March 30, 2020 – “People need reliable local news during this crisis — they need to know where the tests are, which hospitals are overwhelmed and how many of their neighbors have died. They need reporters holding federal, state and local officials accountable,” NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss said on Monday.
“That’s precisely the role Gannett’s employees, including many NewsGuild members, provide.
“Our nation simply cannot afford to furlough or lay off journalists and other news industry employees in this time of crisis.
“Yet Gannett today announced the company plans to furlough journalists beginning next week, cutting reporting capacity and journalists’ salaries by 25 percent. It’s not clear that the company has sought relief through the stimulus package.
“Gannett should reconsider its plan and seek support to continue news operations that are essential during this pandemic. We’d support them in that — with conditions that protect workers and strengthen the publications.”