Newspaper Industry

Posted on 2017-01-02 in Newspaper Industry, Special Sections // 0 Comments

Canadian newspapers might be in decline, but they are still the largest source of journalism in this country.

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CWA Canada will fight for members at Saltwire - CWA Canada President Carmel Smyth says the union will be monitoring the situation closely after Saltwire Network Inc. announced today that it is seeking creditor protection. “Our members and retirees can rest assured that we will do everything possible to protect their jobs, wages, and pensions,” she said. The media union represents staff at Saltwire publications the Halifax Herald and Cape Breton Post, through the Halifax Typographical Union (CWA Canada Local 30130) and the Sydney Typographical Union (CWA Canada Local 30460). The union is also awaiting certification to represent staff at the Charlottetown Guardian and the Summerside Journal Pioneer. It’s unclear what exactly will happen but it’s important to know the facts. Saltwire has not filed for bankruptcy. It is not in trusteeship. It has applied for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), which means a monitor will be appointed. It continues to operate and run its own affairs with some “protections” from its creditors. The company is still bound by its collective agreements except to the extent it has asked for relief or variance from a contractual obligation. In the normal course, future obligations, including wages and pension contributions, will be paid in full. In regard to [...]

Moving on Together in 2024 - It has been a tumultuous few years for the media industry. In addition to the decline of news outlets and a significant loss of jobs, we are seeing other challenges. Newspapers continue to cut costs and eye shutdowns or mergers, even though surveys show Canadians oppose a shrinking media landscape. Broadcasters keep slashing jobs, hurting both young workers desperate to practice journalism, and older workers who are often less appreciated as they become more experienced. The proliferation of AI and the related drop in employment show no sign of easing. For years we’ve embraced technology as it has made repetitive tasks manageable. But now we are seeing damaging incursions few could have imagined just a few years ago, such as fully AI-generated copy. Unions must monitor these changes closely and be part of the discussions on how and why AI is implemented in our workplaces. A chilling global challenge is the number of media workers killed and injured on the job, whether in war zones, countries in conflict, or unstable regimes. At least 95 media workers were killed in 2023 according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In most cases there is little hope for justice – impunity reigns. And [...]

Guardian & Journal Pioneer Workers File to Unionize in P.E.I. - Workers at The Guardian and Journal Pioneer newspapers in P.E.I. have filed for union certification The Halifax Typographical Union (CWA Canada Local 30130) filed today with the P.E.I. Labour Relations Board after an overwhelming majority of workers signed union cards. The Island News Guild unit of the HTU will include about 40 reporters, editors, videographers, art designers, district managers, and sales and member services staff in Charlottetown and Summerside. The newspapers are part of the Saltwire chain, based in Halifax. “A union will help us do our jobs better. It will help us retain and train media workers today and tomorrow,” the workers said in a Mission Statement. “To do this, we need yearly cost of living increases, fair wages, adequate staffing, and safe and respectful work environments.” CWA Canada President Carmel Smyth said unionizing will be good for workers, for the company, and for journalism: “With the challenges facing the newspaper industry, it is more important than ever that media workers have a say in their workplace. The best way to improve quality, morale, and diversity is to give workers a voice and the power to bargain a collective agreement.” CWA Canada is the country’s only all-media union, representing nearly [...]

Contracts, outcry reduce forced layoffs at some Postmedia papers - DEBORAH RICHMOND | CWA Canada Web Editor UPDATED 2023-03-21 CWA Canada members who work at nine Postmedia newspapers are still reeling from the latest cost-cutting measures although collective agreements have provided some buffers. In Montreal, an outcry in the anglophone community led the company to scale back newsroom layoffs it had planned for The Gazette. The first of a one-two punch was the announcement on Jan. 24 that the chain, which employs about 650 journalists, would lay off 11 per cent of its editorial staff. Less than a week later came another devastating blow: sale of the Windsor Star’s office and printing plant, with the loss of about 75 media jobs as production of the 135-year-old newspaper shifted to facilities in Toronto and London as of March 3. Two weeks later, another axe fell, with 120 advertising sales staff on Postmedia’s chopping block. That included about a dozen CWA Canada members at five Locals and eliminated sales staff entirely at the Kingston Whig-Standard, North Bay Nugget, and the Star in Sault Ste Marie. The same fate for the Sudbury Star was stymied because the Northern Ontario Newspaper Guild (Local 30232) has jurisdiction language in its contract that prevented layoffs of [...]

Open letter to PM Justin Trudeau concerning the online hate and harassment of journalists - The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.Prime Minister of Canada80 Wellington StreetOttawa, ON, K1A 0A2 Delivered by email Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, We are writing in relation to the increasing and alarming online hate and harassment targeting journalists and journalism as a profession. This is a global problem, which threatens not only the safety and well-being of journalists, but the proper functioning of democracy itself. Many countries are now working on plans to fight back. We are calling on Canadian police and policymakers to do the same. For the most part, these attacks are aimed at racialized and female journalists who are experiencing an increasing number of targeted, vile threats of violence. The trend is clear. In a 2021 Ipsos survey of journalists, 72 per cent of respondents said they had experienced some form of online harassment. At the time, the CAJ co-signed a statement with many Canadian media organizations, affirming that “there can be no tolerance for hate and harassment of journalists or for incitement of attacks on journalists for doing their jobs.” Yet the problem grows. The volume and nature of the rhetoric in the recent string of attacks has caused many journalists, as well as their respective organizations, to fear for their [...]