• by Ray Schultz , April 20, 2025

The NewsGuild bargaining unit at Gannett’s Evansville (Indiana) Courier & Press has ratified its first contract with the paper.  

The two-year contract, which affects all six employees on the team, includes minimum salaries of $45,000 for new hires, $50,000 after five years of employment, and $58,000 after 10 years.

In addition, the deal calls for $1 per-hour raises for anyone who doesn’t reach one of those minimums during the second year. 

The contract also includes language stating that members will not be replaced by AI.

“This contract is an important step in keeping local journalism alive at the Courier & Press,” says Sarah Loesch, government reporter. “Each member of our editorial staff is better equipped to tell local stories each day with safeguards now legally protected.”

The unit is part of the Indianapolis Newspaper Guild Local 34070. It was certified after a unanimous vote in February 2024.

The union states this is one of several initial contracts reached with new Gannett units over the past two years. It is similar to those achieved with two units in Palm Beach, Florida and one in Southwest Florida.