Modernising Journalists’ Trade Unions in Pakistan for the Digital Age A Mapping of Challenges, Needs, and Solutions Figure 21: Promoting Diversity and Pluralism in Membership 62 56 51 46 35 Compliant to large degree Often compliant but could be better Totally non­complaint Tokenistic compliance Fully complaint As the role of journalism continues to evolve in the face of numerous societal challenges, the revitalisation of union structures will be essential for empowering journalists and enhancing their ability to navigate the complexities of their profession. This calls for a concerted effort to strengthen democratic practices within unions, ensuring that they are not only representative of their members but also robust in their capacity to advocate for the rights and welfare of journalists in Pakistan. One of the greatest barriers as identified by the survey participants to members joining unions is monopolistic behavior. The bifurcation of roles within journalist unions, wherein journalists increasingly adopt the mantle of political workers, is a critical factor contributing to the fragmentation of these organisations. As some members align themselves with specific political agendas rather than focusing on the collective interests of their peers, the essential purpose of unions—as protectors of journalists’ rights— becomes compromised. This shift not only blurs the boundaries between journalism and political advocacy but also fosters internal divisions that weaken the unions’ overall effectiveness. Thus, further distances unions from their core functions. When asked this question, most of the journalist respondents(127) replied that monopolistic behavior is a barrier to becoming a member of journalists’ union, 106 said factionalism is a factor while 92 felt financial resources were a key barrier. Many of the respondents(88) said external political affiliation is a barrier, 85 responded that discrimination is a hindering factor while 41 said unlimited office holding is a key barrier. 35