Press Releases | The NewsGuild

STATEMENT from Sports Illustrated Union and The NewsGuild of New York on layoffs at SI

For Immediate Release: Jan, 19, 2024
Media Contact: Jen Sheehan, jen@nyguild.org

“We have fought together as a union to maintain the standard of this storied publication that we love, and to make sure our workers are treated fairly for the value they bring to this company. It is a fight we will continue.” – Mitch Goldich, NFL editor and unit chair.

Earlier today the workers of Sports Illustrated were notified that The Arena Group is planning to lay off a significant number, possibly all, of the Guild-represented workers at SI, a result of Authentic Brands Group (ABG) revoking Arena’s license to publish SI.

STATEMENT from Pitchfork Union and The NewsGuild of New York on layoffs at Pitchfork

NEW YORK – Pitchfork Union and The NewsGuild of New York categorically condemn the Condé Nast announcement Wednesday that it plans to lay off eight Guild-represented members as part of an internal corporate reorganization that will “fold” Pitchfork into GQ magazine.

Condé Nast provided no further information about the future of the premiere music publication, demonstrating once again a lack of regard for the workers who have contributed to the company’s success.

Condé Nast management announced on Nov. 1 plans to lay off 5% of its workforce. Since then the Guild has been fighting on behalf of all affected workers. In a December meeting with Guild bargaining members, Condé Nast representatives said there would be no layoffs at Pitchfork.

We saw on Wednesday just how untrustworthy Condé Nast management is.

“Our members are essential to the ongoing and future success of Condé Nast. The reporters, editors, producers, researchers and all the people who make award-winning music journalism for Pitchfork, deserve better than to be treated like disposable parts,” said Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York. “We will continue to hold Condé Nast accountable and to fight for the recognition and compensation our members have earned, as we explore all possible options to support those affected.”

High Country News staff form wall-to-wall union

54 years after its humble beginnings as a newspaper in Wyoming, the national magazine’s unionizing efforts will go towards pay parity and equitable working conditions.

Press contact: McKenna Stayner, hcnunion@gmail.com
Website: www.hcnunion.org
Twitter: @HCNUnion Instagram: @HCNWorkers

On Jan. 9, staff at High Country News, a 54-year-old nonprofit magazine that covers lands and communities in the Western U.S., announced their intent to unionize. The High Country News Union has organized with the Communications Workers of America Local 37074, Denver News Guild, joining peers such as the Denver Post and Casper-Star Tribune. On a national scale, High Country News staff joins the ranks of an increasing number of nonprofit newsrooms to unionize, from Grist to CalMatters to ProPublica.

“I’m so excited to see what HCN will become when staff have a real and meaningful say in our workplace. The High Country News Union will be a body to receive and digest all our individual needs and reflect our shared goal of making HCN a better, healthier work environment,” said HCN’s Features Director McKenna Stayner.

For respect and fair wages: Evansville Courier & Press employees announce union campaign

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Citing slashed resources and jobs and the prospect that nothing will change without action, the award-winning journalists of the Evansville Courier & Press are uniting to form a union.

The launch is intended above all to perpetuate the high standard of investigative journalism, sports, food and news coverage for which the Courier & Press long has been known — by giving a greater voice in the workplace to the journalists who make it all happen every day.

Unions call for accountability in Kansas newspaper raid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Writers Guild of America, East and The NewsGuild-CWA demand the Marion County Police department be held accountable for its raid of the Marion County Record newspaper in Marion, Kansas.

The officers and officials who seized computers, phones and other data from reporters and the newspaper’s offices engaged in activities that are an affront to the constitutionally protected rights of journalists and news media workers.

Press freedom is a cornerstone of our democracy that is enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution and our unions will do everything to protect and preserve a free and independent press.

Members of the Florida Times-Union Guild talked with members of the community in Jacksonville in March 2023.

Gannett journalists to strike during annual shareholders meeting

Reporters call on Gannett shareholders to vote no-confidence in CEO Mike Reed, citing Reed’s gross mismanagement

Two dozen newsrooms and hundreds of journalists expected to take part

NATIONAL — Gannett journalists today announced that they would be holding a wave of nationwide strikes starting on June 5, the day of Gannett’s annual shareholder meeting. Hundreds of union journalists in two dozen newsrooms from California to New York are expected to take part to demand that Gannett get serious about reinvesting in local news, in the largest collective action that Gannett employees have taken to date.

Journalists will take one-day walkouts on the day of the meeting, with some newsrooms walking off the job for two days or more. The Gannett publications participating will come from more than half a dozen states, including California, Arizona, Texas, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey and New York.

Screenshot of letter from NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss to President Biden, calling for the U.S. to fight for the release of Evan Gershkovich, who is held by Russian authorities

NewsGuild-CWA calls on Biden to secure release of Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia

Update: U.S. officials designated Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained” on April 10.

Read the letter

The NewsGuild-CWA, the largest union of journalists and media workers in North America, called on President Biden and his administration to take all necessary steps to secure the immediate release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested by Russian authorities last week.

Evan Gershkovich has a distinguished record of reporting on the Kremlin’s war efforts, profiling Russian dissidents and covering the stories of wartime life in border towns in Russia and Ukraine. His recent work has exposed the Russian government’s attempts to squash dissent and discourage antiwar protests, as well as highlighting the inner workings of President Vladimir Putin’s advisory circle.

NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss expressed appreciation for President Biden’s call for Russia to release Mr. Gershkovich and for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the matter. However, Schleuss urged the U.S. administration to work swiftly with Roger D. Carstens, special envoy for hostage affairs, to designate Mr. Gershkovich as wrongfully detained under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.

President Schleuss implored President Biden to use the full force of his office and the diplomatic resources at his disposal to secure Mr. Gershkovich’s release, engage with international partners to amplify this message, and to provide support to Mr. Gershkovich’s family during this difficult time.

“Journalism is not a crime,” Schleuss said. “No journalist should be arrested for doing their job.”

Schleuss also urged restraint in any retaliation against Russian journalists in the United States, emphasizing that a reduction in the number of journalists working in the U.S. would not be beneficial.

Schleuss emphasized the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists worldwide as cornerstones of democratic societies and called on the U.S. administration to stand up for the rights and safety of journalists.

The NewsGuild-CWA represents journalists and media workers at more than 240 news organizations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, including those at The Wall Street Journal. While Mr. Gershkovich is based overseas and not a member of the union, his colleagues are standing with him, denouncing his arrest and demanding his release.

About The NewsGuild-CWA
The NewsGuild’s represents about 26,000 workers including journalists, interpreters, translators, workers at organizations dedicated to fighting for social justice and the staff of nonprofit organizations. The NewsGuild is a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents workers in telecommunications and information technology, the airline industry, health care, public service and education, manufacturing and other fields.

Media contact: (202) 434-1175 jschleuss@cwa-union.org

Screenshot of letter from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Frank Pallone

Statement on Pelosi’s call for tougher scrutiny of TEGNA takeover

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact (202) 434-1175

The following statement can be attributed to NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss:

NewsGuild-CWA members are thankful that Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Pallone have joined us in calling on the FCC to scrutinize the takeover attempt of TEGNA, one of the largest producers of local TV news. Hedge fund Standard General, backed by anonymous investors located in the Cayman Islands and elsewhere in the world, will treat TEGNA as just another part of its portfolio of casinos, cruise lines and other non-media properties.

The Speaker and Chairman rarely weigh in on cases like this, but their letter shows that they understand the threat posed by predators like Standard General.

Local news is being murdered by Wall Street firms who are only interested in cutting jobs to finance their debt. The FCC can stop this deal, protect local news and permit our members to serve the public with high quality local news.

The letter from the Speaker and the Chairman is just one more reason the FCC should closely examine this deal and then block it in its entirety. There are no concessions Standard General can make that would turn this deal into one which serves the public interest. As the union of America’s journalists and media workers, we proclaim that it’s time for private equity to stop slaughtering our country’s free press.

About The NewsGuild-CWA

The NewsGuild is the largest union of journalists and media workers in North America, representing about 27,000 workers in media, the public sector at nonprofits and other labor unions. The Guild is one of the fastest growing unions on the continent and is a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents workers in telecommunications and information technology, the airline industry, health care, public service and education, manufacturing and other fields.

Washington Post Guild releases 2022 pay study and powerful new report from Black employees

Study finds “The Washington Post still operates with systems that perpetuate inequalities.”

After almost two years of work by a team of dedicated union members, the Post Guild’s 2022 Pay, Diversity and Retention Study and Black Caucus testimonial report were released Wednesday.

These reports build upon work the Guild presented in its 2019 pay study, with additional data, striking testimonials and detailed analysis that support a growing concern shared across employees at the company: The Washington Post still operates with systems that perpetuate inequalities.

Condé Nast employees form company-wide union covering 500+ workers, call for voluntary recognition

Union represents editorial, video, and production workers across all Condé Nast’s brands that haven’t already unionized, including Vogue, Bon Appétit, Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, and GQ

Workers slam Condé Nast for low pay, lack of diversity and equity, heavy reliance on contract workers, and absence of clear standards for performance evaluation and career development

In a major step forward for workers organizing in the media industry, employees of Condé Nast’s editorial brands and Condé Nast Entertainment announced Tuesday the formation of Condé Nast Union, demanding voluntary recognition from management.