Pay the 200 Former Black News Channel (BNC) Media Workers!

The National Writers Union stands in solidarity with the 200+ former Black News Channel (BNC) workers who were impacted by the company’s abrupt closure. On March 24, 2022, employees learned that the paychecks they were expecting would be delayed. On what should have been payday, March 25, 2022, BNC ceased operations two years after its […]

Freelance Isn’t Free Is Coming to New York State

The National Writers’ Union and the Freelance Solidarity Project (NWU’s Digital Media Division), are working to get a statewide version of the Freelance Isn’t Free Act passed in the New York State legislature this year. The bill, which is being co-sponsored by New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes (Democrat – District 22, in Brooklyn) and […]

Antitrust, Copyright, and Media Workers’ Rights

The NWU recently submitted comments to separate inquires from the U.S. Copyright Office and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Our response highlights the need for a wholistic approach to the economic conditions and rights of workers who are not “employees.” A proposition like this needs to recognize the intersectionality of copyright, labor, and antitrust law […]

Meet the FSP 2022 Organizing Committee

Starting in December 2021, the Freelance Solidarity Project (the Digital Media Division of NWU) has a new organizing committee. Congratulations to the eight members who were elected by the membership! The committee is listed below and will hold their positions for a one-year term. They will work on making FSP an even stronger, more inclusive, […]

California’s Freelance Isn’t Free Bill

At a September 12, 2021, meeting of the SoCal NWU chapter, Jeff Jacobberger, who is the Legislative Director from the office of Bob Blumenfield, the L.A. City Council Member for the 3rd district.  He talked about the Freelance Isn’t Free Motion introduced in the L.A.City Council in early 2021; in August of this year it […]

We’re Writing Our Way Forward

By Diane Ward I had the pleasure of attending the International Women’s Writer Guild (IWWG) from July 22- 24. Offerings included keynote speakers, agent and editor panels, pitch sessions, an open mic, workshops, breakout sessions and discussion groups. The conference was an oasis hosted by women for  women.     Participants were offered a diverse pallet of […]

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 […]

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 […]

NWU Comments on Draft of “Digital Copyright Act of 2021”

The NWU has submitted comments regarding changes to the U.S. Copyright Act to Senators Patrick Leahy and Thom Tillis, who are the chair and ranking minority member respectively of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. Our response addresses Tillis’ discussion draft of the proposed Digital Copyright Act of 2021. As we noted last year, […]