Elections

NMG announces election schedule

An election will be conducted for all seats on the News Media Guild’s Executive Committee (whose members shall also be jointly elected as TNG and CWA convention delegates) and the Representative Assembly.

The nominating period opens on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2020. Nominations must be RECEIVED by Oct. 5, 2020. In the event only a single nomination is received for an office, that person shall be declared elected. Ballots will be mailed on Nov. 2, 2020. Ballots will be counted on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2020. Please contact the NMG for a full copy of the election rules.

The following offices will be elected.

Executive Committee and TNG Sector Conference/CWA Convention delegates. Three-year terms starting Feb. 22, 2021. All members at AP, EFE, Guardian and UPI may run for office and cast ballots.

President and 1st delegate
First Vice President and 2nd delegate
Secretary-Treasurer and 3rd delegate
Second Vice President and 4th delegate
Third Vice President and 5th delegate

Representative Assembly. Three-year terms of office for both delegate and alternate, starting Feb. 22, 2021. The RA is divided into districts. You must work within a district to represent that district.

 

AP Central: AP editorial unit members Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Texas.

 

AP New York City: All AP unit members working in New York City.

 

AP East: AP editorial unit members working in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

 

AP Photographers: At-large seat representing all AP member photographers.  To hold office, a member representing this district must be employed by Associated Press as a photographer.  However, any AP editorial unit member may nominate a photographer for this post.

 

AP South: AP editorial unit members working in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

 

AP Television: At-large seat representing all members working for AP Television.  To hold office, a member representing this district must be employed by Associated Press in Television or Video departments.  However, any AP editorial unit member may nominate a television worker for this post.

 

AP Washington: AP editorial unit members working in the District of Columbia and the

Broadcast News Center.

 

AP West: AP editorial unit members working in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

 

AP Technology: At large seat covering all AP Technology Unit members regardless of location.

 

EFE News Service: At-large seat representing all members working for the EFE News Service.

 

Guardian-US: At-large seat representing all members working for Guardian-US.

 

United Press International: At-large seat representing all members working for United Press International.

 

CAMPAIGNING: Use of the News Media Guild stationery for campaign literature is prohibited. Upon their request, one campaign statement from each qualified EC, TNG Convention or RA candidate shall be sent with the list of candidates mailed to all branch chairpersons for bulletin board posting. Such statements of no more than 200 words shall arrive at the News Media Guild office no later than the deadline set for candidate acceptance, five days after the close of the nominating period. NMG shall print these candidate statements, if provided, in all annual elections, and special elections if possible, prior to the mailing of ballots. Stories should strive for equal space or balance about candidates in election stories, and solicit statements, background and photographs from all candidates. The language in this section shall be carried in all election notices, including lists of candidates

News Media Guild Elections Committee

NMG Leaders Meet To Discuss Budget, Recruitment, Elections

The News Media Guild’s top leaders met via Zoom Aug. 13-14 for its annual meeting, opting for a virtual gathering rather than in-person in Washington, D.C. due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Under the new format, leaders discussed the budget, discussed upcoming guild elections and focused on member recruitment. Here are some of the highlights:

  • The Representative Assembly adopted a new budget for the upcoming year that reflects ongoing bargaining expenses and membership levels.

  • News Media Guild President Jill Bleed, who works in the AP’s Little Rock bureau, announced she would not run for another term in the Guild’s upcoming elections. All Guild leadership seats are up for reelection this year. Anyone interested in running for office is encouraged to reach out to Bleed.

  • News Guild President Jon Schleuss gave an update on national efforts to organize and protect local newsrooms. The Guild’s new organizer, Marissa Dadiw, also provided an update on her ongoing union efforts.

  • This year’s Freeman Award was presented to the Washington state staffers for their extraordinary work on pressing the company for not following state law regarding sick leave carryover. Named for former Guild member and mobilizer Rick Freeman, the award honors the Guild member who goes above and beyond in service to the Guild. Rick, who died in 2017 from brain cancer at age 40, was a tireless advocate for unions and workers and we hope this award can keep his legacy alive.

Pageant workers guild issues statement on abrupt layoffs

On July 2, just weeks after editorial workers at Pageant Media Limited voted to unionize, the company eliminated six employees from the bargaining unit. Claiming werea plan to restructure, there were laid off, a fourth was offered a job in London, and two were told they would have to apply for one new management job.

The  Pageant Media Workers’ Guild has released a statement on the abrupt layoffs. CLICK HERE to read the guild’s statement.

 

 

 

 

Resources for Covering Protests

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press have released several guides for journalists covering protests. Please feel free to take a look. 

 

Police, Protesters and the Press

 

How to Protect Yourself When Covering a Protest

 

Reporters Committee tracks curfew orders in wake of nationwide protests

 

Also, as we’ve seen more targeting of journalists by police across the country, here are suggestions recently pulled by NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss and other local officers and unit leaders.

 

  • For those covering protests, push employers to provide protective equipment — and be wary of overdressing in a way that could make you the target. Bicycle helmets and goggles are helpful in protests, but don’t draw a lot of attention.
  • Be sure to communicate with police and activists and tell them that journalists are just doing their jobs and should not be attacked.
  • Reach out to the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma and others to do training and find ways to support each other’s mental health during this pandemic and protests.
  • Provide a safe space, even if on Zoom, to support colleagues, especially our Black colleagues, and start a dialogue.

Guild meets with AP over equipment and safety

Earlier this month, the Guild’s Health and Safety Committee met with AP to dig deeper into concerns about equipment and safety that have sprung up in light of nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd.

 

During that meeting, the Guild pressed for more press credentials, equipment and safety guidance and the company agreed.

 

For those interested, please contact your manager if you need protective equipment and/or an AP credential.