Modernising Journalists’ Trade Unions in Pakistan for the Digital Age A Mapping of Challenges, Needs, and Solutions The implications of these shortcomings are far-reaching, as they hinder the capacity of journalists to effectively advocate for their rights and interests in an increasingly challenging media environment. In this context, it becomes crucial to reassess the operational structures and strategic objectives of journalistic unions in Pakistan, with an eye towards fostering a more inclusive, democratic, and functional advocacy framework that genuinely reflects the needs and aspirations of its members. A large majority of those surveyed(201 out of 250) said that advocacy for journalists is core functions of representative union, 186 of the journalists said that welfare of journalists, and 168 said that defense of journalists in courts remained core function. A large number of journalist respondents said that modernisation of unions, 102 said promoting diversity and pluralism in membership, and 71 said collective bargaining agent were core function of a representative and effective union. Figure 14: Core Functions of Representative Union 201 186 168 127 107 102 71 12 Rating the Performance of Unions for Core Functions: Collective Bargaining Agent Many respondents(74) said that current performance of unions is totally non-compliant, 72 said often compliant but could be better, and 47 replied 30