Candidate for Council, Online Media Sector
HI! I am Sammie Smylie, a reporter at Chalkbeat Chicago and shop steward for Civic News Guild. Now, I am running for a second term on WGAE’s council representing online media workers.
When I first ran for council in 2023, I was excited to learn about how the Writers Guild of America East works. Over the past couple of years, I have been involved with WGAE’s organizing committee, Artificial Intelligence (AI) taskforce, and the Committee for Inclusion and Equity. These opportunities have helped me connect with union leaders in FTS and BCSN to discuss or ask questions about issues impacting different sectors. It’s been a steep learning curve, but a rewarding experience.
Here is what I’ve learned over the last few years:
- We have to keep organizing workplaces to ensure that all media workers have protections, especially at a time when journalists are constantly under threat. Also, organizing has to be a continuous fight. We have to ensure our shops are prepared to handle new issues that arise outside of our Collective Bargaining Agreements.
- Artificial Intelligence is a threat to all workers across WGAE’s sectors. In journalism, we are seeing media organizations sign on to partnerships with Open AI or have rolled out A.I. tools in our newsrooms. Some of us are reporting on the negative environmental impact of tech giant companies pushing for A.I. on Black and Brown communities. We cannot trust that leadership in media companies are going to slow down and think about ethics issues regarding intellectual property, ensuring workers are not pushed out by AI, or how these tools will impact some of the communities that we come from. While some of our online media shops, like Vox, have been able to achieve strong protections against the use of AI in the newsroom. We have to do more to get protections in contracts across online media.
- We are seeing mass media layoffs. Most Online Media contracts have good provisions around layoffs and ensuring that unions receive notice in the case of layoffs and severance. However, as a union we need to step up to support those who have been laid off. Whether you’re in a shop throwing down with your bosses or trying to figure out your next step after a layoff, you are still a WGAE member and you should feel welcomed here.
As an education reporter covering state and federal changes happening under the second Trump administration, mass layoffs across the industry, and uncertainties that I’m facing in my own personal life, I know times are bleak. But the union has been the only place where I can talk to others about these issues and work on them.
I hope that you all will give me another chance to work on the issues that I have outlined in this statement. I am looking forward to representing you all for another term.
Thank you for reading,
Sammie
Endorsements
Sara David, Kaitlin Fontana, Tian Jun Gu, Liz Hynes, Zachary Lennon-Simon, Sarah Montana, Sie Morley, Nitish Pahwa, CQ Quintana, Jessica Schulberg, Whitney Wimbish
Endorse Samantha Smylie for Council, Online Media Sector
Note: WGAW members who wish to endorse a candidate may follow the process outlined in section G.1.B of the 2025 Election Policy.
