Congress Dives Into Local News Crisis

This article first appeared on June 3, 2019, on DFMworkers.org.

By Julie Reynolds

June 4, 2019 – Legislative efforts to save local news continue in Washington after New York hedge fund Alden Global Capital’s failed takeover of the Gannett newspaper chain.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has vowed to “continue watching Alden closely.” Continue reading “Congress Dives Into Local News Crisis”

Workers at Three Digital Publications Win Union Recognition

May 22, 2019 – The NewsGuild-CWA had a banner day on May 21, when three digital publications organized by the New York Local won voluntary union recognition.

Workers at Ars Technica, Pitchfork and Quartz are the latest to join the wave of journalists who are unionizing. Continue reading “Workers at Three Digital Publications Win Union Recognition”

Senators blast Alden Global Capital’s “newspaper-killing business model”

This article first appeared on the website of DFM Workers on May 20, 2019.

By Julie Reynolds

May 21, 2019 – Twenty-one prominent US Senators have sent a scathing letter to the founders of Alden Global Capital, decrying its “newspaper-killing business model” and vowing to “continue watching Alden closely.” Continue reading “Senators blast Alden Global Capital’s “newspaper-killing business model””

Alden Suffers Stinging Defeat in Effort to Take Over Gannett

May 16, 2019 – Alden Global Capital, the hedge fund known as “the destroyer of newspapers,” suffered a stinging defeat on Thursday when Gannett shareholders rejected its hostile takeover bid.

The NewsGuild-CWA, which called had called on Gannett shareholders to reject Alden’s take-over efforts, was thrilled with the news. Continue reading “Alden Suffers Stinging Defeat in Effort to Take Over Gannett”

Vote Count Gets Underway in Election of NewsGuild President

Updated 4:10 p.m. EDT

The ballot total has been revised to 2,227. Two pieces of mail retrieved from the post office box were not intended for the Guild.

May 13, 2019 – Members of the Sector Election and Referendum Committee (SERC) have begun processing ballots in the election of The NewsGuild-CWA president. Ballots were retrieved from the post office box in Washington, DC, on May 13 and transported to the MITAGS facility outside Baltimore, where the count is taking place. Continue reading “Vote Count Gets Underway in Election of NewsGuild President”

NewsGuild Election Committee to Begin Vote Count May 13th

The following statement was issued by Scott Edmonds, Chairman of the NewsGuild/CWA Sector Election and Referendum Committee.

May 10, 2019 – “The election to determine who will be president of the NewsGuild/CWA is entering its final phase, which will conclude sometime next week. Continue reading “NewsGuild Election Committee to Begin Vote Count May 13th”

On World Press Freedom Day, NewsGuild members say, ‘Save Local News’

Check out photos of NewsGuild-CWA members fighting to Save Local News on World Press Freedom Day, May 3.

May 7, 2019 – NewsGuild members at DFM and Gannett newspapers marked the day with rallies in Denver and Detroit and lit up the Twittersphere using the hashtag #SaveLocalNews. Continue reading “On World Press Freedom Day, NewsGuild members say, ‘Save Local News’”

On World Press Freedom Day, NewsGuild warns of danger to local news; Urges shareholders to reject Alden’s hostile bid for Gannett

May 2, 2019 – On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, The NewsGuild-CWA will warn of the danger to local news coverage in communities across the United States and urge Gannett shareholders to reject a looming hostile takeover bid by Alden Global Capital, a New York hedge fund.

Alden, reviled as a “destroyer of newspapers,” owns Digital First Media, the second largest U.S. chain by circulation. Alden is backing a slate of three “hopelessly conflicted” candidates running for Gannett’s board at the company’s May 16 shareholder meeting. Continue reading “On World Press Freedom Day, NewsGuild warns of danger to local news; Urges shareholders to reject Alden’s hostile bid for Gannett”