The Times Guild, the union that represents Times employees, has criticized recent changes made to staff bios on The New York Times website. The union claimed that the removal of details about their union work was “petty” and contradicted the paper’s intention of building trust with readers by providing insight into who the reporters are and how they work.
The controversy began after the Times asked reporters to share more about themselves with the audience. However, when reporters included details about their union work in their bios, the Times edited them post-publication, sparking anger among some staff members.
The two managing editors at the Times explained in a press release from January that the new bios format was intended to build trust with readers by providing insight into who the reporters are and how they work. However, the decision to remove references to the union’s work contradicted this intention, according to some staff members.
Members of the Times Guild were particularly upset by the changes to bios, including the removal of language about advocating for fair and equitable working conditions at the Times. The Guild called the edits “petty and absurd,” highlighting the importance of acknowledging the union’s efforts in creating a better workplace environment for employees.
While some critics argue that removing references to union work sends a discouraging message to employees who are actively involved in advocating for their rights, others believe that it is important for journalists to focus on their individual achievements rather than their affiliations. Despite this debate, it is clear that removing details about union work from staff bios has caused controversy and raised concerns among some members of The New York Times team.
