Bend Bulletin employees picket for new contract

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ News) --  Saturday afternoon, members of the Bend Bulletin along with members from the Central Oregon News Guild picketed in downtown Bend's Peace Corner, after not finalizing a contract.

The Bend Bulletin was recently bought by Carpenter Media Group.

KTVZ News spoke with Noemi Arellano-Summer, an education reporter, to learn more about some of the changes that have been made since the new ownership came in.

Arellano-Summer told KTVZ News, "definitely means stories have to be done earlier, started earlier. A lot of times, breaking news doesn't might not make it in the next day's paper. If we get a breaking news story at 12:30, 1 p.m., it'll make it online. Definitely. I would say we are digital first, but it won't make it into the next day's paper.”

Arellano-Summer also told KTVZ News that the Bend Bulletin workers are picketing to finalize contracts for reporters, photographers among others.

Bulletin workers also expressed concerns about downsizing.

Additionally Arellano-Summer said that Carpenter Media Group has slow walked contract negotiations and making it take longer than it should.

KTVZ News have reached out to Carpenter Media Group but have not heard back.

This is a developing story, KTVZ News will have more as it develops.