NEW YORK – News Media Guild has hired Tony Winton as the union’s administrator, succeeding the retiring Kevin Keane.
Winton is a former Associated Press reporter who served as the NMG President for nine years. During his time leading the Guild, he was part of a team that negotiated three CBA’s with the Associated Press, led a merger with the AP’s technicians local, and organized the Spanish-language EFE News Service and served as chief negotiator for the unit.
Winton founded the Miami Fourth Estate, an independent, non-profit news organization in 2020. Most recently, Winton negotiated a first contract for The Miami Herald and The Bradenton Herald as contract consultant for NewsGuild-CWA.
During his 32-year career at the AP, Winton received three Edward R. Murrow Awards (2002, 2010, 2011) and the Oliver Gramling Award (2000).
“Tony brings an unparalleled familiarity and experience with the news industry and our local in particular,” NMG President Vin Cherwoo said. “We are extremely fortunate to have him in this transition, and his technological savvy will be instrumental in leading us forward.”
Keane is retiring after leading the Guild for more than 40 years. He began his career in the mailroom at UPI and became guild administrator in 1980. Keane also served as the local’s President for 15 years before stepping down in 2001, and was succeeded by Winton.
“I learned from my friend Kevin not only the nuts and bolts but also the subtleties of the art of negotiating – how to win the best possible benefits for our dues-paying members,” said Adolphe Bernotas, retired longtime guild activist and former NMG Executive Committee member. “Kevin taught me how to be a leader. Over the decades we spent considerable hours seeking each other’s advice on how to deal with crises, solve problems with the company, our members and how to deal with politics in our own local, TNG or CWA.”
The News Media Guild, Local 31222 of the NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America, represents employees at The Associated Press, the Guardian-US, the EFE News Service, the Financial Times, Oxford University Press, United Press International, and With Intelligence.