The president of the Syrian Journalists Association to "Dama": our priority is to build independent and sustainable union institutions that protect the rights of journalists and develop media legislation.
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The head of the Syrian Journalists' Association, Imad al-Tawashi, said in a special statement to Dama News that the association's presidency represents a union task that requires collective and institutional work, and explained that his plan aims to expand the association's influence in media policy and turn journalists' demands into applicable and measurable rights.
Al-Tawashi explained that the action plan is based on the two paths of media stability by developing a legislative environment that guarantees freedom and independence of the press, and professional stability to improve working conditions and protection in Syria and abroad, while activating committees, expanding presence in the field and completing the requirements for legal recognition of the association within the country.
Al-Tawashi emphasized the association's independence in its decisions and positions from the authorities and government authorities, and pointed out that this does not mean a disconnection from state institutions, since the association intends to hold a dialogue with the Ministry of Information and the People's Assembly for reform in the media sector, without this coming at the expense of its right to protect journalists and hold accountable those who violate their rights.
The association's president revealed work to develop the performance of the "Syrian Center for Freedom of the Press" and the activation of the hotline for immediate legal support, in addition to the development of the "Syrian Media Environment Index" as a periodic data-based tool for measuring press freedom, professional safety and economic rights and providing recommendations to decision makers.
Al-Tawashi pointed out the association's intention to prepare a guiding model for the journalistic employment contract detailing wages, working hours, vacations, insurances and intellectual property rights, while monitoring labor violations such as arbitrary dismissals and salary deferrals and opening communication channels with media institutions to improve wages and guarantees.
Al-Tawashi stated that the association will develop sustainable training programs focused on investigative journalism, information verification, digital narratives and digital safety. He will also prepare a manual for controls on the use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, with an emphasis on human verification and transparency and the development of a code of journalistic honor.