Unique James Baldwin Birthday Celebration

Celebrate the birthday of literary giant James Baldwin at the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center‘s Farmer’s Market with NWU member Betty Pierre. Enjoy crafts, music and stories, and purchase fresh produce and breads Saturday, August 7 at 100 W. Mosholu Pkwy S., Bronx, NY. Open mic sign ups start at noon. James Baldwin, whose actual […]

NWU Covid Rebels 21 Perform at NYC Poetry Fest

The National Writers Union’s Covid Rebels 21 made their debut in late July at the New York City Poetry Festival (NYCPF) on Governor’s Island. Betty Pierre, Judy C. Andrews, Ernest Woodley and Mike McQuillan performed on the Algonquin Stage, showcasing works reflective of the group’s forthcoming anthology. “The NWU was at the first NYCPF [a decade […]

Stop the Rejection. Self Publish!

The Boston Chapter’s recent workshop, Stop the Rejection – Self Publish, was a great success, drawing both members and non-members. Independent publishing allows you to be in full control of your writing and ensures that your book’s concept, content and cover are not altered by commercial interests. The pilot project allowed participants from around the […]

October Panel on Organizing Journalists

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 The Metro NY Labor Communications Council will host a panel discussion on recent efforts to organize journalists in labor unions and/or non-traditional advocacy groups. These campaigns pose challenges and opportunities for those on staff as well as freelancers. Join Metro NY Labor and union leaders for an informative […]

The 2021 Delegate Assembly – A Change Is Gonna Come!

The 2021 NWU Delegate Assembly will take place online, September 23-25. All members are invited to attend all or part of the DA. It could be a watershed event as everything is on the table. We are not bound by the constitution of an international union, and we can propose and discuss changes that better […]

NWU-FSP WILL NOT CROSS CONDE NAST PICKET LINES

After 2.5 years (!!) of bargaining, unionized workers at The New Yorker still do not have a fair contract — and they’re on the verge of a strike, if that’s what it will take to get what they deserve. You can learn more about their demands and what their picket line will look like in […]

A Year of Living Dangerously

In many ways, the past year has been a test for all of us and for our union. May 25 marked the one-year anniversary of the police killing of George Floyd and the anti-racist uprising that followed. The past year also featured the US Presidential election and the fascist storming of the US Capitol. It […]

Documentary on the 1976 Downing of a Cuban Plane

In October 1976, a Cuban plane took off from Barbados to Jamaica. In a blip, Flight 455 disappeared from radar screens. Various aviation agencies, including the Cuban government, determined that two bombs hidden on the plane caused it to explode midair, the wreckage  plummeting into the Caribbean Sea.  All 73 people aboard were killed in […]

My Friend, Ursula

Ursula Le Guin and I first met in 1966 at a party at her house in Portland, Oregon. She was writing The Wizard of Earthsea, and I was cranking out fashion copy for a department store. We were both married to academic historians. She had three children and I, at the time, had none. When I […]

Journalists Say No to SB 98 Amendment Requiring Police Permission to Cover Protests

We, the undersigned organizations, which collectively represent thousands of California journalists, strongly oppose a recent amendment made to SB 98, a bill originally intended to protect journalists covering protests, demonstrations and civil unrest. This amendment may actually restrict existing press freedoms rather than expand them, turning this bill on its head and into something that […]