SAARC Journalist Forum signs global media partnership

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 2 August 2026 |  JP Asia Desk

SAARC Journalist Forum signed a three-year MoU with ICJ Global Media Group to join the ICJ Friends network. The partnership aims to expand regional collaboration and give members access to networking, professional training and press credentials.

Summary

NEW YORK — The SAARC Journalist Forum (SJF) has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICJ Global Media Group LLC, a move aimed at strengthening international cooperation among journalists, expanding professional opportunities, and promoting press freedom across South Asia and beyond.

The agreement was signed by SJF International President Raju Lama in New York and ICJ Global Media Group LLC Chief Executive Officer Saša Dobrijević in Belgrade. The partnership is intended to connect South Asian journalists more closely with international media networks while supporting professional development and cross-border collaboration.

Expanding global opportunities

Under the agreement, SJF will become part of the ICJ Friends network, giving the organization an official profile on the ICJ platform while enabling reciprocal digital promotion between the two organizations. The arrangement is expected to increase the visibility of SJF and its members within international journalism circles.

Journalists affiliated with SJF will gain access to ICJ membership benefits, including international networking opportunities, professional training, publishing platforms, press credentials, and eligibility for ICJ awards. The organizations said the collaboration is designed to help media professionals broaden their international engagement while strengthening professional standards.

The partnership also reflects a growing trend among journalism organizations to establish cross-border alliances that support knowledge sharing, skills development, and collective advocacy for media freedom in an increasingly interconnected information environment.

Focus on press freedom and ethics

Beyond professional networking, the agreement places emphasis on promoting press freedom and ethical journalism. Both organizations said they aim to encourage greater international cooperation at a time when journalists in many regions continue to face legal, political, economic, and security challenges.

The SAARC Journalist Forum describes itself as a regional organization representing journalists across South Asia, with objectives that include defending press freedom, promoting professional excellence, and strengthening cooperation among media professionals in SAARC member countries.

The partnership is expected to provide journalists from South Asia with additional avenues for international collaboration while helping connect regional media professionals to wider global discussions on journalism, media ethics, and freedom of expression.

Regional significance

Media organizations have increasingly sought international partnerships to expand access to training, professional recognition, and collaborative reporting opportunities. For journalists working in South Asia, where media environments vary significantly across countries, such initiatives can provide broader exposure to global best practices and professional networks.

While the agreement focuses primarily on cooperation between SJF and ICJ Global Media Group LLC, its longer-term impact will depend on the extent to which journalists across the region take advantage of the training, networking, and publishing opportunities outlined in the memorandum.

ATTRIBUTION: Based on a public announcement by the SAARC Journalist Forum and information published by the organization in August 2026. Additional background is based on publicly available information from the SAARC Journalist Forum website.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.