Association of Journalists of Macedonia

What Association of Journalists of Macedonia does

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM / Здружение на новинари на Македонија) is a non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit professional association of journalists founded in 1946 and headquartered in Skopje, North Macedonia. It has been a member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) since its founding and operates six regional centers (Shtip, Strumica, Tetovo, Ohrid, Bitola, Kumanovo) coordinated by named regional leads, plus a separate Cameramen Section with eight regional coordinators, giving it nationwide physical reach across all major regions of the country. Its primary membership consists of professional journalists across print, broadcast, online, and photojournalism, alongside retired journalists, journalism students, and media organizations.

AJM's core product is a membership service package that includes legal aid for defamation and other journalism-related cases, an IFJ membership card providing international recognition in 120+ countries, professional development through the T-AJM Training Academy and an annual Summer School for Young Journalists, and access to commercial discounts (universities, language courses, transport, restaurants, sports). Supporting programs include the Register of Attacks on Journalists, the Register of Professional Online Media, the Council of Honour self-regulatory body that enforces the Code of Ethics, the annual Indicators on the Level of Media Freedom and Journalists' Safety Index report, journalist awards (Krste Petkov Misirkov for lifetime achievement and Jashar Erebara for one-year achievement), and the recently launched Network for Information Integrity with UNDP. Underlying technology is a WordPress-based website providing membership management, document repository, press clipping archives, and newsletter functionality, with no proprietary platform, API, or AI/ML components.

Revenue is generated primarily through international project grants from the EU, UNESCO, OSCE, UNDP, Council of Europe, and Balkan Trust for Democracy, supplemented by symbolic membership dues (600-1,200 denars for a two-year period, approximately EUR 10-20, with free membership for unemployed journalists), donations, and fees from legal services to members. Go-to-market is direct membership enrollment through the website and physical office, layered with community-led advocacy, events, training programs, and partnerships that drive awareness and member recruitment within the Macedonian journalism community.

Name

Association of Journalists of Macedonia

Legal name

Здружение на новинарите на Македонија

Website

https://znm.org.mk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1946, headquartered in Skopje, and affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists. It serves practicing, retired, and student journalists across North Macedonia with legal aid, training, an IFJ card, and press-freedom advocacy through six regional centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Journalism Association Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAGAE

Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

SECONDARYMPAJADAF

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/News Publishing (Newspapers, Digital Newsrooms, Wire Services)

Keywords

• Professional journalism advocacy
• Press freedom services
• Journalist membership programs
• Media safety training
• Journalist legal aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Skopje

HQ country

North Macedonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from journalists. Ratemember fee set by Management Board. Provides steady recurring revenue base from professional members.
2. Project Grants: Funding from international organizations for specific programs: media freedom initiatives, journalist safety projects, training programs, legal aid, and advocacy campaigns.
3. Donations: Voluntary contributions from supporters, international partners, and sympathizers of press freedom causes.
4. Legal Services: Revenue from providing legal assistance to members in defamation and other journalism-related cases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia is a non-profit professional membership association that provides journalists with legal aid, an International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) membership card, training programs (T-AJM Academy and Summer School), ethical self-regulation through the Council of Honour, and advocacy for press freedom. It also publishes annual Media Freedom and Journalist Safety Index reports and maintains public registries tracking attacks on journalists and professional online media outlets in North Macedonia.

Product overview

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM/ZNM) operates as a membership-based professional journalism organization offering a unified portfolio of member services and programs. The core offering is membership services that provide legal aid, international federation access (IFJ card), educational discounts, and various commercial partnerships. Supporting programs include the T-AJM Training Academy delivering professional development in journalist safety, digital security, and ethics; the Annual Report on Media Freedom and Safety Index; the Council of Honour for self-regulation; and the Register of Attacks on Journalists. AJM also organizes the annual Summer School for young journalists, manages a Network for Information Integrity with UNDP, and administers awards recognizing journalistic excellence. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but provides advocacy, training, and professional development services for journalists in North Macedonia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Services Core membership program for journalists in North Macedonia providing legal aid in defamation cases, an IFJ international membership card recognized in 120+ countries, training access, and member discounts with universities (FON, Goce Delchev), transportation, restaurants, and sports/recreation partners. Members also receive solidarity in cases of attacks or threats.
• T-AJM Training Academy for Journalists and Media Workers Professional development program organizing trainings, workshops, and seminars for journalists covering topics such as journalist safety, digital security, ethics, investigative journalism, and professional standards.
• T-AJM Summer School for Young Journalists Annual multi-day training event for young journalists and media workers covering new technologies, safety and security, investigative journalism, ethics, and mental health and well-being (e.g., Ohrid, 21-25 July 2026).
• IFJ International Membership Card Optional add-on to membership sold at 1200 denars for 2 years, providing international recognition in 120+ countries and access to IFJ partner benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Comprehensive annual reports on media freedom and journalist safety published regularly
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• OSCE Mission to SkopjemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2018Memorandum of Understanding signed March 28, 2018 for organizing joint activities to improve journalist safety and reporting quality. Includes six training sessions for journalists and police on covering high-risk events, manual on journalist safety, and events marking International Day for the Fight against Impunity.
• International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1946AJM has been a member of IFJ since 1946. This membership provides international solidarity, resources, and connects Macedonian journalists to the global federation representing 600,000+ journalists. AJM members receive IFJ membership cards providing benefits in 120+ countries.
• Ministry of Interior (MVR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Cooperation signed to improve journalist safety. Joint activities include training programs, protocol creation for high-risk events, increased transparency and accountability, and joint publications.
• Independent Trade Union of Journalists of Macedonia (SSNM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership on joint projects for journalist safety and media freedom. Collaborated on Safe Journalists project and other initiatives.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent partnership on misinformation and information integrity initiatives. AJM and UNDP launched informal Network for Information Integrity in 2026.
• UNESCOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding through Global Media Defence Fund for journalist safety projects. 'Keeping Journalists Safe in Situations of Crisis' project implemented with UNESCO support.
• Council of EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint seminars on SLAPP lawsuits and European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence. Part of Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans program.
• FON UniversityminorOthersBilateral memorandum providing 50% discount on tuition for AJM members for graduate and master studies.
• Goce Delchev University - ShtipminorOthersPartnership with regional university providing benefits for journalists from eastern region, including joint projects, publications, and training.
• SafeJournalists NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network including AJM, Serbian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Kosovar, and Croatian journalist associations. Focuses on journalist safety and media freedom in Western Balkans.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/znmsobranie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%D0%B7%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0-association-of-journalists-of-macedonia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Journalists of Macedonia