Yount, former WSJ Radio anchor and union president, dies

Steve Yount, former president of the Independent Association of Publisher’s Employees and a news anchor on Wall Street Journal Radio, died Wednesday at the age of 64.

A story on the union’s website states, “During his term as president, Steve led IAPE to a significant organizing victory at the former Dow Jones ‘Harborside’ location in Jersey City, NJ, for which Local 1096 received the 2007 President’s Award from the Communications Workers of America.

“At that same time, Steve was also leading IAPE efforts — with assistance from CWA and The Newspaper Guild — to find someone other than Rupert Murdoch and News Corp to purchase Dow Jones & Company from the Bancroft family.

“‘Our union remains hopeful that the Bancroft family will conclude that a sale of Dow Jones is not necessary. But if the Bancroft family is to be persuaded that a sale must take place, we believe that there are alternatives to Mr. Murdoch,’ Steve said, in a June 4, 2007 statement.

“‘IAPE and its advisors will continue to explore other investment relationships. We are optimistic that there are many leaders in the investment community who will be ready to come to the side of the employees of Dow Jones & Company to defend the editorial independence and unquestioned integrity of both Dow Jones and its flagship publication, The Wall Street Journal.’

“Steve was at the helm of the Union during two rounds of contract negotiations for our main bargaining unit — a rancorous, eleven-month effort during 2006 and 2007, and an abbreviated-by-IAPE-standards, four-month series during late 2009 and early 2010.”

Read more here.