Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1498689
40 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2023 | sagaftra.org Broadcast News Steering Committee Tackles Organizing, Tech KCRW Unit Readies for Negotiation K CRW's SAG-AFTRA members are preparing to bargain their second union contract. Talks with management are scheduled to begin in May. In June 2019, KCRW employees in Santa Monica voted to recognize SAG-AFTRA as their labor union. The bargaining unit covers 100 public media professionals, including DJs, hosts, producers, reporters, production engineers, board operators and others who create content for all areas of KCRW, including music and news radio programming, digital content, podcasts and live events. KCRW is a listener-supported station in Los Angeles. The station is located in Santa Monica on the Santa Monica College's Center for Media Design Campus. From left, KCRW members Danielle Chiriguayo, Seth Van Matre, Arielle Torrez-Sandoval, Tyler Boudreaux and Andrea Brody. O n March 11, the SAG-AFTRA Broadcast Steering Committee gathered virtually for its first meeting of the year. The meeting opened with updates from staff and members on organizing wins and contract campaigns. Christina Phillips, senior producer at New Hampshire Public Radio, gave an overview of negotiations for their first contract and a strategic campaign to escalate demands on social media. The Broadcast Steering Committee endorsed a letter to Audacy San Francisco management in support of the SAG-AFTRA/KCBS-AM bargaining unit, which is struggling with contract enforcement matters. Staff reports wrapped up with an overview of the year ahead, including the union's planned appearances at the various journalist conferences this summer and fall, and identifying four dates for upcoming virtual steward trainings. The Committee continued with a panel, New Assignments, New Platforms & Technology and Industry Changes: How Should the Union Advocate for Members and Engage Employers When the Job Changes, moderated by BSC Chair and National Board member Cheri Preston from the New York Local. Panelists joined in a discussion regarding the implementation of new technologies, the impact that those changes have had on SAG-AFTRA members and how the union has approached the impact of these new technologies. Members of the BSC discussed newsroom and studio transitions toward "multiskilled journalism," automated production systems and the onset of artificial intelligence in radio. The panel agreed that the union's voice is and will continue to be crucial to these conversations, and that the goal is to cover work by a union contract and protect members' voices and content wherever it may go. The Committee meeting wrapped up with another panel, Reflecting on Orlando: The Impact of Gun Violence and Covering Crime on Those Who Work in Media, moderated by BSC Co-Chair and WRC-TV shop steward Tracee Wilkins, who is also vice president of the Washington-Mid Atlantic Local. The panel discussed ways that stations and the union can support and provide resources to members dealing with trauma. "We have to cover tragedy, even when it happens to us, and it can be among the most difficult times in our professional lives," said another panelist, who said that gun violence "has touched all of us and continues to touch all of us every day that we work." Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro wrapped the panel by reminding attendees of the resources available to them through SAG-AFTRA, the Entertainment Community Fund and the Broadcasters Foundation of America. The committee will meet again over the summer. We have to cover tragedy, even when it happens to us, and it can be among the most difficult times in our professional lives," said a panelist, who said that gun violence "has touched all of us and continues to touch all of us every day that we work.