Journalists face growing threats as labour protections weaken – ILO

Journalists around the world are confronting an intensifying mix of physical danger, economic insecurity and institutional weakness as rapid shifts in the media industry outpace the labour protections designed to safeguard them, according to a new international report titled “Decent work and the safety of journalists”.

The International Labour Organisation report, which examines the relationship between fundamental labour rights and the safety of journalists, warns that the erosion of stable employment conditions, combined with rising hostility towards the press, is undermining both press freedom and the quality of public information.

It finds that journalists increasingly operate in environments marked by violence, intimidation and censorship.

In extreme cases, particularly in conflict and crisis settings, media workers face killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture. Even outside war zones, they are exposed to harassment, online abuse, discrimination and pressure from both state and private actors aimed at influencing or silencing reporting.

These risks, the report argues, are not only threats to individual safety but also to democratic accountability, as they compromise journalists’ ability to report independently and without fear.

At the same time, the structure of the media industry has shifted significantly. Traditional employment in newsrooms has declined, replaced in many markets by freelance, contract and independent work. While this model has offered flexibility, it has also weakened job security and reduced access to basic protections such as health coverage, legal safeguards and collective representation.

The consequences are increasingly visible. A 2025 survey by the World Association of News Publishers found that 60 per cent of journalists reported experiencing burnout, while 62 per cent said they were forced to take on additional work outside journalism to supplement their income. Real wages, the report notes, have stagnated or fallen over the past decades, even as workloads have increased.

“The economic model of journalism is now a central factor in understanding journalist safety,” the report argues, noting that financial precarity can make journalists more vulnerable to exploitation, self-censorship and mental health strain.

The findings place renewed emphasis on the role of international labour standards in addressing these risks. It highlights the framework developed by the International Labour Organization, which sets out legally binding conventions and non-binding recommendations covering issues such as freedom of association, protection against discrimination, and safe working conditions.

ILO Conventions, the report notes, oblige ratifying states to implement minimum labour protections, while recommendations offer guidance for policymakers and employers. The study argues that these instruments, long applied to traditional sectors, are increasingly relevant to journalism, particularly in an era defined by fragmented employment and digital disruption.

Beyond governments, the report calls on media employers, worker organisations and civil society groups to integrate labour standards into newsroom policies and operational practices. It argues that safeguarding journalists requires not only physical protection in high-risk environments but also structural reforms that ensure decent work conditions across the profession.

The analysis also situates journalist safety within broader international efforts, including the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, aimed at addressing violence against media workers and the lack of accountability for perpetrators.

Ultimately, the report concludes that press freedom cannot be separated from labour rights. Without adequate pay, stable employment and enforceable protections, it warns, the ability of journalists to operate independently and safely will continue to erode, with wider consequences for public trust and democratic governance.