Blog

Blog

Journalist Shirley Chrisholm with Gen. Augusto Pinochet

Readers of AP’s articles were getting virtually all their news from one group: white men.

This article by NewsGuild International Chairperson Martha Waggoner was first published on June 27, 2019, by Poynter.

July 3, 2019 – It happened more than 50 years ago, but Peggy Simpson remembers the details clearly.

After the excitement of the early days of the trial of Jack Ruby, covered by male reporters, she had handled the daily grind. She would work the overnight shift at the Dallas bureau of The Associated Press, go home to shower and head to the courtroom. But on the day the case of the man accused of killing President Kennedy’s assassin went to the jury, she arrived to find another reporter in her seat – a man. Continue reading “Readers of AP’s articles were getting virtually all their news from one group: white men.”

In blistering heat, Philadelphia Guild fights layoffs

June 27, 2019 – Members of The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia protested impending layoffs in blistering heat on June 26, chanting, “Save local news!” Turnout was tremendous, President Diane Mastrull wrote on the local’s website.

“Now we wait to see if wisdom and true innovation prevail.”

Union leaders will meet with managers on June 28 and expect to find out if they plan to proceed with layoffs at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Twenty-two members have opted for buyouts, but the company wanted to eliminate 30 positions.

Under the local’s collective bargaining agreement, the company is required to give 15 days’ notice of a layoff. Following a notice, the union can file an appeal.

In the meantime, the union is asking members to encourage their family and friends to send emails to Terry Egger, publisher of the Inquirer, and urge him to “do the right thing for journalism and this city” by preserving the jobs.

 

The Alden Global Capital Crazy Wall

In which we map Alden’s layers of shell companies to try to figure out who owns your hometown newspaper

This article first appeared on June 24, 2019, on the website of DFMworkers.org.

By Julie Reynolds

Almost every crime movie these days has a crazy wall. It’s one of those bulletin boards detectives put together while they’re trying to solve a crime, and they usually have lots of strings connecting people, places, companies and crime families.

You know, like the Avon Barksdale wall in The Wire

Continue reading “The Alden Global Capital Crazy Wall”

Alden President Heath Freeman and others may face subpoenas, depositions

This article first appeared on June 6, 2019, on the website of DFMworkers.org.

By Julie Reynolds

June 6, 2019 – The secretive business practices of Alden Global Capital, owner of the Digital First Media newspaper chain, will soon face scrutiny in a federal bankruptcy court, just weeks after Alden’s failed attempt to take over Gannett Co. Continue reading “Alden President Heath Freeman and others may face subpoenas, depositions”

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”