A labor union dedicated to quality journalism through fair working conditions for the men and women who provide the news.

The Guild represents workers at The Associated Press, United Press International, and employees of the Spanish EFE News Service

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Longtime AP special correspondent Linda Deutsch talks about the value of the Guild and what the EEOC settlement meant for women

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NMG’s John Flesher wins Best of States award

Posted on Mar 03, 2014 Last Updated Mar 03, 2014 Posted by Linda Johnson

Amid this winter’s storm of storm coverage, NMG member John Flesher found a great way to make weather news stand out, earning him last week’s AP Best of the States award.

Flesher, a correspondent based in Traverse City, Mich., noticed an unusual detail amid the snowstorms and frigid weather: The Great Lakes were freezing over.  Great planning and advance legwork made his story really stand out.

Tracking daily ice updates from the federal government over several weeks, and interviewing scientists and other sources from his years of Great Lakes environmental coverage, he was ready when the ice cover neared 90 percent. d already contacted the Coast Guard about visiting an icebreaker ship and he checked out various vantage points for great views, including famous ice caves.

As a result, The AP produced a great package with text, photos and video far deeper and broader than any rival’s coverage, earning wide play.

Staffers protest AP’s unfair contract offers; talks continue

Posted on Feb 26, 2014 Last Updated Mar 03, 2014 Posted by Linda Johnson
Washington, DC, staff protest AP's contract offer Wednesday.

Washington, DC, staff protest AP's contract offer Wednesday.

Camera gear amid the baby gear

Camera gear amid the baby gear

AP staffers protested the company's contract offers while NMG and company negotiators bargained Tuesday and Wednesday.

Guild-covered staffers wore their Guild red t-shirts, buttons and lanyards.

Photographers and video journalists across the country -- protesting AP's proposal to reduce their reimbursements for covering news -- sent the company photos of the mobile offices they have long voluntarily provided for free. The company wants to slash their weekly mileage minimum and make them guarantee their vehicles will be available 24/7.

Talks covering those reimbursements, health care costs -- a key sticking point -- and other issues were mostly off the record and wrapped up Wednesday afternoon with no news. New sessions are soon to be scheduled.

Bargaining began in late July and AP terminated the contract covering about 1,100 journalists, technicians and support workers in early December.

Tons of photo gear to cram inside

Tons of photo gear to cram inside

Laptop, sunshades -- instant office.

Laptop, sunshades -- instant office.

 

 

Photographers, VJs protest AP’s expenses proposal

Posted on Feb 25, 2014 Last Updated Feb 25, 2014 Posted by Martha Waggoner

In a letter delivered Tuesday, more than 75 photographers and video journalists told the Associated Press they wouldn't use their cars for work if the company insists on a change to expenses that would cost some staffers thousands of dollars.

"Many of us look at the proposal, shaking our heads and wondering just how and why we are expected to supply what, in effect, is a fleet of lease cars out of our own pockets," the letter reads. "The only alternatives for many will be to use rental cars, taxis and public transportation."
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Bargainers for the News Media Guild gave the letter, accompanied by 12 photos of the equipment that photographers and VJs cram into their cars, during bargaining.

Photographers and VJs now receive a $103.25 weekly car allowance. AP wants to cut that to a weekly, taxable stipend of $33. The company wants them to sign affidavits that they’ll make their personal vehicle available for business any time the company wishes for at least a year.
For other staffers, AP wants to eliminate the $15 daily minimum and instead pay the IRS business mileage rate, which is 56 cents for 2014.

The letter says photographers and VJs use their cars as rolling offices "that we are expected to make available 24-7. The company expects us to jump in the car and race to spot news and other assignments, often times with a reporter in tow."
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If the AP's proposal becomes part of the contract and photographers and VJs don't use their own cars, then they would have to leave camera gear in their bureaus and go there to pick it up when news breaks. "This is unacceptable but unavoidable if we are saddled with extra personal vehicle costs," the letter says.

Also Tuesday, the Guild and AP were meeting off-the-record as part of an attempt to reach terms on an overall contract.

Contract talks with AP resume today, Wednesday

Posted on Feb 25, 2014 Last Updated Feb 25, 2014 Posted by Linda Johnson

The News Media Guild resumes bargaining with The Associated Press in New York today. A second session is set for tomorrow.

Talks today are expected to cover a variety of unresolved issues, including AP’s onerous proposals to reduce mileage reimbursements for covering the news _ the focus of this week’s mobilization.

For photographers and videographers who currently receive a $103.25 weekly car allowance, AP wants to cut that to a weekly, taxable stipend of $33. The company wants them to sign affidavits that they’ll make their personal vehicle available for business any time the company wishes for at least a year.

For other staffers, AP wants to eliminate the $15 daily minimum and instead pay the IRS business mileage rate, which is 56 cents for 2014.

On Wednesday, talks are to focus on health care costs. The two sides are about $3 million apart on how much of AP’s costs will be shifted onto staffers. The company’s latest proposal would shift more than $2,300 on average onto each staffer this year alone.

NMG’s Pennington wins Beat of the Week for U.N. scoop

Posted on Feb 22, 2014 Last Updated Feb 22, 2014 Posted by Linda Johnson
Matthew Pennington

Matthew Pennington

NMG member Matt Pennington won this week’s AP Beat of the Week award for breaking news three days ahead of the competition that the United Nations was about to issue a report highly critical of North Korea’s human rights record.

Pennington, based in Washington, covers U.S.-Asian affairs for the North America desk, writing frequently about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and human rights issues there.

Pennington’s sources on the repressive country include government officials and activists there. Last February, he broke news the U.S. was going to back the European Union and Japan in seeking a U.N. commission of inquiry to probe alleged atrocities under Kim Jong-un, his father and his grandfather.

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