Author: Sally Davidow

CWA, NewsGuild join ACLU class-action complaint against Minneapolis, Minnesota law enforcement agencies

Suit accuses officials of deliberately targeting journalists in violation of First Amendment

Updated June 10, 2020, 11 a.m. – Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright issued an order last night denying the motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and for class certification. We are still digesting the ruling, but it is clearly a disappointment. The Court did not consider the amended complaint in making its decision. Fortunately, both motions were denied without prejudice. “We will continue the fight,” said NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss.

June 9, 2020 – The Communications Workers of America and The NewsGuild-CWA joined a class-action lawsuit on Monday against Minneapolis and Minnesota law enforcement agencies, accusing them of deliberately targeting, assaulting, and arresting journalists as they covered protests following the police killing of George Floyd. The lawsuit, initiated by the ACLU-MN, was filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota on June 3. Continue reading “CWA, NewsGuild join ACLU class-action complaint against Minneapolis, Minnesota law enforcement agencies”

Denouncing management decisions at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

June 8, 2020 – NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss and CWA District 2-13 Vice President Ed Mooney denounced racist actions by management of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette statement, which barred two prominent Black journalists from covering protests after the death of George Floyd and retaliated against other newsroom employees who supported them.

In response to management’s actions, NewsGuild members launched a letter campaign seeking Support for Post-Gazette Black Journalists.  Continue reading “Denouncing management decisions at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette”

NewsGuild joins call to MN officials: End arrests, attacks on journalists

June 3, 2020 – The NewsGuild-CWA  joined more than 100 news organizations on June 2 to call on Minnesota officials to “end the series of police arrests and attacks on credentialed and clearly identifiable journalists.”

“Police have arrested, detained, and threatened journalists, and have physically assaulted them with rubber bullets, pepper spray, tear gas, batons, and fists. In every case that we are aware of, there are strong indications that officers knew the journalist was a member of the press,” the organizations wrote, in a letter initiated by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Continue reading “NewsGuild joins call to MN officials: End arrests, attacks on journalists”

‘No place in our democracy.’ NewsGuild condemns arrests, assaults on journalists.

June 1, 2020 – More than 100 journalists were arrested and assaulted by law enforcement over the weekend while covering unrest across the country, according to the Harvard’s Nieman Lab. Among them were a Los Angeles Times reporter who was tear gassed at point-blank range, a freelance reporter who was permanently blinded in her left eye after being struck with rubber bullets, and a photojournalist for WCCO TV, who was struck with a rubber bullet and taken into custody by Minnesota State Patrol. And millions watched CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and his crew get arrested on live television.

“I was disturbed to see blatant attacks on our press freedom over the weekend. From Fox News to MSNBC, from Minneapolis to Louisville, journalists were among those singled out for simply doing their job — covering protests following the death of George Floyd. Attacks against members of the press, violence against Black communities and brutality against peaceful protesters have no place in our democracy,” said NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss.

Continue reading “‘No place in our democracy.’ NewsGuild condemns arrests, assaults on journalists.”

CWA Statement on Need to Dismantle the Racism that Plagues Our Communities

Editor’s note: NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss is a member of the CWA Executive Board, which issued the statement below on May 29, 2020.
As we reach a tragic milestone of 100,000 deaths due to COVID-19, we find ourselves confronting the other plague that has been rampaging through our communities since long before the pandemic: Racism. Compounding the devastation of a global pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted Black communities, Black people in America continue to face threats, brutality, and death for going out jogging. For being poor. For sleeping in their own bed. For watching birds in a park. For being Black.

Continue reading “CWA Statement on Need to Dismantle the Racism that Plagues Our Communities”

Seeking a stable environment for local news, Billings Gazette staff announces union drive

May 28, 2020 – The news staff of Montana’s largest daily paper, the Billings Gazette, announced the formation of the Montana News Guild on Thursday and asked the publication’s parent company to voluntarily recognize the union. Continue reading “Seeking a stable environment for local news, Billings Gazette staff announces union drive”

Digital journalists of Seattle Times announce union organizing campaign

May 26, 2020 – The digital journalists at the Seattle Times announced plans Tuesday to unionize and to join their colleagues in the Pacific Northwest local of The NewsGuild-CWA. More than 100 Seattle Times journalists are already members of the union. Continue reading “Digital journalists of Seattle Times announce union organizing campaign”