The Professional Journalists’ Association of South Africa

The Professional Journalists’ Association of South Africa (ProJourn) will be soon established. It is the result of extensive consultations in the national journalism community.

The Press Ombudsman has endorsed ProJourn, as have the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and a wide range of writers’ associations and individual journalists.

Online discussion forum for Projourn

A discussion forum for supporters of the initiative to establish an umbrella national Professional Journalists’ Association (ProJourn) in South Africa, is hosted at http://groups.google.com/group/professional-journalists-association?lnk=srg. The Projourn initiative is supported by SANEF and many other key media organisations and individual journalists.

Draft constitution of the Professional Journalists’ Asociation (South Africa) – ProJourn

This Constitution was drafted by Michael Schmidt, the training director of frayintermedia, after discussions in 2004-2007 with former South African Union of Journalists shop-stewards. In 2008, he presented the concept to Mzi Memeza, general secretary, Southern African Journalists’ Association, to the Council of the South African National Editors’ Forum, which applauded the initiative, to Jane Duncan of the Freedom of Expression Institute and to the Print Media SA board. This draft is being widely distributed for comment and input to journalists, media trainers, media unionists, media academics, media monitors and other bodies interested in a dynamic, independent and professional media.

Download the Projourn Draft Constitution (151kB PDF) or Projourn Konsepgrondwet (106kB PDF).

Join the Facebook group for The Professional Journalists’ Association of South Africa.