Nov. 20, 2017 – Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) introduced a bipartisan federal shield law on Nov. 14 that would protect journalists from being forced to reveal confidential sources or documents in most cases. Continue reading “Federal Shield Law Introduced in House”
Nov. 17, 2017 – A federal judge issued a stinging rebuke to the St. Louis Police Department on Nov. 15 for aggressive tactics officers used during a wave of protests in September and October. The judge barred officers from declaring protests “unlawful” unless there is an imminent threat of violence, and issued restrictions on the use of pepper spray and other chemical agents on nonviolent protesters.
NewsGuild President Bernie called the ruling “an important, positive development in protecting civil liberties,” but insisted that the union would continue to seek additional legal protections for journalists, who were among those arrested and manhandled during the protests. Continue reading “Federal Judge Rejects St. Louis Police Tactics”
Nov. 16, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission voted to eliminate longstanding rules governing media ownership – rules that are intended to protect local news coverage and guarantee a diversity of voices. As a result, we will face a drastic loss of local news coverage – and jobs – as media companies consolidate. Continue reading “Guild: We Must Continue the Fight for Local News”
Nov. 7, 2017 – The NewsGuild-CWA and NABET-CWA are urging members and supporters to sign a petition opposing plans by the Federal Communications Commission to eliminate longstanding rules governing media ownership – rules that are intended to protect local news coverage and guarantee a diversity of voices.
“If the rules are abolished, residents would face a drastic loss of local news coverage – and jobs – as media companies consolidate,” said NewsGuild President Bernie Lunzer. Continue reading “Guild, NABET: Don’t Let the FCC Crush Local News”
Oct. 25, 2017 – The NewsGuild-CWA has joined the Committee to Protect Journalists and 17 other organizations in writing to the mayor of St. Louis to express concern about the arrest and mistreatment of journalists covering protests in the city in recent weeks. Continue reading “Press Freedom Groups Send ‘Letter of Concern’ to St. Louis Mayor”
Oct. 18, 2017 – The NewsGuild-CWA has developed cards and stickers to promote the Right2Report campaign.
The Real Reporters, Real News card outlines how Guild members produce accurate, quality journalism.
Right2Report stickers feature the campaign logo (above).
Order them Guild@cwa-union.org. Include your name, local, title (if any), the quantity you want of each item, and a mailing address. Continue reading “Right2Report Swag Available”
Oct. 17, 2017 – The NewsGuild-CWA joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and other organizations in filing a friend-of-the-court brief challenging the constitutionality of the national security letter (NSL) statute, which grants the FBI the power to demand customer records from electronic communication service providers and impose gag orders banning providers from disclosing any details of the NSLs they receive.
Continue reading “Guild Joins Challenge to Gag Orders on Gov’t Requests for Info”
Oct. 11, 2017 – The NewsGuild-CWA joined 48 media organizations in filing a friend-of-the-court brief on Oct. 6 in support of a New York Times reporter who is seeking to quash a subpoena for her testimony and notes from a jailhouse interview with Conrado Juarez, who is on trial for the murder of “Baby Hope.” The reporter, Frances Robles, is a member of The NewsGuild-CWA’s New York chapter, The NewsGuild of New York.
Continue reading “Guild Joins Coalition Opposing Subpoena of NY Times Reporter”
Updated Oct. 6, 2017
Oct. 5, 2017 – The mayor and acting police commissioner of St. Louis must be held accountable for the arrest of journalists covering public protests in the city, the Executive Council of The NewsGuild-CWA declared at a meeting on Oct. 5. Continue reading “NewsGuild: Hold Mayor, St. Louis Police Department Accountable”
September 2017 – Members of The NewsGuild-CWA are continuing to stand up for reporters and press freedom through the Right to Report project, even as President Trump amps up his attacks on both.
The president’s war on the media gained steam throughout the summer, beginning with his decision to retweet a 28-second video that depicted him beating up CNN and ending with him questioning journalists’ patriotism at a 2020 campaign rally in Phoenix.
“Trump’s attacks on journalists are straight out of the authoritarian playbook,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Bernie Lunzer. “His goal is to delegitimize the press; distort the truth; deny the American people access to information, and distract from news he doesn’t like. Continue reading “Guild Members Stand Up for ‘Right to Report’”
