First Wednesday Forum: February 2004
News Media Moguls at War with Their St. Louis Workers

When: 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Where: Genesis House, 6018 Delmar Boulevard

Who:

Joe Pollack, former president of the Newspaper Guild and former theater and film critic for the Post-Dispatch.

Linda Meyer, former reporter for the Wentzville Journal.

Ed Bishop, editor of the St. Louis Journalism Review, and former managing editor of the Riverfront Times.

Benjamin Israel, former reporter for the North County Journal and numerous other Missouri newspapers.

Will the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper workers go on strike?

Pulitzer Publishing, owner of the Post-Dispatch and the Suburban Journals, is at war with its workers: trying to force its unionized workforce to give back some of the most important gains the unions have won in the 70 years since reporters formed the St. Louis Newspaper Guild.

Workers at Suburban Journals have been fired for trying to organize. Popular cartoonist John Sherffius resigned in disgust after a Post editor ordered him to alter a cartoon.

Pulitzer is behaving more like a corporate mogul as shareholders exert more power. Media consolidation has reduced the number of print and broadcasting voices. Clear Channel, the largest radio station owner in the country owns six station in St. Louis. The once independent Riverfront Times is now part of a national chain.

Learn about the news behind the news. Sponsored by the Gateway Green Alliance. For more information contact: Ben Israel at 314-863-1125 or Michael Allen at 314-664-1199.

Photos from the forum