JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Reporters and their supporters gathered Friday in James Weldon Johnson Park downtown to call for better wages for local journalists.
It’s been five years since newsroom employees at the Florida Times-Union received a raise. In that time, the number of employees has shrunk from 63 to 22.
The paper’s employee union has been bargaining with corporate owner Gannet, America’s largest newspaper company, saying a wage boost is needed so they can continue to afford to live in the city they cover.
"For the people who live in Jacksonville having a newsroom where people are paid decently means you can have reporters and photographer can live here and work here and don't have to worry about going to their next job where they can make a decent living," said Steve Patterson, Co-chair of The Florida Times-Union News Guild.
The union’s next bargaining session is Tuesday and members are asking people who care about local journalism to send a letter of support to Gannet officials.
