Between Congresses the affairs of the IFJ are administered by the 21-member Executive Committee which meets twice a year. The President with the three Vice-Presidents, Honorary Treasurer and General Secretary, constitutes an Administrative Committee which meets occasionally between meetings of the Executive Committee. The General Secretary is the chief executive officer. The financial independence of the IFJ is secured by the payment of fees by member organisations. The IFJ also carries out a range of project activities , alone and in partnership with other professional organisations, which may be financed from outside sources.
Sponsorship only takes place under conditions of complete independence.
The IFJ has an International Safety Fund , supported by donations from journalists and their unions worldwide, which provides humanitarian aid for journalists and mediaworkers in need. The International Press Card is issued to individual journalists who are members of an IFJ affiliated organisation . It is a professional accreditation known and respected all over the world. The IFJ's newsletter, Directline , is published in four languages and is distributed to member unions and more that 1,500 subscribers worldwide. The IFJ publishes on a regular basis special reports on missions of inquiry, professional studies and specific issues including an annual report on journalists and mediaworkers killed while on assignment.