Working Journalist under the OSH Code

A working journalist is a person whose principal occupation is journalism and who is employed to do journalistic work. Under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, this includes whole-time or part-time employment in, or in relation to, newspaper establishments and establishments relating to electronic or digital media, subject to specified exclusions.

Core requirements for qualification

The definition combines the nature of the person's occupation, an employment relationship and a connection with a covered media establishment.

• Journalism must be the person's principal avocation, meaning their main occupation; merely undertaking occasional journalistic activity does not by itself satisfy this requirement.
• The person must be employed as a journalist, either whole-time or part-time. Part-time status alone therefore does not disqualify someone.
• Employment may be in, or in relation to, one or more establishments; the definition is not confined to employment connected with a single establishment.

Media establishments and journalistic roles covered

The definition extends beyond print journalism. It expressly covers newspaper establishments as well as establishments relating to electronic media or digital media.

• The expressly included editorial roles are editor, leader-writer, news-editor and sub-editor.
• The definition also includes a feature-writer, copy-tester, reporter and correspondent.
• A cartoonist, news-photographer and proof-reader are also expressly included, showing that the category extends beyond those who write news reports.

Exclusions and the importance of actual duties

The Code excludes a person employed mainly in a managerial, supervisory or administrative capacity. This exclusion qualifies the list of included journalistic roles.

• An editor is expressly included, but the title does not override the exclusion where the person is employed mainly in an excluded capacity.
• Employment in a media organisation alone is insufficient: the person must satisfy the journalistic occupation and employment requirements.
• For an individual case, both the person's work and the capacity in which they are mainly employed must therefore be examined.