European Federation of Journalists to investigate state of under siege Romanian journalism

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has decided to send an investigation commission to Romania following the pressure on Romanian journalists after the implementation of the Fiscal Code changes which made some employers substitute individual labor contracts for royalties, according to the Romanian Federation of Journalists (RFJ) Media Sind. The EFJ, a regional group of the International Federation of Journalists has expressed its support for the Romanian journalists, after RFJ Media Sind published a report on the state of Romanian journalism. According to the report, up to 6,000 journalists and media workers have lost their jobs since the start of the economic crisis and journalists have been forced to give up on their work contracts in favor of royalty payments. Unions are fighting over 50 cases against illegal and indiscriminate dismissals, the report goes on. "Romanian journalism is under siege from the country's economic problems and employers' greed. The future of the profession is in serious danger. The employers and authorities must take immediate action to preserve professional journalism and confront the democracy crisis and freedom of the press," said EFJ General Secretary Aidan White. The report identifies Adevarul Holding as the most notorious "offender" of journalists' rights, but also criticizes other Romanian media such as Realitatea TV, Evenimentul Zilei, Romania Libera, as well as the Cotidianul, Ziua, Business Standard dailies, which are no longer being published, as guilty of mistreating their journalists. In addition to the above-mentioned legal cases, the union filed a petition with the National Council for Combating Discrimination and is involved in a labour dispute filed with the Labour Ministry. The EFJ condemns media employers for the forced pay cuts and the replacement of salaries with royalty payments, which leaves journalists without any social and professional protection. In condemning the practice, RFJ Media Sind said "sadly most journalists accepted the compromise as they were faced with rent and bank payments together with household expenses, forgetting that royalties can be amended or terminated at any time." AGERPRES