Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Freelance Solidarity Project

The NewsGuild-CWA @newsguild.org · Aug 11

NEW: POLITICO’s top editors testified that its AI experiments don’t need to follow the newsroom’s own editorial standards.

If media execs won’t protect journalism standards, NewsGuild members @pen-guild.bsky.social will!

www.niemanlab.org/2025/08/poli...

Politico’s recent AI experiments shouldn’t be subject to newsroom editorial standards, its editors testify

In a July arbitration hearing, Politico faced allegations that two generative AI tools violated its union contract.

www.niemanlab.org

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National Writers Union @nwu.org · Sep 9

redlines.nwu.org

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thrilled to be a part of this crucial work! 🫡

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Sep 3

We’re thrilled to welcome the @nwu.org to the Rebuild Local News Coalition! With over 1,000 writers, including 500 freelance journalists, NWU and its @fspnwu.bsky.social fight for fair pay, better contracts, and more opportunities for writers.

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Kristen Martin @kwistent.bsky.social · Aug 26

"There are only seven full-time book critics left in the United States...The rest of us are freelancers—and according to the Freelance Solidarity Project, nearly one-third of freelance book critics make less than the federal minimum wage for their reviews." worldliteraturetoday.org/2025/septemb...

Criticism Is Literature. Why Is It Vanishing?, by Adam Morgan

What do the best book reviews do? What is the current state of the critical ecosystem? Chicago Review of Books founder Adam Morgan takes stock of book reviewing in the US.

worldliteraturetoday.org

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National Writers Union @nwu.org · Aug 19

Israel is carrying out the largest massacre of journalists & media workers in modern history,& the most dangerous attack on the ideal of a free press in the modern era.

Donate to the IFJ Safety Fund to support our colleagues & sibling union, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate. bit.ly/supportPJS

NWU's statement on the continued assault on journalists in Gaza. Read the full statement at nwu.org.

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National Writers Union @nwu.org · Aug 14

Mario Guevara is now the 5th longest-jailed journalist in U.S. history. Sign & share this petition from his daughter, Katherine, to bring him home. "If a government can punish a reporter for doing his job, what message does this send? What protections are left for the rest of us?" chng.it/8HfJqdW75h

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

Help Bring Mario Back Home

chng.it

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The NewsGuild-CWA @newsguild.org · Aug 12

NEW: Israel targeted and killed five @aljazeera.com journalists in Gaza.

They risked everything to document atrocities so we could know the truth. Killing them is an attack on journalism itself.

With @nwu.org, we demand accountability:

newsguild.org/the-newsguil...

The NewsGuild-CWA and National Writers Union condemn Israel’s targeted killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA

The NewsGuild-CWA and National Writers Union join press freedom advocates around the world in condemning the targeted killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza.

newsguild.org

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Aug 11

Missed our Journalism Futures panel? You can catch the recording below. ⬇️ These leaders are forging a more just media industry, and not afraid to answer the big questions about reporting on Palestine, immigration, and AI in an increasingly suppressed media climate.

Journalism Futures: Funding Under Fascism

The journalism industry is facing economic breakdown. Philanthropy and nonprofit status have been presented as one solution, especially to serve the needs of communities of color and immigrant…

youtu.be

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Aug 5

We're excited to add @theflytrapmedia.com to the list of publications we have a Unilateral Announcement with as they help raise standards across the industry. Who's next? 👀

s. eek smith 👻 @sesmith.lol · Aug 5

I strongly encourage freelancers to join @fspnwu.bsky.social, to share rates and information about publishers, to advocate for themselves in an increasingly hostile media climate. And I urge other indie pubs to work with @nwu.org on policies of their own.

s. eek smith 👻 @sesmith.lol · Aug 5

So thrilled to announce that @theflytrapmedia.com has collaborated with @nwu.org on freelancer policies. As a current freelancer, it's really important to me to value and protect our freelance contributors. Proud to join other indie pubs in this!

You can read all about it here:

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Alleen Brown @alleenbrown.bsky.social · Aug 5

Proud of my union for speaking out against Israel's systematic starvation of people in Gaza, including journalists -- and for pushing our colleagues at mainstream outlets to cover it better.

Freelancers, please consider joining @fspnwu.bsky.social

nwu.org/starvation-o...

NWU Calls on Unions and Media to Denounce Israel’s Starvation of Gaza | NWU

The National Writers Union calls on our colleagues at mainstream news outlets to provide truthful coverage of the ongoing, now-worsening campaign of starvation that Israel is inflicting on Palestinian...

nwu.org

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k.e. harloe @keharloe.bsky.social · Aug 4

Over 100 ppl (& counting) are registered for this @fspnwu.bsky.social convo abt funding news under fascism, happening TMRW @ 12 pm EST!

Signing up is free and takes 2 min. You won't wanna miss out: bit.ly/FundingUnder...

Roshan Abraham @roshanabraham.bsky.social · Jul 31

I will be moderating this talk on funding the news under fascism!! How do we pay the bills when even the nonprofit news model is under attack??? I don't know but we're gonna figure it out!

Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 31

The journalism industry is facing economic breakdown. What promises and pitfalls does the nonprofit news model offer? Hear from Mazin Sidahmed of @documentedny.bsky.social, Alicia Bell of @borealisphil.bsky.social, & Lara Witt of @prismreports.org on August 5. Register: bit.ly/FundingUnderFascism

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Aug 4

Philanthropy & nonprofit status have been presented as one solution to the breakdown of the media industry, especially to serve the needs of communities of color & immigrant communities who have historically been failed by mainstream outlets. Can it work? Let's talk! bit.ly/FundingUnderFascism

Text reads "Journalism Futures: Funding Under Fascism, register: bit.ly/FundingUnderFascism". The panelists are listed as Alicia Bell, Director, Racial Equity in Journalism Fund; Lara Witt, E.I.C. of Prism; and Mazin Sidahmed, Co-Founder of Documented. Roshan Abraham, freelance journalist/FSP member, will moderate. The date reads August 5th, 12pm EST. The logos for FSP and NWU are displayed at the bottom left. The background is red, and a black lightning strike trails down the right side ending in a red fist holding a pen. The words "a virtual panel series about funding the news" are written above it.

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Ilana Masad @ilanaslightly.bsky.social · Aug 1

Oh and relatedly, it's pretty clear to myself and most book critics I know that we will never get a staff job. Perhaps that's part of why we're so eager to organize together and try to improve rates for all freelance critics :). @fspnwu.bsky.social

Matt Seybold @mattseybold.bsky.social · Aug 1

I have found this rising generation of lit scholars to be unfailingly smart, funny, self-effacing, unpretentious.

Inevitably joyful to hang out with.

And today I realized why.

They are utterly absent of careerism, because none of them think they will have careers.

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k.e. harloe @keharloe.bsky.social · Jul 31

Got the nonprofit industrial complex on your mind? Us too. Join
@fspnwu.bsky.social, moderator @roshanabraham.bsky.social, and these stellar speakers for a chat about ~funding under fascism~ next week!

Register & send us your burning q's here - it's totally free & takes 2 min: tinyurl.com/mrxubuyj

Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 31

The journalism industry is facing economic breakdown. What promises and pitfalls does the nonprofit news model offer? Hear from Mazin Sidahmed of @documentedny.bsky.social, Alicia Bell of @borealisphil.bsky.social, & Lara Witt of @prismreports.org on August 5. Register: bit.ly/FundingUnderFascism

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 31

The journalism industry is facing economic breakdown. What promises and pitfalls does the nonprofit news model offer? Hear from Mazin Sidahmed of @documentedny.bsky.social, Alicia Bell of @borealisphil.bsky.social, & Lara Witt of @prismreports.org on August 5. Register: bit.ly/FundingUnderFascism

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 28

As the Trump administration slashes federal funding & threatens basic press freedoms, how should nonprofit newsrooms—especially those serving marginalized communities—navigate an already shaky media ecosystem? Find out on August 5: bit.ly/FundingUnderFascism

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 28

Want to join a union of digital media workers raising labor standards across our industry? Come to tomorrow's info session to learn more, 7:30-8pm ET on Zoom. RSVP by noon tomorrow! bit.ly/FSP-RSVP-info

Freelance Solidarity Project • General Info Session RSVP

Are you a freelancer inspired by recent labor activism in media, or troubled by the most recent round of layoffs and closures? Interested in learning more about organizing alongside your fellow…

bit.ly

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 23

Invest in worker-owned media!

We're proud to share that FSP-NWU alongside @defector.com & the Media Economies Design Lab at @colorado.edu was awarded $1.5 million from Press Forward, an initiative to invest in local news infrastructure, to support media co-ops through the incubator start.coop.

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 22

Interested in learning about organizing for a more sustainable and equitable media industry? Join us for our next quarterly info session on July 29, 7:30pm ET on Zoom. Register at bit.ly/FSP-RSVP-info

Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 10

🙌🏼

Sean Havox @seanhavox.bsky.social · Jul 10

It's official. The SAG strike is finally over. It took an entire year but now VAs have the AI protections they sought. This is a huge victory. Do not let anyone who isn't in the industry tell you otherwise.

SAG-AFTRA @sagaftra.org · Jul 10

SAG-AFTRA Members Approve 2025 Video Game Agreement. www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-me...

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jul 9

Sign the petition! bit.ly/PENGuild

PEN Guild @pen-guild.bsky.social · Jul 9

We’re taking @politico.com to arbitration this week for its unethical use of AI and we’re asking for your support! bit.ly/PENGuild

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october krausch @octoberk.bsky.social · Jul 8

just finished my monthly meeting with my freelance media workers union @fspnwu.bsky.social and feel rejuvenated! this union is such a place of companionship, solidarity, and support for such an isolating industry. hmu if you have questions or want to join us!

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jun 13

YES, comrades! 🔥

Vox Media Union @voxmediaunion.bsky.social · Jun 13

Thank you all SO MUCH for your support. Our incredible Bargaining Committee worked into the night for us and reached a Tentative Agreement at around 5am! 🙏💪🥳🎉

As of now there will be NO STRIKE! Please continue enjoying all our work, knowing you all helped us get here! #unionstrong #voxunion #1u

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Alexis Gunderson @alexiskg.bsky.social · Jun 13

Fellow freelancers: the union for freelance media workers, @fspnwu.bsky.social / @thenwu.bsky.social has already issued a call to ALL FREELANCERS to stand in solidarity w Vox workers if they strike and NOT CROSS THE PICKET LINE & NOT SCAB.

K.O. Myers @genvexed.bsky.social · Jun 13

The @voxmediaunion.bsky.social is preparing to go on strike tonight at 11:59 if they don't get a fair offer from the company. Word is that Vox management has been reaching out to freelancers to ask for "help" if the strike happens.

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Freelance Solidarity Project @fspnwu.bsky.social · Jun 12

FSP-NWU stands in solidarity with the @voxmediaunion.bsky.social as they prepare to strike. We pledge to support our colleagues by committing not to cross the digital picket line, as readers OR as workers. We don’t scab when staff unions strike!

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