Originally published in ifj.org
As the media landscape in the Philippines underwent significant upheaval during the COVID-19 pandemic, more journalists turned to freelancing amidst industry-wide layoffs and closures. In response, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) launched a groundbreaking initiative to organise and empower freelance journalists, culminating in the creation of the Filipino Freelance Journalists Guild. Their journey offers valuable lessons on solidarity and resilience in the face of challenging conditions, writes Paul Soriano.
It all started in 2021. It was the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Philippine media had witnessed major industry shifts and job losses. The shutdown of the media giant ABS-CBN had already left thousands of workers unemployed, causing a ripple effect through the industry. On top of this, several print media outlets and small newsrooms also shuttered, hit hard by shrinking revenues due to the economic impact of lockdowns. Under such conditions, the struggle to stay within the industry and land a well-paid job pushed many journalists and media workers into new precarious forms of work as freelancers and independent contractors.
Bearing witness to such transition, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) initiated a program “to build journalist’s organising capacity in the post-COVID era” in partnership with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Union to Union (UTU). The NUJP presented working with freelance journalists as a strong organising opportunity for the union.
“NUJP has members who are freelancers and correspondents but, due to its organisational structure, does not have a chapter dedicated to them. Freelancers and correspondents may also have issues and concerns that do not necessarily fall within the ambit of the union,” the union noted in its proposal to IFJ for support.
Feasibility Study on Establishing a Freelancers Guild
To ensure that any organising initiative to be undertaken by the union was well-informed of the plight of the affected sector, the project commenced with conducting a study to better understand the working conditions faced by freelance journalists in the country. Ultimately, the study aimed to serve as a guiding post in empowering freelance journalists to organise among themselves, and collectively address challenges that were considered distinct in their field of work.
In four months, the NUJP’s project team composed of the national secretariat and researchers surveyed freelance journalists about their working conditions, health and well-being, and issues of safety while in the field and at work.
The team also conducted three focus group discussions with women journalists, visual journalists, and correspondents and stringers.
The survey and FGDs highlighted a number of challenges faced by Filipino freelance journalists, including low pay, lack of institutional support, and systemic issues such as sexism and abuse within the industry. The survey indicated that many freelancers are unaware of their rights and the resources available to them, while the FGDs emphasised the urgent need for a supportive network to address these concerns.
Both findings underscored the necessity for establishing a guild that can provide legal assistance, mental health support, and advocate for fair compensation, ultimately aiming to improve the overall working conditions for freelancers in the country.
10 Steps to Organising Freelance Journalists – How We Did It
- Recognise the Opportunity
Major industry changes, like the closure of media outlets, drive journalists into freelancing and contractual positions. This is the perfect moment to unite and organise. - Understand Freelancers’ Needs
Conduct surveys and gather data on issues like pay, safety, and mental health. Knowing the struggles of freelancers is the foundation of effective organising. - Hold Targeted Discussions
Run focus group discussions with diverse groups of freelancers to understand their specific issues and tailor solutions. - Establish a Freelancers Committee
Set up a dedicated team within your union or organisation to focus on freelance issues, ensuring freelancers have a voice and representation in union activities. - Form a Core Leadership Group
Identify and empower key freelancers who are passionate about the cause. This core group will lead organising efforts and build momentum. - Learn from Others
Partner with international unions or organisations for shared experiences, strategies, and best practices. - Run Skills Workshops
Organise workshops to equip freelancers with the skills they need to take charge of their organising efforts, such as how to advocate for their rights. - Create a Freelancers Association
Establish an independent association or guild for freelancers, like the Filipino Freelance Journalists Guild (FFJ) in the Philippines, designed to address their specific challenges and needs. - Formalise and Launch the Association
Draft essential documents such as a Constitution and By-Laws, and elect a board of directors to guide the guild’s long-term development. - Sustain Momentum and Keep Growing
Launch public campaigns and advocacy, hold workshops on essential topics, and regularly engage freelancers to continue to expand and strengthen the guild.
Localising efforts to organise freelance journalists
In 2022, the NUJP Metro Manila chapter, whose membership was largely composed of freelance journalists working in the National Capital Region (NCR), launched local initiatives to help the union organise freelance journalists. The chapter passed a resolution that established a Freelancers Committee that was tasked with “investigating the condition of freelance journalists, and [leading] programs and campaigns dedicated to the best interests of this group.”
The resolution also signaled the selection of a Freelancers Committee Head who was given an ex-officio seat at the chapter’s executive committee. The committee kept records of the chapter members who are freelancers, held consultations with them, and kept them informed of the union’s current initiatives in launching a freelance journalists guild.
Study launch and organising workshop
The NUJP finally launched the feasibility study in late 2022 and held an inaugural meeting with Metro Manila-based freelance journalists. It was led by Maro Enriquez, the project researcher who also served as the freelancers committee head of the NUJP Metro Manila chapter.
In the same event, NUJP had a knowledge sharing with IFJ affiliate SINDIKASI, a media and creative industry workers’ union in Indonesia that also caters to freelancers. SINDIKASI’s structure and organising model inspired NUJP’s initiative to establish its own guild.
The inaugural meeting ended with a workshop to empower Metro Manila- and Luzon-based NUJP members to kickstart the organising work in preparation for the establishment of the freelancers guild.
Establishing the guild
In 2023, through another partnership with IFJ and UTU, the NUJP rolled out a series of activities that led to the establishment of the Filipino Freelance Journalists Guild (FFJ).
In the process of establishing a progressive guild like the FFJ, we learned the importance of empowering the freelance journalists themselves to own such an initiative and to have themselves involved in setting up the launch of the guild. After all, years of preparing for this establishment have already made it clear that this program is for, by, and with Filipino freelance journalists.
In a get-together meeting in August 2023, a ‘core group’ of Manila-based freelancers crafted the plan for the launch, and set up respective committees to ensure logistical needs, participation, and overall agenda.
On October 21, 2023, the Filipino Freelance Journalists’ Guild was finally established in Metro Manila and elected its initial board of directors.
Today, the guild is a full-fledged organisation with its own Constitution and By-Laws, and 11 board directors, with 50 members coming from different parts of the Philippines and counting.
Shortly after the launch, the guild launched its own social media page for its campaigns and publicity and initiated gatherings and discussions for the benefit of its members. These include a taxation workshop and a forum on copyright for photographers and writers.
The goal remains clear for the FFJ and its members–to uplift each other and the journalism community as a whole.
“With the FFJ’s establishment comes the hope that freelancing in the Philippines will become more favorable to the plight of the Filipino freelancer through its creation of programs and campaigns that will not only uplift its members, but the journalism community as a whole,” the FFJ said in a statement following its successful launch in October 2023.
Paul Soriano is a freelance journalist and Chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Metro Manila Chapter.