Categories: OLD Media Moves

WSJ reporters to stop appearing on CNBC in labor dispute

Wall Street Journal reporters have said that they will stop appearing on CNBC in unpaid appearances during a dispute over new contract talks with parent company Dow Jones, according to an Associated Press story.

The AP story stated, “E.S. Browning, the chairman of the union’s bargaining committee and a financial markets reporter, said the union decided to take the step after the negotiations, which began two weeks ago, turned ‘ugly.’

“Browning, who has worked at the paper for 27 years, said the company told union negotiators that they were unwilling to discuss any of the proposals made by the union. ‘To go into a meeting and be told there’s not a single proposal they’re willing to discuss is a pretty nasty way to start negotiations,’ Browning said.

“In addition to suspending unpaid appearances on CNBC by Journal reporters, Browning also said union members would no longer do podcasts or Webcast interviews for the newspaper’s Web site.

“Dow Jones released a statement through a spokesman saying that the company ‘is committed to conducting these negotiations in good faith and has done so in the two bargaining sessions held so far. As we seek an agreement that serves the interest of all parties, we intend to focus our comments at the bargaining table.'”

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Jim Brumm says:
November 17, 2006 at 12:02 am
So far it hasn't meant much, but the Independent Association of Publishers' Employees, which represents Dow Jones editorial employees -- including those at the Wall Street Journal, is now part of the same union as The Newspaper Guild -- the Communication Workers of America.