L’Union des journalistes Tchadiens (UJT) in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) under the Union to Union (UTU) Project 2025, held a two day workshop on “ The Media, Trade Unions and the Recruitment of Young Journalists” at the Maison de la Presse in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena from 8- 9 July, 2025. The two- day workshop brought together 20 young journalists from various media houses both state and private to deliberate and develop strategies on how to strengthen UJT through the recruitment of young journalists, especially those working online as well as to sensitise young journalists on their rights to join a union of their choice.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of UJT, Abbas Mahmoud Tahir, said that young journalists in Chad, like young journalists in other parts of the continent need to organise and to be trained in trade union matters and their right to freedom of association. He emphasised that the union should not be seen as an option by young journalists, but “a necessity in the current context where journalists’ rights are consistently challenged. The primary role of the union is to defend your rights and welfare, as well as to engage employers in negotiating for better working conditions”.
The UJT President further noted that young journalists who are already members of the UJT have a very crucial role to play in ensuring that they work in tandem with the union in the recruitment of their peers. “As members of the union, you must serve as ambassadors in advocating for trade union rights and encouraging your colleagues to join the union. The survival of the union depends on the continuous recruitment of young journalists, and this must be part of the responsibilities of every young journalist in the union”.
The two- day workshop dilated on various themes including the role of UJT in defending the rights of journalists; freedom of association and labour rights; working conditions of young journalists in the Chadian media and job insecurity; challenges of young journalists entering the profession; media ethics; designing campaigns and recruitment strategies; social dialogue and trade union negotiations; and the signing of collective agreement.
At the need of the two –day workshop the participants recommended the need for more training for young journalists on trade union matters as most of them were attending such a workshop for the first time.
