Author: Sally Davidow

Mic Union to Management: We Are Watching

This is a reprint of an article published on the website of, on The NewsGuild of New York, Local 31003 of The NewsGuild-CWA on Jan. 18.

Jan. 22, 2019 – It’s been over a month since Mic and Bustle Digital Group (BDG) abruptly laid off more than 100 hardworking reporters, editors, filmmakers, graphic artists and support staff. Mic’s sudden shutdown confirmed our long-held suspicions that management had been repeatedly and consistently misleading employees, investors, and the public, when asked about the company’s financial state, the surety of deals with distributed media platforms, and other factors that culminated in the company’s closure.

Since Mic’s closure, it’s become apparent that Mic and Bustle management are in cahoots, repurposing and posting unfinished content produced by laid-off, unionized workers, often without their consent. This past Friday evening, five weeks after the closure of our newsroom, BDG began quietly posting “content” on Mic.com. Continue reading “Mic Union to Management: We Are Watching”

What would a DFM takeover of Gannett mean for the news industry?

By Julie Reynolds

This is a reprint of an article that appeared on Jan. 17 on DFMworkers.org.

Jan. 17, 2019 – Picture this: Hundreds of U.S. newspapers – essential to our democracy – are controlled by one secretive New York hedge fund, with no obligation to disclose its small group of wealthy investors, hundreds of millions of dollars hidden in offshore tax havens, and a history of ethically questionable investments. Continue reading “What would a DFM takeover of Gannett mean for the news industry?”

Hedge fund Alden attempts takeover of Gannett newspaper chain

Digital First Media’s profits “near the top of the industry,” company says in takeover letter

By Julie Reynolds

This is a reprint of an article that appeared on Jan. 15 on DFMworkers.org.

Jan. 15, 2019 – Billing itself as a savior of newspapers, vulture hedge fund Alden Global Capital has made a $1.36 billion hostile takeover bid to acquire Gannett’s chain of more than 100 local papers.

If successful, the move would make Alden’s Digital First Media the largest newspaper chain in the country (in terms of circulation), while extending Alden’s heavily criticized slash-and-burn strategy to hundreds of U.S. communities. Continue reading “Hedge fund Alden attempts takeover of Gannett newspaper chain”

NewsGuild seeks, receives assurance from DoubleTree Hotel that racist incident won’t be repeated

By Martha Waggoner, TNG international chair

Jan. 10, 2019 – The NewsGuild-CWA has been assured that racist incidents such as the one that occurred at a DoubleTree Hotel in Oregon will not occur during the Guild’s sector conference in Florida.

The Guild’s Executive Committee wrote the manager of the DoubleTree in Orlando and to the president of Hilton Hotels, which owns DoubleTree, after an African-American guest at the hotel in Portland, OR, was ordered to leave. Continue reading “NewsGuild seeks, receives assurance from DoubleTree Hotel that racist incident won’t be repeated”

Law360 Union members unanimously ratify strong first contract

Dec. 18, 2018 – After nearly two years at the negotiating table, Law360 editorial staffers unanimously approved a first contract that offers significant improvements in pay, working conditions and security to Guild-covered employees at the LexisNexis-owned legal news site. Continue reading “Law360 Union members unanimously ratify strong first contract”

Fight for $15 organizers win first contract!

Dec. 18, 2018 – Fast food organizers represented by United Media Guild Local of The NewsGuild-CWA ratified their first contract on Dec. 15.  The organizers are employed by the National Fast Food Workers Union, an affiliate of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union). Continue reading “Fight for $15 organizers win first contract!”

Staff of Hoy Los Angeles Joins L.A. Times Guild

Dec. 17, 2018 – Management of the Los Angeles Times has agreed to add the journalists of Hoy Los Angeles to the ranks of the Los Angeles Times Guild, the local announced on Dec. 17.

The staff of the Spanish-language paper petitioned the L.A. Times for union recognition as part of the local on Nov. 28. Continue reading “Staff of Hoy Los Angeles Joins L.A. Times Guild”

Workers at Casper Star-Tribune Ratify First Contract

Dec. 17, 2018 – Journalists of the Casper Star-Tribune voted 10 to 0 to approve a Collective Bargaining Agreement on Dec. 14, ratifying the first contract between workers and their employer in the paper’s 127-year history. Continue reading “Workers at Casper Star-Tribune Ratify First Contract”

It’s Official! Employees at PCMag, Geek, Mashable, AskMen Win Voluntary Union Recognition

Dec. 14, 2018 – It’s official! Employees at PCMag, Geek, Mashable and AskMen won voluntary union recognition from Ziff Davis management on Dec. 14, becoming the latest in a series of successful organizing campaigns. Continue reading “It’s Official! Employees at PCMag, Geek, Mashable, AskMen Win Voluntary Union Recognition”

Gazette, Advocate employees vote to unionize

Dec. 12, 2018 – Workers at the Daily Hampshire Gazette and Valley Advocate in Northampton, Mass., voted in favor of unionizing on Wednesday.

Shortly after voting ended at 8 p.m., Bera Dunau, a member of the Organizing Committee, emerged from the office where the votes were counted and declared, “We have a union!” Continue reading “Gazette, Advocate employees vote to unionize”