FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: fortworthreportersguild@gmail.com
FORT WORTH — An overwhelming majority of eligible staff at the Fort Worth Report announced the formation of a union to secure sustainable working conditions and strengthen the news organization’s mission of providing free, fair and local journalism.
The Fort Worth Reporters Guild asks Fort Worth Report’s CEO/publisher and board of directors for voluntary recognition of the union so both parties can negotiate working conditions in good faith. This comes after 85% of eligible staffers signing union authorization cards, a clear signal of their desire for representation.
The union is part of the Media Guild of the West and The NewsGuild-CWA, which represents hundreds of journalists in Southern California, Arizona and Texas.
“Creating avenues for staff to properly advocate is paramount for success as the Fort Worth Report continues to grow its impact,” the Guild’s organizing committee said.
With a team of 25 devoted staffers, the Fort Worth Report is a leading source of news for residents of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, averaging over 150 news articles and over 350,000 unique website visitors per month.
The Fort Worth Report’s staff has won dozens of statewide awards, most notably second place for newsroom of the year during the Texas Managing Editors 2025 awards. The Fort Worth Report won first place at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Small Business of the Year awards.
Supporting the Fort Worth Report’s public success, the guild seeks to improve workplace conditions to maintain the newsroom’s strong connections in the community and its growing legacy. In nearly five years, 21 people across the business and news teams have left the company, both voluntarily and involuntarily, highlighting the lack of workplace protections for staff.
With its mission of “steering trusted news forward,” the Guild’s organizing committee emphasizes that the union’s efforts are not meant to harm the Fort Worth Report’s image or reputation, but rather, to strengthen its mission and future.
The Fort Worth Report is the latest Texas newsroom to form a union, joining its peers at Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News, The Texas Tribune and San Antonio Report.
The union will advocate for a transparent pay scale and regular raises, protections against layoffs and unjust firings, fair hiring standards and essential benefits to ensure the long-term success of the Fort Worth Report.
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About Fort Worth Reporters Guild
The Fort Worth Reporters Guild is the union of employees at Fort Worth Report, the nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization serving Tarrant County. The Guild is organizing with the Media Guild of the West with the goal of creating a workplace where all employees can build lasting and sustainable professional careers.