CWA and Free Press: Saving Journalism is Key to Saving Democracy

CWA and allies like Free Press are working together to save quality journalism and the democracy it protects.

"We're losing 1,000 newsroom employees every month, and we've lost 30,000 over the last two years," John Nichols of The Nation said during a discussion with CWA and TNG-CWA staff and officers. "And that's come after the culling out of radio and television. Roughly 20,000 people are no longer on the air."

Founded by Nichols and University of Illinois Professor Robert McChesney, Free Press successfully built a grassroots movement in the early 2000s that helped millions of Americans understand how and why concentrated media power reduces their access to information. Free Press continues to work to promote diverse and independent media ownership and quality journalism.

Their latest book, "The Death and Life of American Journalism," looks at media consolidation, the Internet and other factors that are reducing the number of journalists and news stories produced in the United States.

As part of their book tour, Nichols and McChesney met with regulators and elected officials in Washington. 

TNG-CWA President Bernie Lunzer has pledged "an army of foot soldiers" from locals to engage their communities in the battle to save their newspapers.