Earlier this week the Writers Guild of America went on strike for more fair compensation. Specifically, what they’re paid for shows that are downloaded or streamed on the internet in addition to demands on residuals paid from DVD sales. Writers last went on strike for a 22 week period in 1998.
While I don’t particularly care for unions in general, (I think they were once a necessary and helpful advocate for workers) I have to think in this case they are right in their demands. It has been somewhat humorously pointed out that it’s a little more difficult to feel sorry for the “higher-class” writers of the WGA than say someone in the UAW. Nevertheless, the major media companies have shown themselves to be nothing if not greedy and with the shift in media consumption to the internet, adequate compensation should be given.
Obviously we don’t know how long this thing will last. But as I have mentioned before there are those out there that are talented and have stories to tell that can help fill the void felt by a lack of new programming. It’s now incredibly easy to get those stories to a large audience via any one of the video sharing sites out there. In addition, the resources available to all of us for producing this content are incredibly economical.
All of this said, I don’t think the writers of our entertainment should feel like budding storytellers are out to get them. What this does is give a window of opportunity to those who would otherwise not get a chance to tell their stories to a captive audience. In time, all of this will return to some state of normalcy. While we wait though, hopefully consumers eyes can be opened to something that they would not have otherwise given a chance.
JM
