Saudis acknowledge death of Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabia consulate

From the Rachel Maddow Show last night: Eric Swalwell was interviewed by Joy Reid on the murder of Khashoggi at Saudia Arabia consulate in Istanbul. 

We now know that the White House cancelled a congressional meeting that was planned to share American intelligence with Congress earlier this week. Swalwell is a member of the House Intelligence Committee. Swalwell called on the Saudis to return Khashoggi’s remains to his family and fiancé. He said Congress deserves more information. He said that the FBI should conduct an investigation using its legal attachés in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. He said there should also be a suspension of arms sales to the Saudis until this is resolved. 

Joy Reid pointed out that there are people in Washington on the right that our smearing Khashoggi and Swalwell pointed out that it may originate with the White House. (Personal note – I have seen attacks on the left questioning Khashoggi’s past as well.) 

Swalwell reminded viewers that President Trump had praised his congressional colleague Representative Richard Gianforte for “body slamming” a Guardian Reporter and Guild member last year. He pleaded guilty to assault. He reminded Joy that he introduced the Journalist Protection Act earlier this year to protect reporters and that others in congress are seeking ways to protect journalists. (The NewsGuild and CWA supports the Journalist Protection Act.) 

Meanwhile the Saudis continue to say that the killing of Khashoggi was an accident even though a team of 15 Saudis had arrived in Turkey prior to Khashoggi arriving at the consulate. They had a “forensics expert” among them who came with a bone saw. Intelligence chatter shows that Khashoggi was lured to the consulate where the Saudis had planned to “detain” him. 

Journalists continue to be harmed or threatened worldwide with impunity, but this case shows a direct state-sponsored murder of a reporter. 

Guild with 29 other news groups calls for full investigation regarding journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, never to be seen again. We fear that he was killed because he was critical of the Crown Prince. He was a regular contributor to the Washington Post, and was in self-imposed exile living in Virginia.

“The threat of violence, kidnapping or death to any journalist seeking the truth and reporting it is dangerous to freedom and democracy around the world,” from the letter. The Guild calls on all governments to investigate all killings of journalists such as the recent incident in Bulgaria, and so many incidents in nearby Mexico. Khashoggi Letter 10102018.

Omaha World-Herald newsroom workers vote to unionize

OMAHA, Nebraska, Oct. 8, 2018— Newsroom employees of The Omaha World-Herald voted overwhelmingly on Monday to unionize.

The 71-5 vote by reporters, copy editors and photographers to affiliate with The NewsGuild was part of what organizers said will be ongoing efforts by employees of The World-Herald to maintain and improve the quality of the paper through a fair contract. Staff members supporting the organizing drive said they want to ensure a local voice in the direction of the state’s largest newspaper. Continue reading “Omaha World-Herald newsroom workers vote to unionize”

Virginia journalists gain voluntary recognition from Tronc and join The NewsGuild-CWA

Sept. 14, 2018 – Calling themselves the Tidewater Media Guild, over 100 newsroom employees at Tronc-owned publications The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, Virginia Gazette, and Tidewater Review in Virginia have won voluntary recognition. Together these publications account for the dominant media market in the southeastern Virginia region. Continue reading “Virginia journalists gain voluntary recognition from Tronc and join The NewsGuild-CWA”

CWA Canada members face prospect of lockout, strike

More than 120 members of CWA Canada face the prospect of a lockout and a strike if they don’t accept a Postmedia demand for massive givebacks coming at the same time as the company CEO has received a huge salary increase.

Members of the Ottawa Newspaper Guild began voting Sunday under the threat of lockout Thursday if they don’t accept the so-called deal. Meanwhile, members of the Montreal Guild say they will strike in support of the brothers and sisters if Ottawa is locked out.

Montreal, which Postmedia also owns, is facing the same demand for givebacks.

The 63 members employed by The Ottawa Citizen and the Ottawa Sun are feeling bullied by the company’s tactics, said Lois Kirkup, vice president of the ONG (CWA Canada Local 30205). Members are scared and angry, she said.

“And that was their tactic – to scare people into voting for a really lousy deal,” she said.

During the almost three years of bargaining, Postmedia CEO Paul Godfrey has received a 33 percent pay increase and bonuses while the Ottawa workers haven’t had a pay increase in six years.

Postmedia is demanding concessions on health benefits and sick leave that could cost ONG members thousands of dollars – members who already made concessions on the pension plan.

The 58 members of the Montreal Guild (CWA Canada Local 30111)  who work at The Gazette will strike in solidarity, local President Ron Carroll said.

The executive board of the Communications Workers of America has granted strike approval at the request of CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon.

Virginia journalists choose to join NewsGuild-CWA

By Martha Waggoner, Guild International Chair

Another newsroom has chosen to join The NewsGuild-CWA to give its journalists a voice in their working conditions.

The journalists of The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk and the Daily Press in Newport News have announced that they’re joining TNG -CWA as they fight to ensure wage equity, fair hiring practices and diversity in the workforce. Continue reading “Virginia journalists choose to join NewsGuild-CWA”

International Trade Commission reverses, removes newsprint tariffs

With efforts made by many organizations, including a letter from CWA President Chris Shelton, the ITC removed newsprint tariffs that had been put in place by the Trump administration. The tariffs created significant pressure on publishers when they least need it. See story at:

Getty Images/Natalie Behring

https://www.axios.com/newspaper-tariffs-canada-trade-itc-28b7b58f-4081-484f-a539-170244355be9.html

Panel to vote on newsprint tariffs that TNG, publishers oppose

By Martha Waggoner, Guild International Chair

The NewsGuild-CWA and newspapers owners and managers agree on one issue: the tariff increase on paper is wrong and should be eliminated.

The International Trade Commission meets Wednesday to decide the issue. Among those opposing the tariff increase is TNG, through its parent union, the Communications Workers of America. Newspapers have blamed the tariff increase for layoffs and for reductions in print editions.

CWA President Chris Shelton wrote a letter to the commission, urging that it consider the effects of the tariffs on the U.S. news industry. The commission is an independent government agency that will decide whether to maintain the tariff on uncoated groundwood paper.

In his letter written to the commission in July, Shelton references TNG as representing 25,000 journalists and other media workers. He lists the many problems facing the troubled media industry, including a 30 percent decline in newspaper subscriptions over the past decade.

“Given the upheaval already facing the newspaper industry, I am concerned that steep duties on imported uncoated groundwood paper from Canada could make it even harder for newspapers to succeed in the current economic environment,” Shelton wrote in his letter to David Johanson, chair of the commission.

One paper factory in Washington state, North Pacific Paper Co., and its private-equity owner, One Rock Capital, requested the tariff, The Wall Street Journal and other newspapers have reported. The 87-year-old partner of One Rock Capital, John A. Georges, owns multi-million-dollar homes, as does his son, who’s also a partner at One Rock.

Terrance C.Z. Egger, publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, told the Inquirer that the tariff “is extremely onerous, unfair and totally unwarranted. The damage it is doing to the already fragile state of the economics of newspapers of all sizes across America is severe.”

 

Lee threatens to close Missoula Independent if the union doesn’t agree to shed 3/4’s of the staff

Originally Lee Enterprises had threatened to shutter the paper if the employees organized a union. See this videos from KPAX, a major broadcaster in Western Montana, and a video from freelancer Dan Brooks at the link below, or attached to this brief. Continue reading “Lee threatens to close Missoula Independent if the union doesn’t agree to shed 3/4’s of the staff”