Why now? Because the newspaper industry is changing.

For nearly its entire history, the Tribune was a locally-owned paper. While that didn’t insulate staff from layoffs, pay cuts, and production changes, it meant the newspaper’s owners knew the people who worked for them and considered the community impact of their business decisions.

In January 2019, the Tribune was acquired by Gatehouse Media, one of the largest media companies in the country. Then in November 2019, Gatehouse merged with Gannett, creating the largest newspaper corporation in American history.

We’re not unionizing because we want the business to fail, but rather because we want to have a say in our workplace and preserve the vital role the Tribune plays as an institution in our community.

We, the journalists at the South Bend Tribune, work to inform and educate our community, while also holding those in power accountable. We aren’t always perfect, but we believe that South Bend is better when we’re more connected. The stories of South Bend matter, and must be told.

A union gives us the ability to advocate for South Bend and demand that the paper be provided the resources needed to continue to perform its vital function. With hundreds of newspapers in its portfolio, Gannett needs to be reminded of its responsibility to help preserve local journalism in our community.