Everett Herald newsroom strikes amid layoffs

EVERETT — News staff at The Daily Herald marched through downtown Everett for a one-day strike Monday, following a dozen layoffs in the newsroom and a year of unsuccessful labor negotiations.

Carpenter Media Group, the new Mississippi-based partial owners of Snohomish County’s daily newspaper, announced a plan last week to eliminate positions 10 of 18 union workers, as well as the two top editors.

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Reporters reacted with deep skepticism of Carpenter Media’s motives and its pledge to bolster quality journalism in Everett, in light of the layoffs that left staff members sobbing and embracing one another in the newsroom the week prior.

Around 9 a.m. Monday — regular time to clock in for a weekly staff meeting — reporters, photographers and supporters waved signs at the corner of Hewitt and Colby avenues: “Honk for local news.” “We are people not numbers.” “Loss of staff loss 4 democracy.”

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-herald-newsroom-strikes-amid-layoffs/