header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
October 2
1945 - Cattle-rustling "Phantom of Vasquez Rocks" captured [story]
Phantom suspect


The careers of freelance reporters, photographers and editors in California will be threatened come Jan. 1 when a law capping the number of stories they can produce in a given year takes effect, according to a lawsuit filed against the Golden State on Tuesday.

Assembly Bill 5 seeks to provide benefits to independent workers by limiting who companies can classify as contractors. Much has been made about the pushback from tech companies Uber, Lyft and DoorDash who would be required to classify their drivers as employees.

Under AB 5, freelance writers and photographers would see a hard cap of 35 pieces of content per year. But enforcing the cap will allow the state to determine who can freelance by limiting certain speakers to just 35 submissions per client per year according to the lawsuit filed by the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and National Press Photographers Association (NPPA).

The journalism groups say “marketers, graphic designers, grant writers, and fine artists” were given exemptions under AB 5, while “still photographers, photojournalists, freelance writers, and editors” would be held to the cap.

AB 5 will bring “significant new costs and disadvantages to the members” of the journalism organizations if they’re required to be classified as employees rather than freelancers. Freelancers will see their client-turned-employer forced to pay unemployment taxes, workers’ compensation, state disability insurance, paid family leave and sick leave, according to the complaint – making freelancers more costly and a less attractive alternative, according to the lawsuit.

Freelance writer and former president of ASJA Randy Dotinga said some journalists have reported being told publishers would no longer work with them because of the restrictions from AB 5.

“There are weekly columnists who are told they can’t continue writing because they would meet that cap,” Dotinga said in a phone interview. “Publishers could get scared to use me for work, but I feel like I have to stand up and speak out for other freelance journalists.”

Freelancers could also lose ownership of the rights to their creative work, which is vitally important for videographers and photographers.

The groups say AB 5 “singles out” those freelance reporters and deprives them of their rights to free speech, free press and equal protection. The groups seek a court order finding AB 5’s targeting of freelance reporters, editors, newspaper cartoonists, photographers and photojournalists unconstitutional.

They are represented by Caleb Trotter and James Manley of the Pacific Legal Foundation.

In a statement, ASJA president and attorney Milton Toby said, “We have no choice but to go to court to protect the rights of independent writers and freelance journalists as a whole. The stakes are too high, and we cannot stand by as our members and our colleagues face ill-conceived and potentially career-ending legislation.”

This week, New York-based Vox Media said it would sever ties with hundreds of contract writers and editors in California as the company braces for the new law. Content produced under the sports blog network SB Nation will now be done by a team of staff employees.

“That new law makes it impossible for us to continue with our current California team site structure because it restricts contractors from producing more than 35 written content “submissions” per year,” SB Nation executive director John Ness wrote in a blog post.

Under AB 5, Vox would have been required to reclassify some of those workers as employees.

The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, codifies the game-changing labor standard established by the California Supreme Court in the 2018 ruling Dynamex v. Superior Court.

Backed by unions including Service Employees International Union, California Labor Federation and State Building and Construction Trades Council, AB 5 will offer protections to many janitors, truck drivers, retail workers, and childcare workers in the state.

A study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found most independent contractors in the state will benefit from AB 5.

Saba Waheed, a research director at the UCLA Labor Center, said AB 5 provides clarity for freelance workers who were being relied upon as employees by some industries in California.

“AB 5 is coming to shine a light on the different industries,” Waheed said in a phone interview. The industries include janitorial services, nail salon workers and freelance writers.

“Lots of workforces saw the creation of subcontracting workers to undermine those traditional employee roles. Those are the industries that need this light on them,” Waheed said.

Uber, Lyft and DoorDash say they’re seeking to place a measure on the November 2020 statewide ballot to allow voters the chance to overturn AB 5.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office said it has not yet seen the lawsuit and did not comment further.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Oct 2, 2023
DWR: SCV Drinking Water Remains Safe Despite Advisory
Though a danger advisory was issued for Castaic Lake by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Sept. 26, drinking water for all SCV Water customers remains safe and meets high standards for quality.
Monday, Oct 2, 2023
Cougars Celebrate 29-7 Homecoming Victory Over AVC
College of the Canyons won its third straight game to the delight of a lively Homecoming crowd at Cougar Stadium on Saturday night, riding a 20-point output in the third quarter to seize a 29-7 conference victory over Antelope Valley College. 
Monday, Oct 2, 2023
Newsom Appoints Controversial Replacement for Feinstein Seat
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday the selection of Laphonza Butler — the President of the nation’s largest organization dedicated to electing women, EMILY’s List — to complete the United States Senate term of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, which runs through 2024.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Though a danger advisory was issued for Castaic Lake by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Sept. 26, drinking water for all SCV Water customers remains safe and meets high standards for quality.
DWR: SCV Drinking Water Remains Safe Despite Advisory
College of the Canyons won its third straight game to the delight of a lively Homecoming crowd at Cougar Stadium on Saturday night, riding a 20-point output in the third quarter to seize a 29-7 conference victory over Antelope Valley College. 
Cougars Celebrate 29-7 Homecoming Victory Over AVC
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office released the three productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Oct. 2 - Sunday, Oct. 8.
Cesar Millan Among Three Productions Filming in Santa Clarita
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday the selection of Laphonza Butler — the President of the nation’s largest organization dedicated to electing women, EMILY’s List — to complete the United States Senate term of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, which runs through 2024.
Newsom Appoints Controversial Replacement for Feinstein Seat
One of the many things that make the city of Santa Clarita such an amazing place to live, work and play, is a calendar full of world-class events.
Jason Gibbs | 2023 State of the City Extravaganza
The Santa Clarita Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission will hold its regular meeting Thursday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m., on the First Floor of City Hall in Council Chambers.
Parks, Recreation to Discuss Impact of Santa Clarita Aquatic Center
The Domestic Violence program at the Child & Family Center is proud to serve the Santa Clarita Valley and Antelope Valley.
Child & Family Center Highlights Domestic Violence Awareness Month
1945 - Cattle-rustling "Phantom of Vasquez Rocks" captured [story]
Phantom suspect
1842 - Proof of discovery: New York Observer (newspaper) reports on gold in Placerita Canyon. [story]
New York Observer
1955 - Actor James Dean, 24, drives through Castaic Junction en route to his final resting place [watch]
James Dean
The city of Santa Clarita partners with MV Transportation for transit services. Over the past year, MV Transportation has been actively negotiating with the bus drivers' union. on Sept. 15, the union decided to authorize a strike. The city of Santa Clarita is not a participant in this labor contract disagreement.
Bus Drivers Strike, Santa Clarita Transit to Suspend Service
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, Oct. 4, beginning with closed session at 5:45 p.m., followed immediately by open session at 7 p.m.
Oct. 4: Regular Meeting of Hart School Board
The regular board meeting of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency will be held 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3 in the boardroom at the Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant,  27234 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Oct. 3: Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Regular Board Meeting
The funeral services for Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer have been set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Oct. 5: Clinkunbroomer Funeral Services, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Alums and faculty from the California Institute of the Arts School of Film/Video are screening their films at film festivals around the globe throughout the fall. More than 18 CalArtians’ works have been selected for festival lineups taking place across Canada, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.
CalArts Filmmakers Screen at Festivals Across North America, Europe
The Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District has reported the first case of West Nile Virus in the Santa Clarita Valley this season. Transmitted through mosquito bites, West Nile Virus is a health concern for people and animals.
West Nile Virus Found in Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Volunteers is seeking volunteers for Light Up Main Street on Saturday, Nov. 18. Volunteers age 14 and older are being sought for a variety of positions at the annual holiday kickoff event in Old Town Newhall. Age requriements vary according to volunteer activity.
Volunteers Sought for Light Up Main Street
ALDI will open a second Santa Clarita Valley location on Thursday, Oct. 12 in the Canyon Center in Canyon Country. The new ALDI store will be located at 19361 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351. Canyon Center is located at the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Whites Canyon Road.
Oct. 12: ALDI to Open Second SCV Location in Canyon Country
As the end of the year approaches, it will soon be time for indoor gatherings with friends and family. This is a particularly important time of year to get your annual flu vaccination.
Dr. Christina Ghaly | It’s the Season for Flu Vaccine
Los Angeles County will launch the first of two community relief programs for households that have been impacted by odors stemming from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill on Monday, Oct. 2.
Oct. 2: Chiquita Canyon Landfill Odors Relief Program Launched
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit investigators are asking for the public’s help locating At Risk Missing Person Maxwell Perkins Cornell.
LASD Seeks Public’s Help Locating Missing Val Verde Man
Senator Dianne Feinstein, who represented California in the Senate for more than 30 years, has died at 90 years old, her office announced Friday morning.
Dianne Feinstein, Long-serving California Senator, Dies at 90
1969 - College of the Canyons opens with first class of students in temporary quarters at Hart High School [story]
COC
Throughout my life, I have always fought for and raised rescue animals, both big and small.
Laurene Weste | Adopting New Family Member at Castaic Animal Care Center
SCVNews.com
%d bloggers like this: