Belarusian Association of Journalists

The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) "was established in 1995. The BAJ is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit organization, which was created to ensure freedom of speech, to guarantee the right to receive and impart information and to promote professional standards of journalism. It unites democratically oriented journalists and representatives of the professions connected with journalism (publishers, distributors, sociologists, lawyers, etc.)...

"BAJ is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and it has close contacts with the Global Campaign for Free Expression “Article XIX” (U.K.), the Word Institute for Free Press (U.S.), the European Center of Journalism (The Netherlands), the Russian Union of Journalists and the Fund for Publicity Protection (Moscow), the Union of Journalists of Lithuania, and others.

"In 2003 the BAJ received the Golden Pen Award from the World Association of Newspapers and in December 2004 the organization was awarded the Andrei Sakharov International Prize from the European Parliament for freedom of speech.

"The Center of Legal Protection of Journalists was set up in August 1997 as a structural unit of the BAJ to provide legal aid to the editorial boards of independent mass media and to independent journalists. It unites a number of professional lawyers who specialize in mass media legislation. The lawyers of the Center represent the interests of independent mass media and independent journalists in courts, consult editors-in-chief and members of editorial staff on different issues of media legislation, organize educational seminars and “round tables” directly at the editorial offices of independent mass media, elaborate alternative draft laws, and issue booklets on different problems and topics in the sphere of mass media."


 * Zhanna Litvina, Chairperson

Administration
Accessed August 2007:
 * Zhanna Litvina - BAJ Chairpeson
 * Andrej Bastunets - Deputy Chairperson
 * Alina Suiravets - Deputy Chairperson
 * Tattiana Melnichyk - Deputy Chairperson
 * Aliaksandar Starykevich - Deputy Chairperson
 * Michail Pastuhou - Head of the Law Center for Media Protection at the Belarusian Association of Journalists
 * Ales Antsipenka - Head of the Belarusian Collegium
 * Uladzimir Dzuba - Editor-in-chief of "ABAJOUR

Contact

 * Web: http://www.baj.by/en/news