MEAA

Today is International Workers’ Memorial Day, when we pause to pay our respects to those lives were lost at work or because of their working conditions. We also renew our determination to protect all workers' health and safety. This year, Workers’ Memorial Day has extra significance because of the more than 100 journalists and media workers who have been killed in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon since October 7 and 15 journalists who have been confirmed dead since the commencement of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

For decades, rates for media freelancers have gone backwards in real terms. It's time to change that. When freelancers are united and organised, we can win the respect we deserve. Join your fellow freelance journalists, photographers, cartoonists and other freelance media workers: freelancers.org #FairGo4Freelancers #MEAAmedia

Yesterday we wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong urging them to publicly call upon the US government drop its charges against Julian Assange. It is encouraging to hear President Joe Biden say today the US is "considering" doing so. https://meaa.io/3vPpaKQ #pressfreedom #MEAAmedia

Represent is a campaign calling for the real diversity of Australian communities to be truly represented in theatres, dance and music festivals and on screen. Not just for performers and musicians, but for the crew behind the scenes as well. Take the pledge to represent here: meaa.org/represent

Last night, the UK High Court left Julian #Assange in a legal limbo that can only end by the US government dropping its prosecution of the WikiLeaks founder and #MEAAmedia member. The court has conditionally allowed an appeal to go ahead against an order to extradite him from the UK, but only if the US is unable to provide "assurances" that Assange will be treated fairly by the US legal system. Julian Assange needs more than assurances from the US about how he will be treated. The only clear path to freedom is for the US to drop the charges, end its prosecution and allow him to be released from jail. Next month will mark five years of detention in Belmarsh Prison, where his health and mental wellbeing has worsened recently. Media freedom continues to be imperilled the longer this case drags on. #PressFreedom

Editorial staff at the ABC have again registered a vote of no confidence in managing director David Anderson and senior managers over the broadcaster’s handling of complaints. #MEAAmedia

Thanks to everyone who donated to our Gaza journalists appeal, we have raised over $15,000 for Palestinian journalists and their families so they can continue to report on the crisis happening in Gaza. https://lnkd.in/gZffGXtQ #MEAAmedia

The report on our biannual media freelance survey is out now. Read about the crisis causing freelancers to leave the industry and what we are doing together to fight for a more sustainable future. https://lnkd.in/gF93Hf4D #FairGo4Freelancers #MEAAmedia

Do you believe that a thriving cultural sector matters to a strong civil society? Are you passionate about gender and racial equality at work? Do you want workers in the media and creative industries to have good jobs with fair pay where their work is respected? Apply to work for MEAA. 

Happy International Women's Day 2024! Today we want to celebrate all the amazing contributions women have made to the media, arts and entertainment industries, and to the broader cultural landscape. However women continue to be paid less than men in these industries and are underrepresented in leadership and executive positions so we must continue the struggle for gender equality and fight for women's rights. #IWD2024 #InternationalWomensDay