Media Insider: Atlantic Staffers To Unionize, Thrillist Launches LGBTQIA+ Travel Channel, NYT Elects Styles Editor

Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s roundup of media news stories from the week.

CNN BUSINESS | KERRY FLYNN
The Atlantic staffers announce intention to unionize

Staffers at The Atlantic announced their plans to form a union with the NewsGuild of New York. The union consists of 85 editorial employees, including writers, editors, the art team, copy desk, audience, fact-checking, podcasts, and experimental storytelling. The union commented, “We have faith in our leadership, but in a time of upheaval in our industry and nation, we also wish to ensure that all of the staffers who contribute to The Atlantic’s successes are justly rewarded for their labor and free to speak their mind on matters of concern. To this end, we have decided to join our peers across the industry in forming a union.” Shortly after the employees announced their plans to unionize, The Atlantic’s management announced their intention to work with the union’s organizers on voluntary recognition.

Related: 100 members of the New Yorker union protested outside the home of Anna Wintour, global chief content officer of Condé Nast.

MEDIAPOST | RAY SCHULTZ
Thrillist To Launch A LGBTQIA+ Travel Channel

Thrillist will be launching a new travel channel for its LGBTQIA+ audience called “We’re Out Here.” The new channel will be sponsored by Orbitz and it will offer information on how to be prepared and stay safe while traveling. Carey Malloy, Orbitz brand director, added that the channel aims to “provide more than just a vacation and help forge community, build diverse representation, and ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome to travel as they are.” Thrillist will also debut its “Small Town Pride” initiative on June 14. The initiative highlights small businesses and outposts that support the community.

Read Next: Gina Chua, executive editor of Reuters, is returning to the office post-pandemic as one of the most senior transgender journalists in the country.

POLITICO | QUINT FORGEY
White House briefing room to return to full, pre-pandemic seating capacity

The White House Correspondents’ Association announced that the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room would return to full seating capacity this week. The WHCA said it will be reintroducing its pre-pandemic seating chart for the briefing room. In addition, the press capacity limitations on the White House grounds will return to 100%. Fully vaccinated journalists will no longer have to undergo daily testing unless they’re part of the press pool. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be tested daily or will be required to provide proof of a negative test.

ICYMI: US Department of Justice will no longer obtain reporters’ phone records in an effort to identify sources who reveal classified information.

THE NEW YORK TIMES | KATIE ROBERTSON
New York Times Names Stella Bugbee as Styles Editor

The New York Times named Stella Bugbee as its new Styles editor. She will take over Styles from Choire Sicha, who left after four years and will join New York Magazine as an editor at large. Bugbee leaves behind The Cut, known for its conversational headlines and, more recently, coverage of politics, gender, and social issues. She is credited with growing the style and culture site into a major digital brand. Management wrote in a note to staff, “Stella brings to The Times a broad and ambitious vision for Styles coverage, one that embraces fashion and lifestyle, even as it explores issues of politics, gender, power and fame.”

In other staffing news: Chief executive Annette Thomas to leave Guardian Media Group.

MEDIAPOST | LAURIE SULLIVAN
Instagram Introduces Creator Affiliate Program, Ways To Monetize Content

Instagram introduced an affiliate program at its first Creator Week conference. The program will allow creators to monetize their content and build a business on Facebook and Instagram. The tools will help creators discover new products, recommend products, and earn a commission on purchases. Affiliate posts will be labeled “Eligible for Commission” so people know their purchase will support the creator.

More from MediaPost: Colorado passes privacy law giving residents right to opt out of ad targeting.

Subscribe to Beyond Bylines to get media trends, journalist interviews, blogger profiles, and more sent right to your inbox.

[blog_subscription_form]

Erin Wade is a Senior Customer Content Specialist with PR Newswire. She is also an animal lover and aspiring world traveler. Tune into her insights as a social curator at @TotalCSR.