New media, multimedia and information and communication technologies may increase the demand for journalists, editors, artistes and others in the media, graphical and culture sectors, but compromise the quality of their work and of their working conditions, according to an International Labour Office (ILO) report.

The report, entitled The Future of Work and Quality in the Information Society: The Media, Culture, Graphical Sector, notes that computerization is tending to create jobs in the sector rather than killing them, although some segments are experiencing serious declines in employment.

Conversely, the report also observes that the explosion of new and multi-media is prompting growing concerns over the level of quality of working conditions and of output in the media, cultural and graphical sectors, and presents new challenges in terms of training for jobs in the media and entertainment industry.

Government, employer and worker representatives from around 50 countries discussed from 10 to 22 October at an ILO meeting in Geneva the trends affecting several occupational groups in these industries, which are at the forefront of the changes caused by the growing importance of information and communication technologies (ICT).

The report notes many positive developments in recent years in this sector, but it also says that the impact of ICTs on the sector in terms of 'quality' can pose the question of whether certain primary standards of the ILO are being met in the domains of fundamental principles and rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue. In the case of performers, for example, where the report sees "enormous opportunities" because there is more work, "employment created as a result of globalization and new technologies in the sector is often unstable and of low quality".

The impact of ICTs on journalists' safety and health is also cited, since there are greater time constraints and pressures to produce up-to-date information. "This has meant new work patterns for workers who even earlier did not have regular hours, eight-hour days, or set meal breaks, and are often employed on short-term, intermittent and precarious contracts."

There is also the case of front-line journalists who face being shot at, beaten, imprisoned and even killed. "More than 1,000 journalists and media staff have been killed on duty over the past ten years," recalls the ILO report, citing data from the International Federation of Journalists.

Training is also a challenge for workers in the media, culture and graphical sector. "Quality in work, employment, working life, products and content is likely to be promoted by access to training that can help improve productivity, adaptability and employability," says the report.

It also stresses that "many of the new opportunities will arise for geographically mobile, well-educated, multiskilled and adaptable people, but more and more jobs are likely to be unstable, temporary assignments without fringe benefits or social security coverage, and some job losses or downgrading are inevitable".

For further information, visit the ILO's Sectoral Activities Department site.