Most of this work is done through the International Federation of Journalists, the worldwide grouping of journalists' unions representing over half a million journalists in more than 100 countries.

The Brussels-based IFJ Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work under the direction of an elected Executive Committee, supporting journalists and their unions whenever they are fighting for their industrial and professional rights, promoting international action to defend press freedom and social justice, and defending freedom of political and cultural expression.

As an affiliate to the IFJ, the NUJ has a say in the setting of its policy by taking part in its triennial Congress. The NUJ joins in its formal activities and campaigns, and regularly takes part in the targeted work of IFJ Projects, the Federation's aid programme. In particular, the NUJ is playing a major role in the IFJ work in the Arab world (Palestine, Egypt and Iraq), Latin America (Venezuela and Colombia), the Asian subcontinent (India and Sri Lanka), and Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Russia).

The NUJ is equally involved in the IFJ’s major “expert groups” in advancing the campaigns and policies of the international movement. Including:

• The Authors’ Rights Campaign aiming at strengthening the rights of authors.
• The Labour Rights Expert Group dealing with trade union rights, solidarity assistance and industrial relations.
• The Freelance Rights Expert Group to defend and promote freelance rights.

The NUJ uses the global reach of the IFJ to fight the increasing concentration of media in the hands of fewer global conglomerates, to network journalists’ unions in different countries in order to strengthen organising and bargaining, and to campaign for international standards comprising international codes of conduct and conventions on social and trade union rights.

In addition, the NUJ participates in the IFJ’s campaigns within the UN and UNESCO, benefiting from its respective consultative and associate status.With the increase in the death toll of journalists covering conflicts worldwide, the International News Safety Institute promotes practical action world-wide to increase the safety and protection of journalists and media staff.

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