(NEW YORK CITY) - Unionized Journalists employed at Sports Illustrated (SI) have won a new three-year contract that raises salary floors, saves on health care, protects remote work and enshrines protections on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Sports Illustrated Union, which represents 64 Journalists at the legendary Sports Media Organization, ratified the contract deal with Publisher Minute Media that wrapped up nearly a year and a half of bargaining with Minute, which took over as Publisher in 2024 after the previous Publisher, The Arena Group, lost its license to publish SI. 

“This contract upholds the principles and protections we fought so hard for four years ago,” says Dan Falkenheim, a Fact Checker and the SI Union’s Unit Chair. “After our Members have experienced more than their fair share of instability because of ownership changes beyond our control, we are thrilled to have a contract that values our work and provides a strong foundation for Sports Illustrated’s future at Minute Media.”

Highlights of the deal include: Every Unit Member is now earning $70,000 or more, and the average member gets a raise of 5.22% upon ratification, with 3% guaranteed increases in 2027 and 2028; The contract enshrines Minute Media’s commitment that SI’s journalism must be created by humans. The company must follow journalistic ethics and contractual editorial integrity protections if it uses AI for editorial work, and a Unit Employee will sit on the company’s AI Board; Current Employees at SI, who have been working remotely since 2020, can stay remote; Service at prior operators of SI is credited in full, and long-time Employees are able to earn additional severance beyond the severance cap of 26 weeks; The contract preserves Just Cause Protections and provides for enhanced severance if a layoff is due to AI or out of seniority order; and The deal increases parental leave (to 16 weeks for primary caregivers and 12 weeks for secondary caregivers), caps annual increases on medical premiums, lowers premiums for family plans and provides new funding for HSAs on high-deductible plans.

NewsGuild of New York President Susan DeCarava said: “Thoroughout the transition between Publishers, our Members at Sports Illustrated remained focused on what was most important: Dedication to one another and to the value of their work. It is this solidarity that won us a strong new contract and which allows our Members to continue to produce the quality journalism for which they are known.”  

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: NewsGuild of NY-represented journalists at Sports Illustrated win new contract with publisher Minute Media