Journalists and media workers have unionized in the United States at a record pace. At the same time news companies have cut jobs, putting the country’s democracy at risk.
The NewsGuild-CWA, a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), seeks a campaign lead to channel the energy of our members, community supporters and policy stakeholders into winning legislative initiatives that support the follow demands:
Common Good Demands
- Staff that is Adequate in Number – Hiring: In the last decade thousands of papers have shut their doors and half of all journalist jobs have disappeared. Existing newsroom staff have been cut to the bone and current workers are doing too much with too little – at Gannett outlets media workers are producing top-tier journalism in lowest-tier conditions. Gannett must immediately increase hiring into newsrooms across the country and make real a commitment to local journalism and local journalists.
- Diverse in Perspective – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: In-depth, committed local news coverage requires newsrooms that have a diversity of views, cultures, and perspectives. As Gannett hires across the chain it must seek to create newsrooms diverse in perspective and skilled in navigating the communities being covered.
- Developing Expertise in Craft – Sustainable Jobs: Gannett must commit to sufficient compensation to enable media workers to live and thrive in the communities they cover. The sustained deep and vital connections required to produce in-depth local news, the experience and training that feeds that growth, can exist only if media workers have secure jobs and fair compensation. Additionally, media workers must be afforded the benefits and paid-time off that support healthy work-life balance.
The position is initially slated to last a year but is subject to possible extension.
The ideal candidate will have experience running multiple organizing campaigns with professional workers. They will have the organizational and strategic skills necessary to inspire and activate workers to take action.
The position will report to The NewsGuild-CWA leadership and the CWA Organizing Director, coordinating regularly with senior campaign leads. The position can be based anywhere. It is currently remote but will involve regular travel once it is safe to do so.
Job Qualifications:
- Willing and able to take regular direction and learn from experienced campaign staff
- Willing to commit, energy, heart and long, irregular hours
- Ability to learn and implement the campaign basics
- Be able to take notes, listen and get information/report back to campaign leadership to evaluate campaigns
- Ability to assess workers’ support of the campaign, identify potential committee members, move workers to make concrete commitments and take action, recruit people to a committee, facilitate committee meetings, work with groups.
- Understand and discuss issues in a way that contribute to the momentum of an organizing campaign.
- Have a fundamental commitment to building a diverse and democratic labor movement and ability to organize workers from diverse backgrounds and demographics.
- Willing to attend an Organizing Institute
- Basic communications skills, able to do basic flyers and other written material
- Strong social, written and verbal communication skills
- Motivated self-starter able to learn and troubleshoot without heavy supervision
- Driver’s license and reliable car, must be able to travel to work locations away from home/office location.
- 1-2 years (2 years preferable) of prior labor, political or community organizing experience
- Patient in pressure situations and savvy with conflict management
- Bilingual, a plus
Responsibilities when employed in an Organizing campaign:
- Ability to assess
support of the union or campaign, identify potential committee members, move workers to make concrete commitments and take action, recruit people to a committee, facilitate committee meetings, work with groups - Understand and discuss issues in a way that contribute to the momentum of a campaign
- Utilize numerous organizing tactics including home-visiting, cold phone
calling, hand billing, etc. - Have a fundamental commitment to building a diverse and democratic movement and ability to organize workers and citizens from diverse backgrounds and demographics
- Along with campaign leadership, be able to work effectively with committee members
- assist with moving campaigns to stage 3, i.e., an NLRB election or voluntary recognition campaign
- keep the organizing committee on track
- motivate them to move through roadblocks and be public when it is time
- give them a realistic assessment of progress and inoculate them
- Work with the local to help identify and encourage others in local to participate in organizing campaigns and build support for organizing
- Along with the District Organizing Coordinator, be able to help develop and implement a local organizing plan
- Submit reports as required, but at least monthly
- Must be able to work on projects to build the local, but also be able to assist in national and district organizing projects.
- Be heavily involved in major National and District Organizing Priority campaigns
- Capable of running campaigns with minimal
assistance, motivate and dig out committee members, work in a team with other organizers involved in the campaign - Be able to communicate effectively in writing, in speaking, and via electronic media. Be able to work with data bases, able to do basic flyers and other written material
- Able to function as a trainer at an Organizer Institute and train organizing committee members
- Work with locals on National and District priority campaigns and help local organizers
- Travel to work locations away from home and work location by car and plane to locations as needed
- Computer skills that allow at least intermediate-level data management and communication
Job Specifications
Compensation: $73,617.07-$93,413.08/year depending on experience with an excellent benefits package.
The NewsGuild-CWA is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates who would expand the diversity of the Guild staff.
