UNS info

30. 09. 2025.

Author: Aleksandra Ničić

Young journalist and trade unionist Barroso Quintana: We are professionals of words, images, and voices - so let’s use them

‘Young journalists in Spain rarely join trade unions because they often see them only as a tool for solving personal issues. Young union representatives, through numerous initiatives, aim to change that perception and show that a union can be a powerful ally in promoting labor rights and professional journalism’, Dеborah Barroso Quintana, a journalist and Youth Secretary of the Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) union, told Journalists' Association of Serbia.

According to Barroso Quintana, there is often an equality sign between achieving journalists’ labor rights and producing quality information. Journalists who are in a poor financial situation and lack resources, she added, often cannot do their work the way they would like. That is why it is important for them to fight for their rights, and for unions to enable that fight.

For this reason, young union members use various programs and training sessions to acquire the tools and knowledge that can encourage their colleagues to actively participate in the union, thereby strengthening the professional community.

 

Such program is organized by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), which recently included a seminar in Brussels two weeks ago. Young journalists and union representatives from different European countries had the opportunity to learn about the role of trade unions in Europe, the institutions of the European Union, and various actors at the European level, as well as to develop skills in teamwork and promoting their ideas in a multicultural environment.

Journalist Dеborah Barroso Quintana developed ideas within the program on how to improve the position of young journalists in Spain. We spoke with her about the challenges of the Spanish media system, journalists’ labor rights in this country, and their union organization.

What are the key challenges that young journalists in Spain face today?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana: In general, I would say that the main problems faced by young journalists in Spain are precarious working conditions, characterised by low salaries and high demands. Often, the media do not have enough resources to cover all the news or current events, so professionals end up feeling overwhelmed as they have to do everything possible to meet deadlines without the tools required. It is also difficult to work under certain editorial lines that have become more radical in recent years and leave little room for truthfulness in these media outlets. We are seeing a clear trend towards sensationalism in news headlines, falling into clickbait that benefits no one. In fact, this only generates confusion and social unrest.

How often do young journalists join trade unions compared to their older colleagues?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana: The number of young journalists who join a trade union today is quite low compared to older people. We cannot forget that we are part of different realities. Older people have lived through a series of circumstances and struggles that are far removed from us as young people (for better or for worse). Nowadays, concerns are different and class consciousness and views on trade unions have changed. In general, we are seen as an organisation that is useful when there is a (personal) problem. If there isn't one, why pay a membership fee?

 

Is there resistance among journalists in general to joining trade unions in Spain? 

Dеborah Barroso Quintana: I wouldn't say there is resistance to joining a trade union, but it's true that people don't see the need for it in their day-to-day lives.

Why do they think they don't need trade unions in their day-to-day lives?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana: Perhaps this is due to the fast pace of life, the individualism that has taken hold of our society, and the lack of information about what a trade union is and what it does today.

Trade unions in Spain have a long tradition and strong structure. How does this make it easier for young journalists, particularly through CCOO Canarias, to organize and defend their rights?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  We do have an employment advisory service that offers information and resources to help people understand specific employment issues, such as contracts or agreements in the sector. We are now in the process of publicising these services and connecting with young people in the world of journalism.

 

 

Can you describe a trade union action by CCOO Canarias or any trade union action in Spain in general that significantly impacted journalists’ working conditions and brought about concrete change?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  In recent months, CCOO has been part of a new agreement with the Audiovisual Production employers' association to increase the salaries of the sector's workforce during 2025 and 2026. In addition, both parties have agreed to move forward with the professional reclassification of the sector, which must be agreed upon before 31 January 2026. This could mean higher wages for certain jobs that are currently below the levels they should be. This is just one example of the importance of being the largest trade union organisation in the country: we have the capacity to negotiate better working and social conditions for all workers.

Can members of CCOO Canarias include journalists employed under atypical contracts, or only those who are permanently employed?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  Anyone who wishes to do so can join CCOO. You don't need a specific contract to join our union, just a desire to change things, fight for what is fair (including better working and social conditions, of course) and know that, most likely, you have someone nearby who is willing to lend a hand when you need it. I want to make it clear that behind that helping hand there is a whole organised team of hard-working people who are all pulling in the same direction.

To what extent are young journalists employed under atypical contracts (similar to freelance contracts in Serbia), and to what extent are they employed on fixed-term or permanent contracts?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana: Journalists usually have permanent contracts, although freelance professionals are also sometimes employed (especially in the audiovisual sector). In the Canary Islands, we have both public and private media companies, but in both cases, employees usually have permanent contracts.

 

 

What are the biggest challenges you personally face in organizing and supporting young colleagues through CCOO Canarias – Secretaría de Juventud?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  I would say that the biggest challenge is to convey the true magnitude of the union in the most accurate and accessible way possible. We are not just an acronym; we are a safe and stable space to belong to, from which we fight for improvements for everyone. We work on the basis of fundamental social and democratic values to guarantee coexistence and well-being, but not everyone fully understands this. More specifically, with regard to young journalists, I believe that today we must address the emergence of AI in all areas of work, but more specifically in communication. On the one hand, we must ensure that new technologies are not used by companies as a means of reducing their workforce and, on the other, the fight against fake news is becoming an even more complex challenge.

Your organization for young journalists uses digitally oriented formats such as carousels and short videos. How does this approach help young people understand their rights and responsibilities?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  The answer is very simple: we are speaking the same language as them and we are in the same place as them. Understanding this is essential in order to connect and converse with young people. Social media allows us to convey complex messages in a simplified and direct way. We are still in the process of creating a new and truly safe space for everyone, but the content we have already published is generating interest, impact and attraction.

Which digital content format (carousel, video, story) attracts the most young people, and why?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  I would say that the best strategy involves a mix of all the formats that exist. It is important to know them well in order to know when to use a video, when it is better to prepare a carousel, or when an image is sufficient, but it is clear that using all of them helps us to have a greater impact. Right now, medium-length videos (no longer than 1 or 2 minutes and only if you tell a well-structured story) work best, but carousels also provide a lot of visibility for topics that require a more leisurely or detailed explanation.

 

Which methods used by CCOO Canarias - Secretaría de Juventud would you recommend for young journalists in Serbia, where trade union organization is less developed?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana: Communication, communication, communication. And a lot of creativity too. We are professionals of the word, the image and the voice. We literally have the tools in our hands. It's time to use them.

Have you cooperated with journalists from Serbia? How aware are you of labor rights, trade union organizing and journalism in Serbia?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  Not yet, this is our first contact, but I am sure it will not be the last. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for giving me this space to talk about the reality of journalism in Spain and in my region, the Canary Islands. Thank you for your kindness, warmth and professionalism.

 

 

Why did you enroll in the YTUL programme and what competencies have you gained?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  I firmly believe that knowledge is power, but not from a perspective of imposition, rather from wanting to have the tools to be free to think. This can only be achieved through learning. In this particular case, having the opportunity to live with people from other European countries is enriching because it allows me to learn about other realities, share opinions and concerns, and understand how other people in their countries deal with the same issues that concern us in Spain. For now, the biggest lesson I have learned is that, despite the miles that may separate us, we are actually in the same boat and working towards the same goals. I also find it interesting to learn about our place within the European Union and the impact that trade unions have.

Why is the slogan All in this together, that participants of YTUL program came up with, important for you as someone who is a young trade unionist and journalist?

Dеborah Barroso Quintana:  First of all, it's an incredible song from High School Musical, isn't it? Joking aside, it's certainly the best slogan that perfectly explains what a trade union is and what journalism should be. Trade unionism is unity, it's fighting together for a common goal, it's not hating others because, no matter how hard they try, we are not different. There is too much hate speech leaving its mark on people, seeking to divide and weaken us as a society. We need to regain a sense of community and class above individual and momentary interests. In terms of information, journalists must stand firm in the face of the new challenges ahead, such as the fake news I mentioned earlier and the spread of hatred that I highlighted. Not everything goes. Journalism plays a key informative and social role in our society and, as professionals, we must ensure that this continues to be the case.