YTN suspends newsroom meetings for first time

Feb 04, 2026, 07:40 am

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YTN headquarters building. / Special Reporting Team

For the first time since its founding, YTN has failed to hold a newsroom meeting following its acquisition by the Eugene Group.

The YTN branch of the National Union of Media Workers said the situation stemmed from management’s decision to push through personnel appointments while ignoring the president recommendation committee and the consent system for appointing the newsroom director, both stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement. The union argued that these actions led to the collapse of the newsroom’s editorial control tower.

In a statement released on Feb. 2, the union said, “An unimaginable situation has occurred in which a news-focused channel is operating without newsroom meetings,” adding, “With the top newsroom position left vacant, YTN is facing an unprecedented crisis in its 30-year history, with no one giving directions and no one taking responsibility.”

The newsroom meeting is held every morning under the leadership of the newsroom director. It serves as a forum where departments report on their coverage plans, overall news flow is coordinated, and decisions are made on live broadcasts. Planned investigative projects and feedback from the viewer committee are also shared during the meeting.

According to the union, after the newsroom director position became vacant in December last year, the head of the news division chaired the meetings. However, after the division head stepped down from the post, the role was assigned to the deputy editor-in-chief under the organizational structure.

The union explained that following the deputy editor-in-chief’s public remarks that it was unrealistic to effectively perform the role of acting director while overseeing 24-hour live broadcasting, YTN is currently operating under a real-time communication system among departments, coordinated jointly by the deputy editor-in-chief and the head of the issue planning team.

“The responsibility for the current abnormal situation, confusion, and the management and editorial vacuum lies entirely with the Eugene Group and YTN management,” the union said. “Management must present a reasonable plan for forming the president recommendation committee and engage sincerely in labor-management negotiations. If actions that undermine YTN continue, accountability will be demanded.”

Meanwhile, YTN management posted a statement titled “Explanation” on its internal network on Jan. 29, outlining its position on the consent system for appointing the newsroom director and the president recommendation committee.

“The company will continue discussions with the labor side regarding the president recommendation committee and will make every effort to reach a final agreement,” YTN said.

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