Exhibit F of how Google is deliberately screwing over the news industry and accelerating its financial tailspin

Reports that Google is considering removing access to some news sites for its California users, is deeply troubling. I’ve been working in Congress to protect access to local journalism and keep our communities informed and I will be monitoring this situation closely.

“If California and Google still want to have independent journalists…somebody is going to have to pay us to do it. The California Journalism Preservation Act reasonably suggests that the people who profit from journalists’ work should help foot the bill.” sfchronicle.com/opinion/openfo…

Quality Journalism Is More Important than Ever by Anya Schiffrin, Dylan W. Groves and Joseph E. Stiglitz

project-syndicate.org/commentary/rev…

Gustavo is right. The Long Beach Media Guild is not going quietly into that good night.

We care so much about the communities we cover and I’m not ready to walk away from it without a fight.

Please follow and/or subscribe to The Watchdog. longbeachwatchdog.substack.com

latimes.com/california/sto…

👠 Join us at Hamburger Mary’s this Friday, 4/19 for an LBMG DANCE PARTY! All donations go to the Relief Fund to help our laid off and striking workers with rent and bills while they continue the fight for local journalism in Long Beach.

$10 suggested donation at the door. 21+

Ironic that Google News Initiative @Google is sponsoring the International Journalism Festival as it censors news in CA. If you really want to support journalism, pay for the new you use #IJF24

These are the kinds of dedicated Long Beach Media Guild journalists working for The Watchdog. We don’t get to repost wire stories to fill up our front page. We’re out in the field, getting tickets and telling stories.

Please consider subscribing to The Watchdog here: longbeachwatchdog.substack.com

The Austin NewsGuild won a ULP against Gannett when they tried to take away the match shortly after unionizing. I stand with the guild in their effort to retain the 2.5% match!

Guild members at the Austin American-Statesman have 2.5% 401(k) match from Gannett, which is 2.5% more than non-unionized papers currently get.

Gannett expects a ‘thank you’ for providing a 1% match for its employees in July, & it wants Statesman employees to accept the same —

Google has become a $2 trillion company by commanding endless free labor from journalists and other content creators, and in today’s San Francisco Chronicle I argue that’s a bad thing. sfchronicle.com/opinion/openfo…

Really sad about this news, Jane is one of the most impactful and influential figures in the labor movement so far in this century. If you're an organizer, labor reporter, union member or aspiring union member, you owe it to yourself to read No Shortcuts. janemcalevey.com/writing/latest…

📰 Jason Ruiz: In the wake of mass layoffs and an ongoing labor battle at the Long Beach Post, Mayor Rex Richardson is asking the City Council to consider a local media incubator that could help fund news outlets in the city.

Read it on the Watchdog: longbeachwatchdog.substack.com/p/mayor-propos…

Google is blocking news sites in an attempt to bully California lawmakers out of requiring Google to share revenue from journalism with news outlets.

Undermining democracy has become Google's standard playbook.
politico.com/news/2024/04/1…

📰 NEW from the Watchdog: The National Labor Relations Board is investigating the Long Beach Post and Business Journal over allegations of retaliation following a worker-led union campaign and the subsequent layoff of nine staff members. 

Read it here: longbeachwatchdog.substack.com/p/long-beach-p…

This #TaxDay , support the striking Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh 🗞 journalists facing large tax bills this season. Solidarity is a verb.

🔗unionprogress.com/donate/

You have a federally protected right to talk about your wages and anyone trying to give you trouble is breaking the law (and is also a big jerk)
nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rig…

Great statement. Tech companies only have one play: fear.

We can't back down from them.

It was public policy that allowed tech giants to build their fortunes, and they need to come to the table, not light it on fire.

Google must stop playing games with California’s democracy. newsguild.org/californias-jo…