If the words “Alden Global Capital” mean anything to you, you probably don’t want to hear them in the same breath as your newsroom: The hedge-fund-owned group, the second-largest newspaper owner in the U.S., is notorious for gutting the newsrooms it purchases. And on Monday, staffers at the San Diego Union-Tribune found out a similar fate could be in their future.

When they received an email saying the paper, and the hyperlocal U-T Community Press newspapers, had been acquired by Alden subsidiary MediaNews Group, several employees told reporter Omar Rashad that no one — including editor-in-chief and publisher Jeff Light — was expecting the news. 

Less than 30 minutes later, they learned more from their new owner’s HR department: Staff reductions lay ahead, and staffers had until July 17 to accept a buyout package. Staffers told Rashad they were devastated.

“I literally cried myself to sleep last night and then woke up at 3 or 3:30 in the morning and couldn’t get back to sleep,” one staffer said under the condition of anonymity since the Union-Tribune isn’t unionized. The sale was also shocking and frustrating to staffers, who say they were repeatedly told their paper was profitable and saw the L.A. Times receive more resources than the Union-Tribune.

Both papers had been under the ownership of billionaire surgeon-turned-media-mogul Patrick Soon-Shiong until the sale. Soon-Shiong’s choice to sell the paper echoes a Wall Street Journal scoop from 2021 that broke the news that he planned to sell the Times and Union-Tribune. Notably, a tweet he made soon after the story’s publication only refuted the assertion that he wanted to sell the Times — not the Union-Tribune. 

Now, that sale is changing the landscape of Southern California journalism at large. The L.A. Times is now the biggest paper not owned by Alden, which also owns the 11-newspaper Southern California News Group. (SCNG Guild, which formed in 2021, is still working on securing its first contract.) 

“It’s just disingenuous to say that they did everything they could do,” another staffer said. “If you asked me who would be the worst company to sell the paper to, it would’ve been MediaNews Group. I can’t believe there wasn’t a better option.”

Read more of Rashad's reporting on The Objective’s website.

—James Salanga 

Looking toward better questions to ask in struggle: Organizer Mariame Kaba talked with Capital B reporter Adam Mahoney about Black-Native solidarity, her new zine, and the importance of constantly looking back to past examples of activism and organizing: “To make the changes we want to see, we have to change everything else around whatever it is we’re focused on,” she said. (Capital B)

“DEI hysteria” derails Texas A&M’s journalism program revival: The college hired UT journalism professor, Kathleen McElroy, to revive its program. But A&M sent her a revolving set of offer letters, changing the terms in response to furor from people who didn’t want McElroy to take the position, Kate McGee reports. “I feel damaged by the entire process,” McElroy — who plans to stay at UT — said. (Texas Tribune) 

The continued glorification of Big Civility: Fred Ryan, the outgoing Washington Post publisher, is another big name throwing his hat into the fight to create more tolerable discourse — he’s leaving to head up the Center for Public Civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. Politico senior editor Michael Schaffer looks into its promises and how they stack up against the broader landscape of those pursuing a more tolerant discourse. (POLITICO)

Queer media may soon be another publication down: For Defector, Lauren Theisen covers Autostraddle’s most likely two potential fates: Shutdown or sale. The publication let go of three subject editors abruptly in May in a move staffers called “worryingly retaliatory,” and staff say that CEO Riese Bernard — who will soon step down from her position — communicated with a lack of clarity about the publication’s financial situation. (Defector, The Objective)

Grist Union announces first contract: It’s the result of over a year of bargaining and sets salary floors for unit employees at $55,000, along with securing progressive raises with the highest percentages set at the lowest salaried positions. The union’s contract also extends current leave policies and codifies more holidays for the newsroom. (Grist Union Twitter) 

0 days until … the deadline to apply to SPJ’s Freelance Fellowship, which is at 11:45 p.m. CT tonight. The fellowship, for those who earn a majority of their income through freelancing, provides a free SPJ23 conference registration, a travel and lodging stipend and mentorship. 

14 days until … “What Happens When States Kick People off Medicaid?”, a virtual panel hosted by the Center for Health Journalism. Panelists will discuss ways to cover Medicaid disenrollment as initial pandemic protections sunset and how families across the country are being impacted.

1 month and 1 day until … the deadline to apply for the Movement Broadcast Intensive. This 12-week virtual series, presented by Press On, Migrant Roots Media and Interrupting Criminalization, is meant for anyone interested in creating video, audio, and live broadcasts to support movements for liberation.

Looking for a job? Here are a few places to look: INN | ONA | JournalismJobs.com | 10 Jobs and a Dog | NABJ | AAJA | NAHJ | NLGJA | @WritersofColor | MEO Jobs | Freelance Journalist Rates | Source Jobs | Opportunities of the Week ($) | West Coast Media Jobs

How about a style guide? Trans Journalist Association | Diversity Style Guide | Tribal Nations Media Guide | NABJ Style Guide | Disability Language Style Guide | AAJA Guide to Covering Asian Pacific America | NAHJ Cultural Competence Handbook |  SPJ Race & Gender Hotline | AMEJA Media Resource Guide | The Press in Prison | The Conscious Style Guide

Thanks for reading our newsletter! We appreciate you being here, and we’ll have more for you soon.

This issue is by James Salanga, with edits by Curtis Yee and Jen Ramos Eisen.