Writers and “Generative AI”

How will “generative artificial intelligence” affect writers and other media workers? To ask the question in this way almost seems to imply that we are passive objects  of forces unleashed by venture capitalists and Internet platforms. But as a union, we don’t accept a role of passive victimhood. Our goal is to use the power […]

Freelance Isn’t Free Comes to Los Angeles

For Immediate Release- February 24, 2023 Contact: Jake Flynn, 213.473.7003, cell- 310.663.3770 **PRESS RELEASE** ‘FREELANCE ISN’T FREE ACT’ ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL, ESTABLISHES NEW PROTECTIONS FOR FREELANCE WORKERS   With over 300,000 freelancers in LA, Blumenfield’s law established new, vital protections, supporting the City’s economy and job prospects. Los Angeles, CA – Today, the LA City […]

Freelance Still Isn’t Free

Senator Gounardes, Assemblymember Bronson Re-Introduce Legislation to Protect Rights & Wages of Freelancers Statewide ‘Freelance Isn’t Free’ would extend protections to independent workers statewide; was passed by the NYS legislature last session, but vetoed by the Governor Albany, NY – Today, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Harry Bronson reintroduced their Freelance Isn’t Free bill […]

Join the Poetry Corner

The debut of a NWU Poet’s Corner might be overdue, but as you well know nothing happens before it’s time. Audience participation to poetry performed jointly with both NWU and The Rebel Poets during last year’s NYC Poetry Festival  segued into the idea of  The Poet’s Corner. In fact, Ms. Faiz has secured our attendance […]

Lobby Day in Albany

Four NWU-FSP members joined the Fund Excluded Workers Coalition on a lobby day trip to Albany in late January. As part of the coalition, we are advocating for New York to enact the Unemployment Bridge Program, a permanent $500 million fund that will provide the equivalent of unemployment insurance to workers excluded from traditional unemployment, […]

Inter-Union Town Hall on Artificial Intelligence

Dozens of members of NWU, WGAE, NewsGuild and NABET got together on Zoom in early February for a virtual town hall about AI in the newsroom. NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss opened the call by giving a brief overview of how ChatGPT works, followed by a quick demonstration of what that AI chatbot might spit out […]

FSP Elects Co-Chairs

The Freelance Solidarity Project — NWU’s Digital Media Division — elected its first two co-chairs for 2023, with Olivia Schwob serving as Administrative Coordinator and Abigail Higgins serving as Member Organizer. The co-chairs, along with a new Steering Committee structure, are part of an effort to make the Freelance Solidarity Project’s ambitious organizing more sustainable […]

Some Notes on the Earthquake in Turkey

1. There were two waves; one of them is 7.8, the next one 7.5. It hit 10 provinces. 2. Thousands of buildings collapsed. The body county passed 11,000 today. And these are the numbers coming from hospital morgues. Thousands of people are still missing. 3. Earthquake is natural, the consequences are very political and socio-economic. […]

How Many More Must Die?

On January 7, 2023, a video was obtained by the Memphis, Tennessee Police Department of five African American police officers, now fired, for the horrendous violent arrest and murder of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop. Mr. Nichols, a 29-year-old African American father, skateboard enthusiast, FedEx employee, and a “nearly perfect son,” as his mother, […]