Trump pushing journalists to unionize

Three unions for journalists say Trump's election has sparked increased interest and reps from two newsrooms that recently unionized say Trump helped pushed the process along.

Why it matters:

Unionizing could protect journalists from employers if, for example, a news organization came under pressure from the Trump administration to fire a journalist. Interest in union protections can be seen as a response to Trump's critiques of the press and war on "fake news."

Recently unionized newsrooms:

• MTV's digital staff announced Friday that it voted to unionize, and referenced the current political and news climate as a reason. "Under the new Trump administration, we are acutely aware of how necessary our constitutional rights are, and how much we need legal protection. - MTV said in a statement.
• The Huffington Post announced last week that it ratified its union contract, citing job security as a reason for guild representation. A union representative said the current political climate helped speed up the ratification process.

Response from Unions:

• NewsGuild of New York, which represents groups like The New York Times and Time Inc., said several workplaces have already expressed interest in organizing.
• Washington-Baltimore News Guild, which represents groups like The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun, said demands for union protection have "absolutely increased" since the new Administration came to power.
• Writers Guild of America East, which represents Gizmodo, CBS and Fusion said guild interest has "unequivocally" increased.