Your media trade union and support network in France
NUJ Paris is the home for anglophone journalists, comms and media professionals working within metropolitan France and neighbouring countries
The National Union of Journalists (UK & Ireland)
Campaigns
The NUJ campaigns on a range of issues of concern to members and contributes its expertise to legislators. Current headline campaigns include putting a stop to SLAPPs, ending the gender pay gap, tackling the threat of AI, and fighting for a better deal for freelances.
Training
The union organises professional training courses across a wide range of media skills for staff journalists and freelances alike. It also partners with other media trade unions and the Trades Union Council to offer technical and soft-skills courses at low or no cost to NUJ members.
Press card
NUJ members who need to identify themselves while on frontline reporting duties can apply for an NUJ-accredited UK Press Card and/or an IFJ International Press Card. These are recognised not just by police in the UK and Ireland but by many organisations throughout France.
So what’s NUJ Paris branch?
The National Union of Journalists is organised into local units known as chapels (to represent staff in a particular workplace) and branches (which group members by geographical region).
Members who live or work in mainland France or its neighbouring countries are served by Paris branch. Sister branches within continental Europe exist in Brussels and The Netherlands.
Paris branch members come from all sectors of journalism, from foreign correspondents working for English-language publications and broadcasters to globetrotting reporters, travel writers, photographers, feature writers, book authors, remote sub-editors and proofreaders, professional bloggers, podcasters, sound and video editors and producers, plus of course our colleagues “on the other side”—i.e. those who work in press relations and communications.
What about freelances?
Two thirds of Paris branch members are freelance.
We also welcome young anglophones (or anglophiles!) who are studying media-related courses at university. Student members benefit from reduced union subscription fees and can apply through us for a Student Press Card.
Despite the branch name, more than half our membership live and work outside Paris. You will find Paris branch members all across France, from Calais to Perpignan, Bordeaux to Strasbourg—and quite a few sun-worshippers ranged along the Mediterranean coast.
Despite this, we meet up every month via online video to discuss work matters, debate union policy, prepare campaigns and deal with union business. Often we organise guest speakers from the media industry. We also arrange regional in-person social get-togethers every summer and at Christmas.
Members are kept up to date with branch matters affecting them via Bluesky and a regular email newsletter. So whether you are concerned about legislation affecting press freedom, the ever-changing obligations around freelancing in France or simply baffled by the introduction of electronic invoicing, we will keep you in touch.
