Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544866
36 SAG-AFTR A | Spring 2026 | sagaftra.org Broadcast News Philly Anchor Rocks His Socks Before hanging up his microphone at the close of 2025, on Dec. 8, CBS News Philadelphia anchor and union steward Jim Donovan officially became the Guinness World Record holder for Largest Sock Collection. The collection — an astonishing 1,531 individual pairs of socks — took off as viewers began noticing Donovan's colorful socks and sending him more pairs, with Donovan at times receiving several new pairs a week. The collection quickly became an on-air tradition accompanied by the hashtag #JimSocks. O n March 20, CBS News announced the closure of its longstanding broadcast division, CBS News Radio. The service, which includes over 700 affiliated stations throughout the U.S., will end on May 22. All jobs on the radio team, including those held by veteran correspondents and producers, are to be eliminated at that time. On the same day, CBS News announced the layoff of a number of SAG-AFTRA television correspondents across the country. In an official press release, CBS News, which came under the ownership of parent company Paramount Skydance in 2025, cited economic challenges, a decline in traditional media and a shift toward digital platforms and younger audiences as some reasons for the decision. Before the announcement, CBS News Radio had been a respected news resource for listeners across the country for nearly 100 years. Historically, CBS is cited as one of the first radio signatory contracts to be signed under what was then the American Federation of Radio Artists, or AFRA, in 1938. In a statement released the same day as the announcement, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin and National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland stated that the union was "appalled" by the decision. "For more than a century, CBS News has been a bedrock of broadcast journalism. Many distinguished journalists who performed their work with courage, integrity and loyalty to CBS lost their jobs today," said Astin and Crabtree-Ireland. "Our thoughts are with them and with their colleagues at CBS News." CBS News Announces Closure of CBS News Radio, Layoffs S AG-AFTRA San Francisco-Northern California broadcasters turned out in force for the Bay Area Black Journalists Association meetup at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism on Feb. 19. The evening featured inspiring remarks from Michael D. Bolden, dean of UC Berkeley School of Journalism, alongside SAG-AFTRA members Barbara Rodgers (KPIX-TV, retired) and Bob Butler (KCBS-AM, retired), who currently serves as SAG-AFTRA vice president, broadcasters. André Senior of KTVU FOX 2 kept the program moving as emcee, while Pam Moore (KRON4, retired) put her newsroom instincts to work to keep the speeches on deadline. Bay Area broadcast legends embraced the chance to connect with the next generation of Black journalists, sharing hard-earned wisdom, swapping stories and strengthening the career pipeline. Butler shared, "It was a great event that brought together the old guard of BABJA and potential new members. The goal was to increase BABJA's membership and highlight the impressive work it's done. I think we accomplished that. SAG-AFTRA has long supported the National Association of Black Journalists, so it's gratifying to see that the support extends to the local chapter in the Bay Area." Union Represents at BABJA Meetup From left, SAG-AFTRA members Andre Senior, Pam Moore and Bob Butler attend the BABJA meetup. SAG-AFTRA ON THE ROAD We will be participating in several journalism conferences this summer. Drop by and say hi to your union staff. Here are the dates and locations. AAJA: June 24–28, Minneapolis, Minnesota, aaja.org NAHJ: July 22–25, New Orleans, Louisiana, nahj.org NABJ: Aug. 12–16, Atlanta, Georgia, nabjonline.org NLGJA: Sept. 10–13, San Francisco, California, nlgja.org JIM DONOVAN