TNG-CWA Campaign Lead

Journalists and media workers have unionized in the United States at a record pace. At the same time news companies have cut jobs, putting the country’s democracy at risk.

The NewsGuild-CWA, a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), seeks a campaign lead to channel the energy of our members, community supporters and policy stakeholders into winning legislative initiatives that support the follow demands:

Common Good Demands

• Staff that is Adequate in Number – Hiring: In the last decade thousands of papers have shut their doors and half of all journalist jobs have disappeared. Existing newsroom staff have been cut to the bone and current workers are doing too much with too little – at Gannett outlets media workers are producing top-tier journalism in lowest-tier conditions. Gannett must immediately increase hiring into newsrooms across the country and make real a commitment to local journalism and local journalists.
• Diverse in Perspective – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: In-depth, committed local news coverage requires newsrooms that have a diversity of views, cultures, and perspectives. As Gannett hires across the chain it must seek to create newsrooms diverse in perspective and skilled in navigating the communities being covered.
• Developing Expertise in Craft – Sustainable Jobs: Gannett must commit to sufficient compensation to enable media workers to live and thrive in the communities they cover. The sustained deep and vital connections required to produce in-depth local news, the experience and training that feeds that growth, can exist only if media workers have secure jobs and fair compensation. Additionally, media workers must be afforded the benefits and paid-time off that support healthy work-life balance.

The position is initially slated to last a year but is subject to possible extension.

The ideal candidate will have experience running multiple organizing campaigns with professional workers. They will have the organizational and strategic skills necessary to inspire and activate workers to take action.

The position will report to The NewsGuild-CWA leadership and coordinate with other staff at the international and in local unions. The position is based in Washington, D.C

Job Qualifications:

• Willing and able to take regular direction and learn from experienced campaign staff
• Willing to commit, energy, heart and long, irregular hours
• Ability to learn and implement the campaign basics
• Be able to take notes, listen and get information/report back to DOC or other campaign leadership to evaluate campaigns
• Ability to assess workers' support of the campaign, identify potential committee members, move workers to make concrete commitments and take action, recruit people to a committee, facilitate committee meetings, work with groups.
• Understand and discuss issues in a way that contribute to the momentum of an organizing campaign.
• Have a fundamental commitment to building a diverse and democratic labor movement and ability to organize workers from diverse backgrounds and demographics.
• Willing to attend an Organizing Institute
• Basic communications skills, able to do basic flyers and other written material
• Motivated self-starter able to learn and troubleshoot without heavy supervision
• Driver’s license and reliable car must be able to travel to work locations away from home/office location.
• 1-2 years of prior labor, political or community organizing experience
• Strong social, written and verbal communication skills
• Patient in pressure situations and savvy with conflict management
• Bilingual, a plus

Responsibilities when employed in a CWA-led political or legislative campaign, or movement building project

• Taking ownership and developing elements of a broader campaign, possibly in a specific geographic area or specific element of the campaign.
• Implement campaign strategies and tactics
• Train and work with activists, volunteers, and community partners
• Work within a campaign budget
• Assist in aspects of responsibilities of a Senior Campaign Lead
• Work to campaign objectives and track campaign metrics. Regular reporting on progress of the campaign
• Act as a representative of CWA to allied coalitions, member groups and other labor organizations
• May review electoral races, strategies, current and proposed laws and regulations and analyze the potential alignment and impact with respect to the CWA policy agenda.
• Draft letters, training materials, electronic correspondence regarding proposed legislation or CWA electoral programs
• Review laws, regulations and other research materials to determine how policies affect CWA’s legislative agenda as well as other organization political analysis to determine impact on electoral program
• Draft appropriate materials to CWA staff and locals to implement programs.
• Responsible for six (6) month evaluation of the campaign
• Other duties as assigned

Job Specifications:

1.  Wages: $79,664.26—$101,086.38 Annually (Effective 10/1/2025)

2.  Reports to the CWA Organizing Director or appropriate administrative staff

3.  Other terms and conditions as per the Memorandum of Agreement.

4.  This position will not be used to replace regular full time CWA Staff Representatives or District Organizing Coordinators or in lieu of hiring regular full-time staff for permanent positions/vacancies.

CWA is an equal opportunity employer, and, as such, does not discriminate an employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, disability, or any other classification protected from discrimination under applicable law.