Trade Press // Non-Fiction TV
Discovery CEO Gets “Survival Kit” From Non-Fiction Producers
Video NEW YORK, NY (AUGUST 21, 2015) – Union representatives delivered a “Non-Fiction Producers’ Survival Kit” to Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav to mark the enormous contrast between his generous $156 million pay package and the extremely difficult conditions endured by the men and women who make shows for...
POYNTER: Who’s the leader behind the union moves at Gawker, VICE and Salon?
Journalists at Gawker Media, VICE and Salon are now brothers and sisters with comedy writers on “The Daily Show” and those crafting scripts for anchors on mainstream network broadcasts. Of course, they might wince slightly at being lumped in with those others. But they’re now members of the same...
VARIETY: Writers Guild Renews Deal with Optomen
The Writers Guild of America East has negotiated a new three-year contract with Optomen Prods., a specialist in nonfiction programs for cable television networks. Optomen shows include “Kevin McCloud: Escape to the Wild,” “One Bad Choice,” “Mysteries at the Monument,” “Mysteries at the Castle” and”What Have I Got.” Optomen...
AFL-CIO BLOG: Show Solidarity with Ink Master Workers
We want to see your pro-labor, pro-worker and pro-union tattoos! Share your labor-friendly tattoos on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #InkMasterUnion to show solidarity with the men and women who make the hit TV show “Ink Master.” If you don’t have a tattoo, you still can show solidarity by...
NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE: ‘Swamp People’ filmmakers in labor dispute with writers’ union
As the public image of Louisiana’s film tax credits hits another snag in federal court this week, even more trouble might be on the horizon. A New York-based writers’ union alleges Original Media, which produces “Swamp People,” failed to write checks for tens of thousands of dollars worth of overtime pay...
DEADLINE: Jane Street Producers Vote To Join WGA East After Company Brass Urged Against It
Freelance producers and associate producers at Jane Street Entertainment have voted overwhelmingly to join the WGA East. Despite pleas from the company’s owners to reject union representation, the freelancers voted 46-3 to join the guild, and the National Labor Relations Board now has certified the guild as their collective bargaining...
VARIETY: Writers Slam ITV Over Neil Patrick Harris Show
From Variety: More than 175 comedy/variety writers have signed a petition urging ITV to enter a collective bargaining agreement covering its nonfiction writer-producers — including its upcoming variety show hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. The Writers Guild of America East, which has been in a protracted battle with ITV...
IN THESE TIMES: The Real World of Reality TV: Worker Exploitation
From In These Times: On September 10, 16 editors on the Bravo reality show Shahs of Sunset walked off the job in Hollywood after informing their employer, Ryan Seacrest Productions, of their intentions to unionize. The next day, Bravo announced they would delay the premiereof the fourth season. “We...
WGAE joins with UK and Canadian unions for workers’ rights at Realscreen London
Why we joined forces to tackle TV workers’ rights Senior factual TV executives from the US and Canada are checking in to London this week to meet their international counterparts at Realscreen London, an event dominated by a host of UK producers. Organisers promise that this inaugural event will...
Op-Ed in Washington Post on Reality TV Conditions
Writers Guild of America, East Executive Director Lowell Peterson penned an op-ed which appears today, which reads in part: “If the networks want to keep their collaborators safe, reduce the embarrassments from cancelled shows, and prevent lawsuits that hold them liable for accidents, things have to change. It’s time...