Modernising Journalists’ Trade Unions in Pakistan for the Digital Age A Mapping of Challenges, Needs, and Solutions She adds:“Awareness efforts are needed to engage members, especially those who become inactive after joining, and to highlight the union’s role and its importance. KUJ has already made 300 members from the final semester journalism students from various universities. When these cadets will come into the field, they will have a fair idea of what a union is and how it is important for them to join one. Under IFJ’s Provincial Lobbying Project 2022, done by Sheher Bano, some freelancers, who were doing serious journalism work were given KUJ membership.” Dr Sadia Kamal adds,“To integrate digital journalists into our ranks, we need to establish clear parameters. Journalism’s purpose is to hold those in power accountable, not to serve the government. An impartial journalist council should determine the criteria for including digital journalists and the terms of their membership. During a recent FEC[federal executive council] meeting in Faisalabad, we discussed granting membership to digital media journalists, but the Gujranwala Union of Journalists resisted, and no decision was reached. We also need to consider the policies of other PFUJ factions before deciding. In my opinion, digital media journalists, who ethically report on public issues, should be given membership.” 4.2.2. Media Organizations’ Exploitation In Pakistan, trade unions are in decline, significantly impacted by contractual and third-party employment systems that exclude many workers. While some media organisations maintain unions, they primarily consist of permanent employees, leaving contractual workers without representation. Media owners often discourage union membership among these workers, exploiting loopholes in labour laws to create fake entities that obscure their employment status. To revitalise trade unions, it is essential to include contractual workers and restore their strength, which is a prerequisite for modernisation and enhancing the unions’ role in advocating for media workers’ rights. Nasir Zaidi, former secretary general of PFUJ Afzal Butt faction, adds,“The first step should be to determine membership, allowing contractual workers to be part of the unions. Media organisations discourage contractual and third-party employees from joining unions, recognising only permanent staff as journalists. Additionally, labour laws don’t apply to contractual workers. Media owners exploit this by creating fake business entities, making it appear as though these workers are employed by those companies rather than the media outlet. Trade unions can only modernise when their strength 25