Newspaper journalists across Washington and Idaho have ratified a three-year contract with McClatchy Media that creates protections against generative artificial intelligence and guarantees pay increases. This followed reporters going on strike in the spring.
The Washington State Newsguild and Idaho News Guild announced on Monday that its members had secured an agreement that bars McClatchy from using AI to replace staff or to reduce their work hours. It also protects reporters from being impersonated by AI and requires McClatchy to disclose to readers when it uses AI-generated content.
The unions represent 52 members at five newspapers across the two states: the Tacoma News Tribune, Tri-City Herald, The Olympian, Bellingham Herald and the Idaho Statesman…