JournalismPakistan.com | Published 8 years ago
Join our WhatsApp channel
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Next Media Union of Hong Kong to raise serious concerns about the latest move by Next Media Group, encouraging staff to become self-employed.
On June 23, 2017, the union met with Cheung Kim Hung, the CEO of Publishing at Next Digital Limited and the publisher of Apple Daily, during which Cheung said that they were now encouraging staff in the design and layout department to become self-employed.
The union expressed serious concerns about the latest move by Cheung. A member of the union told the IFJ that the new proposal had been presented in mid-June, which the company aimed at staff in a number of departments including, layout and design, as well as editorial sections on business, entertainment and sports. The proposal suggested that staff terminate their current contracts with the company, and become self-employed and sign independent contracts with Next Media Group.
Next Digital Limited is the largest media group in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and publishes Apple Daily, Taiwan Apple Daily and several local magazines. A staff member at Apple Daily told the IFJ that: “Though the management claimed that this change is following the business trend, but we believed that the management is aiming to reduce the costs, because all self-employed staff incomes will be cut and they cannot guarantee contractual services with the company.”
The Next Media Union told the IFJ that freelance workers do not gain any benefits from the company if they leave. Primarily, the Union estimated that around 40 staff from the layout and design department will be affected. “Frankly we would not feel relief as only one department is currently impacted, as we feel that other departments will follow.”
The Union also criticized the company’s decision as ‘opaque’ as management did not consult with the entire staff, rather they discussed the decision with a select number of mid-level management. “The Group should allow those affected to have free will to determine their future.”
The IFJ Asia Pacific Office said: “Across the world, the media industry is facing a number of challenges. Loss of revenue is seeing large numbers of jobs cut, raising questions about the future of journalism. The actions of Next Digital Limited by encouraging staff to become freelancers raise serious questions about the stability of work for employees.”
We support the Next Media Union in their fight for the staff in ensuring their working rights are guaranteed. We encourage all staff to get in contact with the Union for support. – IFJ media release
November 06, 2025: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s job offer to Nukta staff draws criticism as hundreds of journalists across Pakistan face layoffs, salary delays, and job insecurity.
November 06, 2025: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announces jobs for 37 laid-off Nukta employees, saying they will be placed at digital platforms within 48 hours amid growing media uncertainty.
November 05, 2025: PTI’s Faisal Chaudhry’s witty reply to Gharidah Farooqi on GTV’s “G for Gharidah” goes viral as a clip from their debate over the 27th Amendment sparks reactions online.
November 05, 2025: Digital platform Nukta lays off 37 employees in Pakistan, including journalists and producers, highlighting the financial struggles facing new media ventures in a shrinking job market.
November 04, 2025: Talat Hussain denies airing the viral clip showing Sher Afzal Marwat’s vulgar remark, saying it was not part of his Samaa TV show.
November 03, 2025: PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day under Musharraf, urging protection for journalists and the abolition of laws threatening press freedom.
November 02, 2025: PFUJ urges Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments to end Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and ensure their safety and press freedom.
November 02, 2025: Impunity for crimes against journalists deepens worldwide as Pakistan reports a 60 percent surge in attacks and weak enforcement of safety laws.
November 05, 2025 The Pulitzer Center is offering global reporting grants for journalists worldwide, funding high-impact projects on underreported issues with rolling applications in 2025.
November 04, 2025 Journalist Rana Ayyub receives death threats over calls demanding a column on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as CPJ urges swift action to protect journalists in India.
November 04, 2025 TV8 journalist Mariana Rata in Moldova receives a death threat after interviewing politician Renato Usatii on-air, raising concerns about journalist safety.
November 03, 2025 Global journalist unions condemn the Indonesian agriculture minister’s lawsuit against Tempo, calling it a threat to press freedom and demanding that the case be withdrawn.
November 02, 2025 Independent outlet All About Macau to halt print and online operations amid rising pressure, financial strain, and legal threats, sparking press freedom concerns in the city.