About BAJ

The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) is a non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit professional union of media workers, united on the platform of free expression and independent journalism ideas. It works to defend the legitimate rights of journalists and campaigns for promoting the freedom of expression in the country.

Founded in 1995, BAJ has currently reached around 1100 members, representing a wide range of media outlets from across Belarus. Around 16% of members work with the state-sponsored media organizations.

BAJ operates out of the central offices in the capital Minsk and through a network of 24 regional affiliates in all regional and important urban centers across Belarus. (Only 5 of them have official status, as the rest had severe problems with getting legal addresses.)

Since 1997, BAJ is an associate member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). In 2003 BAJ signed an affiliation agreement with Reporters without Borders. In 2003, World Association of Newspapers (WAN) awarded BAJ with the Golden Pen of Freedom prize. In December 2004 European Parliament awarded Belarusian Association of Journalists the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The BAJ Media Center deals with gathering, systematization and dissemination of information on violations of the freedom of expression and the journalists' professional rights in Belarus. The Media Center specialists organize press-conferences and discussions on the most critical problems in the Belarusian media field. The information and analyses are presented through the Web-site www.baj.by and electronic mailing lists. Also, the Center monitors all facts related to the coverage of political campaigns in the Belarusian media.

Through its Law Center for Media Protection, BAJ provides free legal support to journalists and editorial offices in trouble, representing them in courts and offering legal consulting services on the daily media operation. In addition, BAJ lawyers are active in developing alternative laws in order to bring the current media legal regulatory framework in line with international standards.

Moreover, there works the Agency for Journalist Investigations at the Belarusian Association of Journalists that aims at creating the journalists' independent coordination system that would facilitate holding journalist investigations and foster working out efficient methods of collecting and processing information.

BAJ maintains solid international contacts, through which it facilitates fellow members to get access to professional training opportunities both domestically and in the foreign newsrooms. The Association also positions itself as an opinion leader by initiating public debates and campaigning on the topical media issues in Belarus and internationally.

Among regular brochures and publications on media-related problems, BAJ publishes a professional magazine "Abajour".

Contact information:

Zhanna Litvina, Chairperson

Belarusan Association of Journalists (BAJ)
Pl. Svabody 17-304, 220030 MINSK, Belarus
Phone: +375 17 203-63-66, 226-70-98
Fax: +375 17 203-63-66, 226-70-98
E-mail: baj@baj.by Web: www.baj.by ­