Jon Schleuss, President of The NewsGuild, Communications Workers of America (TNG-CWA), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the use of artificial intelligence in journalism and the News Guild's lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. Schleuss also shared insights on recent union organizing efforts in the media industry.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette strike, now approaching 1,000 days, remains a critical issue for the News Guild. Schleuss detailed the recent court hearing in Philadelphia, where the union sought enforcement of a National Labor Relations Board order against the newspaper. He also discussed the company's refusal to bargain in good faith and improve on proposals dating back to 2017, highlighting the broken labor law system in the U.S. Schleuss stressed the need for accountability, suggesting that company executives should face legal consequences for violating labor laws.
Artificial intelligence in journalism has emerged as a significant concern, and Schleuss discussed the News Guild's efforts to protect journalists and maintain journalistic integrity. He highlighted the case at Politico, where AI-generated content produced inaccurate information about abortion rights in the U.S. The News Guild is taking the company to arbitration, arguing that AI must be held to the same high journalistic and ethical standards as human employees. Schleuss emphasized the importance of human reporters over robots in ensuring accurate and truthful reporting.
Schleuss then addressed the News Guild's lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security for targeting journalists during recent protests in Los Angeles. He described accounts of journalists shot with rubber bullets and tear gas despite clearly identifying themselves as members of the press. The lawsuit, filed in collaboration with the ACLU and the Los Angeles Press Club, aims to protect journalists' First Amendment rights and ensure their safety while covering news events. Schleuss stressed the critical role of a free press in informing the public about government actions and maintaining democracy.
Listen to this full episode of the America's Workforce Union Podcast for more insights on these issues and others.