Most of the eligible staff at the Fort Worth Report say they want a formal voice on the job and are now asking the nonprofit newsroom’s leadership to recognize their new union. Organizers say they are pushing for clearer pay practices, protections in case of layoffs and benefits they believe are necessary to keep delivering consistent local coverage. The move puts the Fort Worth Report in line with a growing list of Texas newsrooms where employees are seeking formal representation.
In a press release via NewsGuild-CWA, the Fort Worth Reporters Guild said 85% of eligible employees signed union authorization cards and formally asked the newsroom’s CEO, publisher and board of directors for voluntary recognition so both sides can negotiate working conditions in good faith. The release also said the new union plans to affiliate with the Media Guild of the West and NewsGuild-CWA and noted the newsroom employs about 25 staffers and publishes more than 150 stories per month.
As reported by The Dallas Express, employees pointed to high turnover, with roughly 21 departures across business and editorial teams in fewer than five years, and the absence of formal workplace protections as key motivations for organizing. Dallas Express also noted that organizers describe the effort as focused on keeping local journalism sustainable and that the outlet reached out to CEO Chris Cobler, who did not return a comment before publication.
What staff are asking for
The union’s statement says workers want a transparent pay scale, stronger layoff protections, fair hiring standards and benefits aimed at sustaining the newsroom’s public-service mission, according to a NewsGuild-CWA press release. Organizers frame the campaign as a way to stabilize staffing and preserve the outlet’s ability to report on city hall, schools and other local institutions.
How this fits into regional newsroom organizing
The Fort Worth effort comes amid broader anxiety about job security in North Texas newsrooms. D Magazine reported Hearst eliminated 26 copy-desk jobs at The Dallas Morning News in November 2025. Workers and unions in the region point to recent organizing wins, including strong support when the Texas Tribune Guild organized, as precedent for staff at smaller outlets, according to reporting by The Dallas Express.
Next steps and what to expect
The Fort Worth Reporters Guild has asked management for voluntary recognition. If the newsroom declines, staff can pursue a board-supervised election with the National Labor Relations Board or other legal routes. The U.S. Department of Labor explains that when a majority of employees sign authorization cards an employer may voluntarily recognize a union or employees may seek NLRB certification through an election…