MAY 9, 2023

BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA

WEEKLY DISPATCH

By Leslie Fields-Cruz

What Writers Want

Before humans could read and write, cave paintings on the wall told our stories. I wonder if those ancient Griots were treated better than today’s Griots? Don't get me wrong. Many of today's writers have done quite well. Shonda Rhymes and Kenya Barris to name a few. But the current writers' strike, led by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), is not about the writers we know by name. It's about the ones we don't know. The ones who spend countless hours drafting that one joke for the late night show host that becomes a viral meme. It’s about people like the former BPM staffer who left us to pursue an MFA in screenwriting because it was a viable career option at the time. It’s about the BPM grantee writing for multiple TV shows. And it’s about the future writer who's currently at home imagining the next D&G campaign for their friends.

On the flip side, for those creatives working in documentary or unscripted media, a protracted strike could lead to more pickups of unscripted and independent documentary content. It’s not like we haven’t seen that before. But even if that is the upside for a portion of the industry, what the WGA is fighting for, is what all professional creatives should have: A way to make a decent living.

But don't just take it from me. Educate yourself. Read the articles below to learn more about the WGA strike. Fair and equitable, is it really too much to ask?

1. “What’s the Latest on the Writers Strike”, New York Times
2. “WGA Strike: What's at Stake for Writers in Hollywood?”, Los Angeles Times
3. "Hollywoods Writers Are on Strike" Vox

Black Public Media (BPM) is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with further funding from the MacArthur Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts. BPM is the only nonprofit that offers training, funding and distribution for projects solely about the black experience. We are seeking foundations, corporations and individuals to help our work. For more information about underwriting and contributions, please contact Alisa Norris (alisa@blackpublicmedia.org).

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