Dozens of New York Times workers have formed a group to defend journalistic independence amid concerns the union representing the Times and hundreds of other news organizations has become too supportive of a range of issues.
The newly formed “Independence Caucus” consists of high-profile journalists such as Megan Twohey, Julian Barnes and Emily Bazelon.
It will work within the NewsGuild-CWA framework, and will be open to employees of rival publications, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“We want to articulate the standards that many members have to live up to, and why we think they’re important, and undermining them and undermining them for us is a problem,” said Twohey, who was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that uncovered allegations of sexual assault against former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
The caucus “believes that journalists must be able to report independently, according to the facts where they lead with an open mind and without outside interference,” according to a document sent by organizers to the Times Guild, a subsidiary of the larger NewsGuild.
A group of New York Times reporters are forming their own union called the “Independence Caucus.” Getty Images
According to the Journal, the new union’s founding members were upset by NewsGuild’s recent actions, including when the union was involved in coverage of transgender issues and at a recent virtual meeting where union members debated the merits of issuing a statement calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and termination of US government aid to Israel.
Those who support the new union say such a move would undermine their neutrality and put colleagues in war zones at risk.
Jacob Bernstein, a reporter for Styles’ division, argued that it would be a mistake for the union to host such a debate without a war correspondent who could speak to security concerns.
“What does that say about your commitment to fact-finding and our welfare?” he asked.
Others argued that the idea of releasing a statement violated New York Times policy, which states, “Staff members may not march or rally in support of public causes or movements,” the Journal reports.
It also reminded some that the NewsGuild represents a group with conflicting philosophies and rules.
Megan Twohey is one of the organizers of the union conference. Getty Images Members of the caucus, including Emily Bazelon, were frustrated by what they saw as unions supporting different issues. Neilson Barnard
Afterward, Twohey sent a message to his colleagues on Slack about forming an “Independence Caucus.”
“Our national union has grown rapidly, and some members do not work at media organizations,” he wrote, according to messages reviewed by the Journal.
“We see this caucus as, in part, a way to continue important conversations in our union about how to respect and balance the different priorities of our broad membership.”
Matthew Rosenberg, who has covered the war in Gaza, later responded that he agreed.
“I hope we live in a time where we can let our work speak for itself,” he wrote, according to the Journal.
“We don’t and too often we sit idly by while colleagues in the media (mostly outside the NYT) take overtly political stances.
“Some of us feel it’s time for us to speak up.”
Organizers, including Julian Barnes, were deeply upset by the recent NewsGuild virtual meeting discussing the possibility of issuing a statement to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. X/@julianbarnes
Others have gone further and are reportedly considering ways to break away from NewsGuild altogether, and have even held meetings with lawyers about the possibility, according to the Journal.
Speaking to the outlet, NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss said he supports the formation of a new caucus “and will always support workers coming together to debate issues and make our union stronger.”
On those thinking of leaving the union, he said: “This is not my way of dealing with problems. I am more thoughtful, if I want to change something, I will be more involved.”
He also denied that the union was taking a stand on the war in Israel, saying the NewsGuild had not actually considered issuing a statement and that it had only held meetings to hear members who wanted to issue a statement and those who opposed the idea. .
“We have hundreds of people writing to us and contacting us on all sides,” he told the Journal. “What we have is a listening session to hear from people live.”
The Independence Caucus will exist under the current Times Association and will be open to reporters from other outlets. AFP via Getty Images
He also said that the NewsGuild has represented organizations “outside the media for a very long time,” saying he believed it would be “good for us” to have a debate.
And he noted that the union’s members and leaders have issued statements and resolutions dating back 90 years, when its convention passed a resolution stating that abortion and contraception “should be a personal matter for a woman to decide.”
It confirmed that statement last year, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The Post has also reached out to the NewsGuild for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
