New York Needs the Daily News: Unionized Journalists Walk Off the Job in One-Day Protest Over Hedge Fund Owners’ Slashing of Resources
Journalists at New York’s Hometown Newspaper, the Daily News, walked out Thursday — the first walkout since the end of their historic strike in 1991 — fed up with chronic cuts ordered by the paper’s owner, the ‘destroyer of newspapers’ Alden Global Capital.
The 24-hour work stoppage included an in-person picket beginning at 10 a.m. and rally at noon at 1412 Broadway. The location is outside Workville, a co-working space that is the company’s substitute for a newsroom since they closed the Daily News’ offices in 2020.
“Alden wants to act as if we are not being chiseled,” said union steward Michael Gartland, an award-winning reporter who's covered three NYC mayors. “We’re not going to engage in that intellectual dishonesty. In reality, we’re being crushed for cash. As a result, staff is diminished, which means our ability to cover the city is diminished. We believe this is bad for New York.”
That cash extraction extends even to the way Daily News journalists are paid as they are trying their best to cover a city of over 8 million. The News once boasted the "Largest Circulation in America;" and was 4,000 employees strong. By the year 2000, circulation dropped by nearly half and the publication underwent several rounds of devastating job cuts. Since the spring of 2022, 27 people have left and the Guild-represented staff now totals 54 people.