced that they will be going on strike in protest at the erosion of rates of pay.
The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) fully support their demands and welcome the coordinated action among freelance journalists to defend their rights.
The NVJ/NVF has written to six prominent Dutch media companies calling for talks – with strike action set to go ahead on January 25th if talks are unsuccessful. The kick-off meeting will take place on Tuesday.
Currently, according to the NVJ, over 300 Dutch photojournalists confirmed to participate in the strike by stopping their work to join the action for a pay rise.
A national monitor of freelance rates shows rates fell from €80 a photo in 2014 to an average rate today of €42, with some rates falling as low €15 to €20 for a photo. The NVJ/NVF are calling for a 14% increase in rates to keep up with inflation since 2010, to match online tariffs with online ones, and a respect for their creators’ rights (copyright).
IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “Working as a photojournalist requires technical skills, talent, creativity, dedication, time, investment and resources, things that deserve a fair payment. Media companies paying 15€ or 20€ for all that work is not just an insult to the profession but to quality journalism. We back freelancer’s rights and demand media companies to pay decent rates”.
“This action shows us the way to build concrete solidarity between staff and freelance journalists. We fully support the photojournalists in the Netherlands and the union’s campaign fighting to improve the professional working conditions and build trust and respect between professional and the broader public opinion. We are also calling every photojournalist in Europe to express online support with the Dutch colleagues, their fight is our fight”, added EFJ President Mogens Blicher Bjerregaard.
The General Secretary of the NVJ/NVF, Rosa García López said: “So far, more than 200 freelance photojournalists have said they are prepared to stop work on 25 January. That is almost unprecedented in the history of self-employment.” – IFJ media release
November 01, 2025: A viral Samaa TV clip featuring MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s crude remarks and Talat Hussain’s laughter raises questions about the declining ethics of Pakistani television.
October 31, 2025: Police foiled a plot to kill DawnNewsTV journalist Tahir Naseer in Rawalpindi after arresting suspects hired for Rs200,000. Naseer says threats followed his reporting.
October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.
October 30, 2025: The PFUJ has condemned a fabricated drug case against journalist Matiullah Jan, calling it an attempt to silence him and urging authorities to quash the charges immediately.
October 30, 2025: NewsOne TV remains on air but faces mass layoffs and delayed salaries, exposing Pakistan’s worsening media crisis and financial instability.
October 28, 2025: Sindh Police arrested four suspects linked to a banned outfit in the murder of journalist Imtiaz Mir, who was shot in Karachi in September 2025.
October 26, 2025: Riffat Ara Alvi, the mother of slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, has died, ending her relentless fight for justice following his killing in Kenya in 2022.
October 25, 2025: Veteran journalists and rights activists urge authorities to quash the fabricated drug case against Matiullah Jan, calling it an attack on media freedom.
October 31, 2025 Radio Free Asia, a US government-funded broadcaster covering tightly controlled Asian media environments, has suspended all news operations after federal funding dried up.
October 30, 2025 PSL franchise fees lag far behind IPL's USD 18.5B valuation as Pakistan Cricket Board's bureaucratic grip stifles growth. Hard numbers expose a stark reality.
October 30, 2025 India’s government has proposed strict new rules mandating the labelling of AI-generated and deepfake media to curb misinformation and ensure content authenticity on social platforms.
October 30, 2025 Vietnamese authorities seize BBC journalist’s passport amid interrogation, sparking outrage as Hanoi leader To Lam visits the UK. Rights groups urge her release.
October 30, 2025 CDEPS and CPJ condemn the arrest of 7TV’s Maimouna Ndour Faye and other journalists in a late October crackdown on Senegalese media over interviews with a wanted politician.