37 Asia-Pacific media groups vow regional cooperation

At least 37 media groups, including those from the Philippines, have pledged close and strong cooperation by building a network in the Asia-Pacific region. More than 50 union leaders and activists called for strengthened links among industry unions at the meeting in Bali, Indonesia, last Sept. 29 and 30. "Representatives and leaders of unions from Afghanistan across to the Pacific said they would seek to ensure the priorities of media, graphical and entertainment unions in Asia-Pacific are determined and implemented in the region," the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), one of the participating organizations, said in an article on its website Saturday. The NUJP is an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide. The meeting included affiliates and associates of global union federations IFJ Asia-Pacific, UNI Global Union and UNI-APRO, UNI-MEI (Media, Entertainment and Arts) and UNI Graphical & Packaging. More formal cooperation and networking efforts between IFJ Asia-Pacific and the UNI Asia-Pacific Regional Office were encouraged to maximize effectiveness and efficiency of union-building activities in the region, the NUJP said. Participants to the Bali meeting suggested that the IFJ Asia-Pacific Steering Committee, UNI-APRO, UNI-MEI and UNI Graphical & Packaging would continue discussions on formalizing an alliance, and develop a joint organizing strategy and coordinated projects. The network, representing workers in print, broadcasting, graphical, film, entertainment and arts, would maintain and build connections with related organizations. Also, the meeting’s delegates said they will seize the opportunity to lead the way in shaping the future of their industry and unions in Asia-Pacific. The meeting further committed to undertake actions to build the campaigning and organizing capacity of unions, and seek to ensure media institutions invest in the long-term future of media by building new audiences and wisely managing the introduction of new technologies. Participating unions will build the power and influence of journalists, media, graphical and entertainment workers in Asia-Pacific to achieve improvements in press freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of association, and to foster a democratic, professional and ethical media culture. Organizations represented at the Bali meeting, which endorsed the conference’s resolutions, are: 1. International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific 2. UNI Global Union 3. UNI Media, Entertainment & Arts 4. UNI Graphical & Packaging 5. UNI APRO 6. Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association 7. Aliansi Jurnalis Independen, Indonesia 8. All India Newspaper Employees’ Federation 9. Asosiasi Serikat Pekerja Indonesia 10. Association of Taiwan Journalists 11. Bangkok Post LU 12. Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists 13. Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union, New Zealand 14. Federation of Independent Media Workers’ Unions, Indonesia 15. Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka 16. Hong Kong Journalists’ Association 17. Indian Journalists’ Union 18. Journalists’ Association of Korea 19. Maldives Journalists’ Association 20. Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Australia 21. Maharashtra Media Employees’ Union 22. National Alliance of Broadcasting Unions, Philippines 23. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines 24. National Union of Journalists, India 25. National Union of Journalists, Malaysia 26. National Union of Media Workers, Korea 27. National Union of Newspaper Workers, Malaysia 28. Nepal Press Union 29. Nepal Television Employees’ Association 30. New Zealand Public Service Association 31. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists 32. Shimbun Roren - Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers’ Unions 33. Sindicato dos Jornalistas de Timor Leste 34. Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association 35. System Television Malaysia Berhad Employees Union - KSKSTMB 36. Timor Lorosae Journalists’ Association 37. Union of Public Services, Nepal — LBG, GMANews.TV