# Syndicat national des journalistes

The Syndicat national des journalistes (SNJ, National Union of Journalists), founded in 1918, is a French professional trade union exclusively for professional journalists. It is a founding member of the Solidaires Union (formerly the "Group of Ten") and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
In 2018, this union remained the most representative organization for the journalism profession, securing over 52% of the vote in the 2018 Press Card Commission triennial elections and 38.85% in the union representation measure for the journalism sector.

## History

Founded in Paris on 10 during a constitutive meeting at 52 Rue de Châteaudun, the Union of Journalists (not yet named National Union of Journalists) drafted in 10 March the Charter of Journalistic Duties, which established the ethical principles of the profession. This charter was revised in 1938 and updated again in 2011.
In the early 1930s, after failed negotiations for a collective agreement (signed only in 1938), the SNJ, led by its president Georges Bourdon, inspired the Brachard Law of 29 on the status of journalists, establishing the conscience clause, the Journalist Arbitration Commission, and laying the foundation for the Professional Journalist's Identity Card Commission. This commission was formalized by a 1936 decree.
On 9 November 1940, the SNJ, like all existing unions, was dissolved by the Vichy government.
It reconstituted itself in 1946 after a brief attempt to unify the trade union movement. Since 1946, the SNJ has remained the leading journalists' union in France. Its role has been to strengthen and expand the framework established in 1930, including enhancements to the collective agreement as early as 1956, the Cressard Law (1974) affirming the salaried status of freelance journalists, recognition of journalism training centers, affiliation with the UNEDIC unemployment insurance system (1968), and the return of the arbitration commission to the press card commission premises (1993).
In 1981, the SNJ formed the Solidaires Union (formerly "Group of Ten") with nine other organizations.
In the early 2000s, the SNJ shifted its stance on freelance journalists, creating dedicated commissions to assist them. These commissions provide resources for freelancers to learn their rights and participate in employee representative bodies.
In 2018, celebrating its centenary, the SNJ organized events across France, including a tribute to Georges Bourdon in his hometown of Vouziers on 30 June. In Étretat, a Georges-Bourdon garden was inaugurated on 6 October. In Paris, a gathering took place on 10 March 2018 at Place du Trocadéro, 100 years after its foundation. An exhibition titled "100 Years of Fighting for Press Freedom" was displayed at the Paris City Hall from 17 September to 22 October. The 100th SNJ Congress featured Franck Riester, newly appointed Minister of Culture, as a speaker on 18 October. Historian Christian Delporte authored 100 Years of Journalism: A History of the National Union of Journalists (1918–2018).

## Notes and References

* ↑ Christian Delporte (2018-03-08). 100 Years of Journalism: A History of the National Union of Journalists (1918–2018) (in French). Paris: Nouveau Monde Éditions. p. 159. ISBN 978-2-36942-650-9. Retrieved 2018-07-21..
* ↑ Martin, Marc (1997). Media and Journalists of the Republic (in French). Odile Jacob. p. 494. ISBN 978-2-7381-0490-8. Retrieved 2018-07-21..
* ↑ "Frédéric Taddéï to Host a Cultural Show on Russian Channel RT France this Fall". Le Huffington Post (in French). 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-21..
* ↑ "C.C.i.J.P.: RESULTS OF THE SECOND ROUND OF 2018 ELECTIONS". ccijp.net. Retrieved 2019-12-27..
* ↑ "Decree of 1 3 2018 Modifying the Decree of 5 October 2017 Establishing the List of Union Organizations Recognized as Representative in the National Collective Agreement of Journalists (No. 1480)". legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2019-12-27..
* ↑ The sixteen founders of the SNJ were Jean-Ernest Charles (first president), Pierre Mille, René Sudre, Henry Sabarthez, René Boureau, G. Durand, Louis Latapie, Georges Prade, Paul Lordon, Louis Latzarus, Mario Sermet, Paul Rousseau, Auguste Avril, Clément Vautel, Victor Margueritte, Pierre Audibert. Source: François Boissarie, former first general secretary of SNJ.
* ↑ See on legifrance.gouv.fr.
* ↑ See on legifrance.gouv.fr.
* ↑ Historical overview of the Group of Ten / Solidaires Union.
* ↑ "Journal L'Union". Journal L'Union (in French). Retrieved 2019-12-30..
* ↑ "Étretat: Georges Bourdon Honored, the Town Pays Tribute to Its Child". paris-normandie.fr (in French). Retrieved 2019-12-30..
* ↑ SNJ (2018-03-10). 9R8A0434. Retrieved 2019-12-30..
* ↑ Jean-François (12 October 2018). "Journalism: The Fight for Press Freedom Continues". L'écume d'un jour (in French). Retrieved 2019-12-30..
* ↑ "Speech by Vincent Lanier, SNJ General Secretary". snj.fr. Retrieved 2019-12-30..
* ↑ "100 Years of Journalism: A History of the National Union of Journalists (1918–2018)". Revue Politique et Parlementaire (in French). 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2019-12-30..