America’s journalists oppose California’s backroom deal between AI companies and news bosses

Yesterday afternoon, Google, California Assembly member Buffy Wicks, California Governor Gavin Newsom and many of California’s publishing lobbies announced “a first-in-the-nation partnership with the State, news publishers, major tech companies and philanthropy, unveiling a pair of multi-year initiatives to provide ongoing financial support to newsrooms across California and launch a National AI Accelerator.”

After two years of advocacy for strong antimonopoly action to start turning around the decline of local newsrooms, we are left almost without words. The publishers who claim to represent our industry are celebrating an opaque deal involving taxpayer funds, a vague AI accelerator project that could very well destroy journalism jobs, and minimal financial commitments from Google to return the wealth this monopoly has stolen from our newsrooms.

Not a single organization representing journalists and news workers agreed to this undemocratic and secretive deal with one of the businesses destroying our industry. Moments ago, the following opposition letter was filed with the California legislature:

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NYT Tech Guild Kicks Off Union Election

An election to formalize the union of 600 New York Times tech workers began Monday as the National Labor Relations Board mailed ballots to eligible employees. It is a historic milestone in a campaign where workers have fought for recognition since first announcing that they had formed a union last April. Ballots will be counted between February 28 and March 7. 

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Workers of Color Of Change win voluntary union recognition

Oct. 28, 2020 – Staffers of Color Of Change, one of the nation’s largest racial justice organizations, announced Wednesday that they have won voluntary union recognition from management. They will be represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild local of The NewsGuild-CWA. Continue reading “Workers of Color Of Change win voluntary union recognition”

The Markup Union

Two wins in one day: Markup Union receives voluntary recognition

Oct. 16, 2020 – Staffers of The Markup, a nonprofit digital publication that covers the ethics and impact of technology on society, announced Friday that they have formed Markup Union. It was the second union victory of the day, following an overwhelming vote by the journalists of the Dallas Morning News and Al Día to form the Dallas News Guild. Continue reading “Two wins in one day: Markup Union receives voluntary recognition”

Digital staff of People Magazine wins union vote, 45-3

Sept. 14, 2020 – Digital employees of People Magazine voted 45-3 in favor of unionizing Friday in a digital vote conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The overwhelming victory secured the staffers’ representation by The NewsGuild of New York local of The NewsGuild-CWA. Continue reading “Digital staff of People Magazine wins union vote, 45-3”

Journalists of Hilton Head Island Packet, Beaufort Gazette hope to become South Carolina’s first union newspaper

Sept. 9, 2020 – The journalists at The Hilton Head Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette took a major step toward becoming South Carolina’s first active newspaper union on Wednesday, announcing they are forming the Packet/Gazette Guild. Continue reading “Journalists of Hilton Head Island Packet, Beaufort Gazette hope to become South Carolina’s first union newspaper”