Mike Merschel, a 25-year veteran of The Dallas Morning News, describes the anguish of a layoff and the worries about how to survive on a very small — even embarrassing — severance package.

The Dallas News Guild analyzes current severance packages for outgoing employees and finds a great discrepancy between news staffers and a top executive.

A Dallas News Guild analysis of Dallas Morning News’ photo staff finds the legendary staff has been cut from 35 photographers in 2005 to six today. The Guild wants to boost the staff and limit contract work for non-staffers. A hundred Guild members signed a petition against outsourcing jobs.

Wow. Dallas News Guild wins election to become the first unionized newspaper newsroom in Texas in the modern era.