This is due to increasing concerns about existing unions being swayed by power.
WSJ “An example of a large media company’s values conflicting with an individual reporter’s”
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 17th (local time) that as concerns grew that the journalists’ union representing the New York Times (NYT) and other media companies in the United States was being swayed by power, some NYT reporters formed their own organization.
According to WSJ, dozens of NYT reporters, including well-known journalists such as Megan Tui, Julian Barnes, and Emily Bazelon, have formed a new group named ‘Independence Caucus’ within the US journalists’ union ‘News Guild-CWA’.
These reporters’ actions come as conflict between the NYT’s union and the editorial board has intensified over the past year. WSJ reported that at a recent online conference held by the News Guild, some reporters argued that issuing a statement calling for the US government to stop aid to the Israel-Hamas conflict undermines media neutrality.
Some NYT reporters commented that these incidents exceeded the union’s authority or violated NYT policy.
Matthew Rosenberg, a NYT reporter who has been covering the Israel-Hamas conflict, said, “I wish we lived in a time where we could speak for ourselves about our work,” and added, “We are not currently like that, and we cannot speak out against our colleagues in the media taking blatant political positions.” “It is time to release it,” he said.
“We are always supportive of journalists coming together to discuss issues and making unions stronger,” News Guild President John Schullers said. “We support the formation of new organizations.”
WSJ explained this move as “an example of how the positions of some reporters who seek to express their opinions on political and social debates clash with the values of large media companies.”
The ‘Independence Caucus’, which was formed under the leadership of NYT reporters, plans to also accept membership applications from journalists from other competitors.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.