Watchdogs on furlough: A thwarted secret deal, an intensely local story

By Dean Olsen

Aug. 6, 2020 – Readers called and emailed the Florida Times-Union over the past year with appreciation for the newspaper’s commitment to uncovering apparent secret deals behind the now-canceled attempt to sell the city of Jacksonville’s municipally-owned utility to a private entity. Continue reading “Watchdogs on furlough: A thwarted secret deal, an intensely local story”

Judge Approves McClatchy Sale; Chatham to Assume Labor Agreements

Aug. 4, 2020 – U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Wiles approved the sale of the McClatchy Company’s assets to Chatham Asset Management on Tuesday for $263 million in debt and $50 million in cash, with Chatham granting a new $87 million loan. The newspaper chain had filed for bankruptcy in February. Continue reading “Judge Approves McClatchy Sale; Chatham to Assume Labor Agreements”

United For Hope wins union recognition

July 28, 2020 – Frontline staffers at Hope Community, Inc. announced Monday that they won voluntary recognition of their union, United For Hope, from management of the nonprofit organization. The workers will become part of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild local of the NewsGuild-CWA. Continue reading “United For Hope wins union recognition”

NewsGuild urges Senate leaders: Support S. 3718

July 27, 2020 – As pressure on Congress intensifies to renew emergency funding for individuals and industries whose finances have been devastated by COVID-19, NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss is urging Senate leaders to support the Local News and Emergency Information Act of 2020 (S. 3718). The bipartisan bill would expand eligibility under the Paycheck Protection Program so that individual publications that are part of large chains would qualify for assistance. Continue reading “NewsGuild urges Senate leaders: Support S. 3718”

ACLU of Kansas United wins union recognition

July 21, 2020 – Staffers at the ACLU of Kansas won union recognition on July 20 after management of the organization dropped its anti-union campaign and agreed to allow a neutral party to verify support for the union. The procedure, known as “card check,” showed unanimous support for the ACLU of Kansas United. Continue reading “ACLU of Kansas United wins union recognition”

Journalists of Dallas Morning News announce union organizing campaign

July 20, 2020 – The journalists of the Dallas Morning News and its sister paper Al Día took a major step toward forming a union Monday, making their newspaper staff the biggest in more than two years to join the wave of union organizing. Continue reading “Journalists of Dallas Morning News announce union organizing campaign”

Save The News Town Hall: Fighting for Our Newsrooms

Updated July 16, 2020 – What is the NewsGuild doing to save jobs and protect journalism as our industry faces a potential “extinction-level” downturn amid the COVID-19 pandemic? NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss and a panel of leaders from across the Guild discussed the fight to save our newsrooms during a virtual town hall on Wednesday, July 15.

Watch the video here. Continue reading “Save The News Town Hall: Fighting for Our Newsrooms”

In wake of McClatchy auction, Guild vows to fight for journalists and readers

July 13, 2020 – Chatham Asset Management, the hedge fund that is McClatchy Co.’s largest creditor, won an auction to buy the bankrupt news company on Friday. McClatchy owns 30 publications in 14 states and Washington, D.C., including the Miami Herald, the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, the Charlotte Observer, the (Raleigh) News & Observer and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Continue reading “In wake of McClatchy auction, Guild vows to fight for journalists and readers”