SAN ANTONIO — Journalists at Texas' oldest major newspaper, the San Antonio Express-News, along with reporters for MySA.com, said Wednesday that they are unionizing to fight for "fair and competitive compensation, stable benefits and career development opportunities."
It's a historic step for the 159-year-old newspaper that comes during a volatile period for journalism outlets across the country. In a vote, 68% of eligible San Antonio Express-News and MySA.com employees expressed their desire to unionize.
The San Antonio NewsGuild will also negotiate for protections against layoffs and more competitive benefits, the guild said in a news release. Lawyers for Hearst, which owns the paper, denied their request for voluntary recognition, the guild said.
KENS 5 has reached out to Hearst for a statement and is waiting for a response.
The guild, which represents 68 journalists, said it presented its mission statement to Express-News Publisher Mark Medici, saying it planned to "strive for an inclusive environment where every member feels respected, valued and able to reach their full potential."
"Our union is dedicated to promoting a workplace that celebrates differences in race, gender, age, sexual orientation and background," the mission statement goes on to read. "The San Antonio Express-News and MySA are forming a union to safeguard our future as a news provider."
In January, reporters at The New York Daily News and Forbes walked off the job amid contentious contract talks with management. Time magazine and Condé Nast, the publisher of Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ and other marquee magazines, both announced significant job cuts. Then, the Los Angeles Times laid off more than 100 employees, or more than 20% of its newsroom, with staffers walking out in protest last month.
According to the Pew Research Center, total circulation for U.S. daily newspapers has plunged from 63.3 million in 1984 to 22.7 million in 2021. Advertising dollars fell by 80% between 2006 and 2022, and the number of visitors to newspapers' websites has also been in decline since 2020.
"We didn't come to this decision lightly," Express-News Metro Columnist Elaine Ayala said in the release. "We made it after careful reflection of this newsroom's past, present and future. The truth is we've needed union representation at the Express-News for a long time, and we're glad this day has finally arrived."
Employees at the Houston Landing, Texas Tribune and San Antonio Report also have announced their intent to unionize since the start of 2024. The San Antonio NewsGuild says it's filing for an official election with the National Labor Relations Board.
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