All posts by Jeff

Major battles loom for GateHouse journalists

Journalists from all the GateHouse/New Media properties need to come together to fight for their craft, their institutions and their communities. GateHouse managers are painting a pretty picture of life after bankruptcy. The existing properties will merge with the old...

TNG monitors GateHouse bankruptcy for its members

The Newspaper Guild and its parent union, the Communication Workers of America, is closely monitoring the GateHouse bankruptcy proceedings. At the moment it appears no existing Guild contracts will be impacted by this pre-packaged bankruptcy. It also appears the United...

Making sense of the Affordable Care Act

State Journal-Register reporter Dean Olsen offered comprehensive analysis of the Affordable Care Act and its impact on Americans with a five-part series. The series drew the attention of Politico, among other national media outlets. Political Pulse cited the series in...

Rockford unit elects officers, prepares for negotiations

The new Rockford unit of the United Media Guild elected officers during its first official meeting Sunday. Veteran Rockford Register Star reporter Melissa Westphal was elected president of the unit. The group elected Register Star photographer Max Gersh as the...

Springfield prepares to launch public campaign

Here is the update from our Springfield unit on the slow-moving negotiations at the State Journal-Register: It’s obvious from the slow pace of negotiations between the SJ-R Newspaper Guild and GateHouse Media that the company is in no hurry to...

Pekin unit elects new vice-chair

The United Media Guild was sad to see Pekin vice-chair Jon Reed leave the Daily Times for another professional opportunity. Reed was one of the strongest activists in our entire local. He helped lead the organizing drive and the long,...

St. Louis Review ratifies contract extension

UMG members at the St. Louis Review ratified a one-year contract extension with two key elements:  A 3 percent raise in pay and stronger jurisdiction language. The latter provision was especially important. The Archdiocese of St. Louis is currently evaluating...