New York Daily News Union Blasts Paper's Owners Amid Staff Exodus

NEW YORK CITY — One of New York City's largest newspapers lost 20 percent of its newsroom in a staff exodus that its union claims rests squarely on the tabloid's new owners.

In a blistering Twitter thread posted Thursday, the Daily News Union took aim at Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund that purchased the paper in 2021.

Twelve journalists resigned from the paper in the past three months, the union tweeted.

"Staffers are quitting in droves," a tweet states.

"Our owners — Alden Global Capital — don’t seem to care. New York City should care."

Accusations that Alden gutted newsrooms have long-trailed the company, but reached a crescendo as it bought the former Tribune Publishing — which counted the Daily News, Chicago Tribune, the Baltimore Sun and other illustrious papers in its portfolio.

A Daily News editorial in May 2021 addressed concerns that the "vulture fund" — Alden — would make deep cuts at the paper.

"Vultures pick over dead animals. We’re alive and typing," the editorial stated.

But the union's Twitter thread argues the scavenger feast is ongoing — and is harming the Daily News.

The paper is down to two staff reporters to chase crimes, the sports department is gutted and important editors quit, the Twitter thread states.

"Some of these positions have been backfilled, but the mass exodus from the Daily News has a single, clear reason: Alden has made the paper a worse place to work," the thread states.

Readers have "taken notice," according to the thread, which posted complaints from readers about typos, poor copy editing and lack of coverage.

"As a subscriber, I feel insulted by ownership's lack of respect for The News' readers," one reader wrote.

The Daily News Union's thread stated that they're fighting for a contract, but the paper's top editor has refused to attend bargaining sessions.