Gizmodo parent fired journalist because of activism, union claims

Alex Cranz

Online publisher G/O Media Inc. told employees of its tech news website Gizmodo that it fired a co-worker because of her union activism, the Writers Guild of America East alleged in a complaint filed with a U.S. regulator, reports Josh Eidelson of Bloomberg News.

Eidelson reports, “In filings Thursday with the National Labor Relations Board, the union claimed that management fired a senior editor, Alex Cranz, in retaliation for her discussion of working conditions, following ‘a pattern of harassment and intimidation for union activity.’ Management then violated federal labor law again by telling employees that Cranz was terminated because of her activism, according to the union’s complaints.

“In response to the allegations, G/O Media said the action was “in no way involved with labor activity.

“‘A thorough nine-week process was conducted and did not net satisfactory results,’ the company said in an emailed statement. ‘The claims of ‘ongoing harassment’ and ‘fabricated allegations’ are meritless. We thank Ms. Cranz for her contributions at Gizmodo, and wish her the best in future endeavors.'”

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Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.