WGA: Writers are "falling behind"

 

A new bulletin, released Tuesday by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), claims writers are "falling behind" in the streaming era.   The Writers Guild is scheduled to enter negotiations on new contracts with studios and streamers next week. The report cites new trends such as "mini-rooms" and shorter TV seasons as major obstacles to writers attempting to maintain steady income. According to WGA, media companies are using the transition to streaming as a pretense to "cut writer pay and separate writing from production, worsening working conditions for series writers at all levels." The bulletin also notes that 49% of all TV writers during the 2021-2022 season worked for "guild minimums," the lowest allowable rate that can be paid to a WGA member; that's up from 33% in 2013-2014. Some showrunners are apparently even being paid guild minimums.