WGAE, SAG-AFTRA, DGA & NewsGuild Rally Albany to Pass the NY FAIR News Act

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 6, 2026) — Journalists and leadership from the Writers Guild of America East, SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America and the NewsGuild of New York joined Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany) and Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D—NYC) today for a press conference to urge the State Legislature to pass the New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act (The NY FAIR News Act), bipartisan legislation that establishes critical protections for journalists, media professionals and the broader public to ensure that the integrity of the news and its workforce are safeguarded against artificial intelligence.

Fahy and Rozic led the press conference on the Million Dollar Staircase inside the New York State Capitol that featured Slate’s What Next podcast Host & Managing Editor Mary Harris, Ziff David Senior Editor & Union Chair Jason Cohen, CBS News Associate Director Scott Berger, “Berlin Station” Writer and the Co-Chair of the WGAE AI Task Force Larry J. Cohen, Writers Guild of America East Executive Director Sam Wheeler and SAG-AFTRA Chief Labor Policy Officer and Executive Director, New York Local Rebecca Damon, and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher.

“Perhaps one of the industries at most risk from the use of artificial intelligence is journalism and as a result, the public’s trust and confidence in accurate news reporting,” said Senator Patricia Fahy. “According to the National Broadcasters Association, more than 76% of Americans report being concerned about AI stealing or reproducing journalism and local news stories, as AI continues to reshape our daily lives and careers across industries. To protect the public’s trust in reporting and the news they read every day and the journalists who do the work, I’m proud to sponsor the NY FAIR News Act with Assemblymember Rozic, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the State Senate to enact common sense guidelines that protect New Yorkers from the unintended consequences of AI.”

“I am proud to advance legislation that strengthens protections for journalists and news organizations in the age of artificial intelligence. This bill ensures transparency in how AI is used in news production, safeguards against worker displacement, and reinforces local journalism,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, Chair of the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee.

“We are not here to stop technological advancement, but news media companies must be honest with the public and cooperate with news workers to uphold journalistic standards and workplace protections. The NY FAIR News Act establishes critical AI guardrails protecting journalists, media professionals, and the broader public’s trust in the news,” said Rebecca Damon, SAG-AFTRA Chief Labor Policy Officer and New York Local Executive Director.

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher added, “A free, strong press is essential to a thriving democracy. We are living in a moment when both our press and our democracy are under siege. The rise of AI is putting journalism outlets out of business, journalists out of jobs, and exacerbating misinformation and bias. This technology is being adopted rapidly, and our window to mitigate the harm is closing. We must pass the FAIR News Act to ensure appropriate protections are in place.”

The bill, S.8451/A.8962-A, requires clear disclaimers when artificial intelligence is used in any published news content. The law mandates that news organizations operating in New York fully disclose to journalists and media professionals how and when AI is used in the workplace and that all news stories, articles, audio, visuals or images created by AI must be first reviewed by a human employee with editorial control before publication. Further, the bill establishes safeguards to protect journalist sources and confidential materials from being accessed by an artificial intelligence system.

The NY FAIR News Act has been endorsed by a broad coalition of unions and organizations representing workers throughout New York’s news media sector including the New York State AFL-CIO, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), the NewsGuild of New York, The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG), CWA District 1, and the Freelancers Union.

The bill has also been endorsed by unionized newsroom workers at national and local New York-based outlets like ABC News, CBS News, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Condé Nast, Vox Media, Hearst Magazines, Business Insider, Fox 5/WNYW, 1010 WINS, WPIX News, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Hudson News, El Diario, Gannett Regional, Utica Observer-Dispatch and the Committee to Protect Journalists, among others.

A number of State Senators and Assemblymembers and Union leaders who could not attend the press conference also shared statements of support for the NY FAIR News Act.

Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Chair of the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology, said, “At a time when trustworthy and reliable journalism is of particular need and importance, legislation such as this adds protections to one of the pillars of our democracy and society. As technology constantly evolves, so too must the media landscape in order to keep pace with the changing times, and continue to shine a light on the stories that have to be told. I am proud to support this legislation.”

Tom Fontana, President of the Writers Guild of America East, added, “This legislation is a critical step towards ensuring that media professionals across New York have a say in how AI is being used in their workplaces, and that the public knows when the news they’re seeing was produced using AI. Transparency and human oversight aren’t obstacles to innovation— they’re the foundation of trustworthy journalism. The Writers Guild of America East is proud to support the NY FAIR News Act. We urge lawmakers to pass this bill now.”

“Journalists are workers, and in a moment when artificial intelligence is reshaping the industry, they deserve clear protections and enforceable standards. The NY FAIR News Act sets common sense guardrails, so new technology does not come at the expense of jobs, trusted sources, or the integrity of the news. New Yorkers rely on accurate, credible reporting, and that means making sure innovation works for workers and for the public, not the other way around,” wrote Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee.

Susan DeCarava, President of The NewsGuild of New York, said, “The work of NewsGuild of NY members – who are producing essential and vital journalism – is critical to the health of our civic and cultural lives. The trust we have with the public is hard-earned and fragile, under constant threat in a political climate openly hostile to a free press and made exponentially worse by unregulated use of artificial intelligence. Now more than ever, New Yorkers need the FAIR News Act so we can all trust that the news we consume is made by and for humans.”

“The DGA strongly supports the New York FAIR News Act and urges lawmakers in Albany to pass it this legislative session. By requiring transparency, oversight, and consent before AI is trained or deployed in news operations, the bill establishes clear guardrails that protect workers’ rights and their professional judgment, ensuring that the public knows if and when AI is used in the news,” said Neil Dudich, Eastern Executive Director / Associate National Executive Director of the Directors Guild of America (DGA). “Protections like these are essential to maintaining the integrity of news and the trust of the public at a critical time for the newsgathering profession. When the professionals who work in news are protected, the quality and credibility of journalism are protected as well.”

New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “The public’s trust in journalism has always been important, but even more so now. The common-sense guardrails included in the NY FAIR News Act are vital for safeguarding journalism by upholding credibility, ensuring oversight, and strengthening public trust amid rapid AI advancements.”

“New Yorkers deserve news they can trust,” said Senator Andrew Gounardes. “In the age of AI, it’s never been more important to fight disinformation and defend the truth. By requiring clear disclaimers when AI is used in news content, the NY FAIR News Act helps ensure transparency in journalism while protecting reporters and their sources. A vibrant free press is essential for a healthy democracy—with this bill, we can protect both.”

“Artificial intelligence must never become a substitute for public truth, human judgment, or the working journalists who hold power accountable. In a democracy, the news is not just content—it is public infrastructure. The NY FAIR News Act establishes necessary guardrails to ensure that technology serves the people, not deception; strengthens journalism, not displacement; and protects the public’s right to know with transparency, accountability, and human editorial judgment,” said Senator Robert Jackson.

“At a time when trustworthy and reliable journalism is of particular need and importance, legislation such as this adds protections to one of the pillars of our democracy and society. As technology constantly evolves, so too must the media landscape in order to keep pace with the changing times, and continue to shine a light on the stories that have to be told. I am proud to support this legislation,” said Assemblymember Karen McMahon.

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