Updated Dec. 11, 2019, to include statement from Bernie Lunzer.
Dec. 10, 2019 – Jon Schleuss has won the election for NewsGuild-CWA president by a vote of 1,979 to 1,514, unseating incumbent Bernie Lunzer. Continue reading “Jon Schleuss Wins Race for NewsGuild President”
This article first appeared on the DFMworkers.org on Dec. 5, 2019.
By Julie Reynolds
Dec. 5, 2019 – One week after Alden Global Capital announced it took a nearly one-third stake in Tribune Publishing, the New York hedge fund appears positioned for a full takeover of Tribune newspapers by next summer. Continue reading “Real estate sell-off and increased debt are possible outcomes of an Alden takeover”
Continue reading “Joyous Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald workers win union!”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 20, 2019
Washington, D.C. – The purchase by Alden Global Capital of a 25.2 percent stake in Tribune Publishing is a source of deep concern for NewsGuild-CWA members.
“Alden has single-handedly hollowed out the news organization it controls,” said NewsGuild President Bernie Lunzer. “It has liquidated assets – both real estate and employees – solely for its own benefit and without regard to the effects of its policies on news reporting in towns and cities across the country,” he said. Between 2012 and 2019, Alden cut 71 percent of Guild-represented jobs at MediaNews Group newspapers (aka Digital First Media) it controls. Continue reading “NewsGuild-CWA Denounces Alden Stake in Tribune Publishing”
Nov. 18, 2019 – NewsGuild-CWA President Bernie Lunzer submitted written testimony to the House Financial Services Committee for its Nov. 19 hearing titled, “American for Sale? An Examination of the Practices of Private Funds.”
The testimony exposes the destructive role of Alden Global Capital, which controls Digital First Media.
“The hollowing out of local news is no mere inconvenience,” Lunzer notes. “Because of the draconian cuts, many local newspapers can no longer cover city meetings, community events, school board votes or high school sports. Recent research from the University of Illinois–Chicago and the University of Notre Dame found that communities that have become “news deserts” pay higher taxes and bond rates and are at greater risk of political corruption. Other studies show lower voter turnout and increased partisanship. In other words, when the watchdogs are gone, democracy dies. Private equity has helped kill the watchdogs.”
Nov. 18, 2019 – 54 cents. That’s what Latinas in the U.S. earn, on average, for every dollar earned by white men.
And the disparities exist in the news business, too. Continue reading “54 cents.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 14, 2019
Washington, D.C. – “The vote by shareholders approving the merger of GateHouse Media and Gannett is bad news.
“The deal is bad for journalists, it’s bad for readers and it’s bad for the future of local journalism,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Bernie Lunzer. “Local papers will likely vanish, jobs will be slashed, and reporting will suffer.” Continue reading “The GateHouse-Gannett Merger: Bad News”
The NewsGuild-CWA Sector Election and Referendum Committee reminds Guild members that balloting in the presidential election is underway and encourages them to participate. Continue reading “Balloting Underway”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 8, 2019
Washington, D.C. – The merger of GateHouse Media and Gannett poses a threat to journalism, an analysis by The NewsGuild-CWA shows.
“This merger will hurt the communities these media organizations serve,” said NewsGuild President Bernie Lunzer. “To fund the merger, local papers will likely disappear, jobs will be slashed, and journalism will suffer.” Continue reading “NewsGuild-CWA: GateHouse-Gannett Deal Threatens Journalism”
This article first appeared on the website of Washington Post Guild.
Nov. 8, 2019 – Washington Post employees work hard every day to ensure that our company is a leader in the journalism industry. Members of our company’s union, The Washington Post Newspaper Guild, believe The Post should also lead the way in how it treats its staff.
