International Journalists Association

IJA (International Journalists Association)
AbbreviationIJA
Formation2019
TypeNon-governmental organization
HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
Region served
Worldwide
Members420 (as of 2024)
Official language
Multilingual
Websitehttps://internationaljournalists.org

IJA (International Journalists Association) is a journalists' association based in Frankfurt, Germany, founded in 2019. The organization is engaged in publishing, media-related events, and advocacy for press freedom.[1][2]

History

The association was established by a group of journalists seeking to continue their professional activities in exile in response to increasing restrictions on media freedom.[3] Its founders include journalists such as Cevheri Güven.[3]

As of August 2024, the association has approximately 420 members from 20 countries.[3]

The association and its activities have been covered in international media. In 2024, reporting referenced coverage in the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung (taz), describing the IJA as an organization bringing together exiled journalists and supporting press freedom initiatives.[4]

Publications

The IJA publishes Journalist Post, a multilingual periodical issued biannually with contributions from international journalists.[5]

The association is linked to several digital media platforms, including Turkish Minute, Deutsche Bold, Bosphorama, and Türkiye Today’s.[6]

In addition, documentaries such as Orkoz and Çark, produced by Bold Media, are associated with its media-related activities.

External videos
video icon IJA Event / Orkoz documentary
External videos
video icon IJA Event / Çark documentary

The IJA has published reports addressing issues related to freedom of expression and press freedom, including book banning, restrictions on freedom of thought, closure of media outlets in Turkey, and the seizure of journalists' property.[7]

International cooperation and activities

The IJA is a partner organization in the Interkultureller Mediendialog (Intercultural Media Dialogue) platform.[8]

Representatives of the association delivered presentations at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on topics such as "digital authoritarianism" and "transnational repression".[9]

The organization has participated in international events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, Düsseldorf Campfire Festival, and Leipzig Revolutionäre Festival.

The IJA cooperates with international non-governmental organizations to support media dissemination and provide technical infrastructure for journalists.

The association co-organizes the Humanity Cartoons competition with Time to Help UK and HRS.[10] It also organizes an event series titled Frankfurt Conversations in cooperation with Haus am Dom.[11]

Recent activities

In May 2025, the association co-organized the Frankfurter Gespräche ("Frankfurt Conversations"), a public discussion series held in cooperation with Haus am Dom to mark World Press Freedom Day. The opening event focused on press freedom, exile journalism, and the challenges faced by independent media.[12]

In June 2026, representatives of the association participated in a demonstration in Strasbourg calling for the enforcement of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The initiative urged the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to strengthen oversight of the implementation of the Court's rulings.[13]

In June 2026, the association also organized an intercultural media dialogue in Germany addressing the future of Syrians living in the country. The discussion focused on integration, voluntary return, and the social and political implications of Germany's ongoing debate on Syrian refugees.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Verein IJA kämpft für Pressefreiheit". taz.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  2. ↑ "International Journalists Association". Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "Exiled Journalists Unite: IJA Leads Global Fight for Press Freedom". Politurco. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  4. ↑ "'Sürgün' gazeteciler Alman basınında: "IJA, basın özgürlüğü için mücadele ediyor"". TR724 (in Turkish). 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Journalist Post". International Journalists Association. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  6. ↑ "International Journalists Association – Official website". International Journalists Association (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Basın Özgürlüğünün Karşı Karşıya Olduğu Zorluklarla Mücadele". International Journalists Association (in Turkish). 2025. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  8. ↑ "Zehn Jahre Interkultureller Mediendialog". Haus am Dom (in German). 2020. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  9. ↑ "İJA Birleşmiş Milletler'de Dijital Otoriterizm ve Ulusötesi Baskı Mekanizmalarını Anlattı". International Journalists Association (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  10. ↑ "Humanity Cartoons". Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  11. ↑ "Frankfurt Söyleşileri Dünya Basın Özgürlüğü Günü'nde Başladı". International Journalists Association (in Turkish). 2024. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  12. ↑ https://deutschebold.com/2025/05/08/sichtbar-verstummt-die-eroeffnung-der-frankfurter-gespraeche-zum-welttag-der-pressefreiheit/
  13. ↑ https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/international-journalists-association-demands-enforcement-205500552.html
  14. ↑ https://deutschebold.com/2026/06/17/gehen-oder-bleiben-syrische-community-zwischen-integration-und-rueckkehrdebatte/
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