CBC | The Toronto Star | Huff Post Canada
A fence went up around the Globe and Mail building in Toronto on Wednesday before a strike vote, CBC reports. And now that fence has a Twitter account.
You said you wanted a wall between editorial and advertising. Here it is!
— Globe Fence (@globefence) July 2, 2014
From the CBC:
There was no immediate comment about the purpose of the fence, but many suggested it would serve to keep journalists out if there was a lockout.
Gently, boys. Gently! RT @ericatkins2
Globe and Mail erecting fences. union strike vote today pic.twitter.com/C9LFAqn2bN
— Globe Fence (@globefence) July 2, 2014
There wasn’t a lockout, at least not yet. On Wednesday night, CBC reported, journalists and other union staff rejected a contract offer. On Wednesday, Michael Bolen wrote about the strike for Huff Post Canada, noting that on Monday, Globe and Mail journalists withheld their bylines.
Fiction: I'm here to keep pesky journalists out. Fact: An unknown benefector is erecting me to keep the cafeteria food in.
— Globe Fence (@globefence) July 2, 2014
Theresa Boyle and Vanessa Lu reported on the negotiations and the fence Wednesday for The Toronto Star. They report that discussions will start again on July 8.
Among the most contentious issues is a proposal from management to require some editorial staff to write “advertorial,” custom content paid for and approved by advertisers.
There are also concerns over job security and wage cuts.
See? Union and management agree on something: Barriers! MT @RenataDAliesio Ad writer is not a journalist. Journalist is not an ad writer.
— Globe Fence (@globefence) July 2, 2014
Poynter’s Andrew Beaujon wrote about that proposal on June 13.
Executives at The Globe and Mail “want to monetize the integrity and reputations of The Globe and Mail’s journalists,” according to a union memo obtained by Jesse Brown at Canadaland. Unifor, which represents journalists at The Globe and Mail, says managers want “content creators” at the news organization “to write or produce advertiser sponsored ‘branded content’ (i.e. native advertising) that is vetted by the advertiser prior to publication and held out to readers as staff-written content.”
In the past day, @globefence also tossed around some possible names and started thinking about its future.
Finally. My book deal is inevitable. MT @Brennan_Reid
I walked by @globeandmail on my way to work specifically to see @globefence.
— Globe Fence (@globefence) July 3, 2014
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