• by Ray Schultz , August 12, 2022

Organized labor is making inroads into U.S. newsrooms. But it is by no means dominant, judging by a recent study from the Pew Research Center. 

Of journalists employed at least part time at a news outlet, 16% belong to a union, and 26% say their organization has one. However, 41% would join a union if one were available. 

Younger reporters are more likely to do so—20% in the 18-29 age group hold union membership, and 57% would like to. In contrast, only 13% of those age 65+ belong to one, and 28% would. 

Women in newsrooms are more likely to have done so—19 have joined unions, versus 14% of men. And another 45% of females would join if possible, compared to 38% of males.  

In addition, 20% of Black journalists belong to a union, compared to 15% of white. And 45% of Black reporters would join, as would 41% of their white counterparts.  

But Asian journalists lead in membership—26% belong, and 42% would like to.  

Journalists employed at larger organizations are more likely to have a union available—57% of publishers with 500+ employees have unions. In contrast, 40% of those with 101-500 staffers are unionized, and 28% of firms with 51-100.  

Only 12% of right-leaning newsrooms have unions, compared to 39% of left-leaning ones and 25% of those defined as mixed. 

Pew surveyed nearly 12,000 working U.S-based journalists from Feb. 16 to March 17.