All while studio profits increased by 39% in that same period, and executive pay soared. The WGA released data earlier this year that found that median weekly pay for writer-producers declined 23% over the last decade when adjusted for inflation, while more and more writers are being paid the basic minimum rate. Despite record investments in television and film in recent years – with media companies raking in billions of dollars and seemingly more work than ever on offer – writers are seeing their piece of the pie shrinking rather than growing. The WGA’s demands are clear: they want pay increases for members amounting to about $429 million per year and structural changes to the way the studios are run. Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) demonstrate in front of the Netflix building in Los Angeles, California. In depth: ‘One exec said he looks forward to the day scripts are written by AI’ Commenting on the incident, police said officers “have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused”. Policing | The Metropolitan police has defended its officers after a suspect was tasered and two dogs were shot in front of screaming witnesses. The attacks come as Moscow prepares for its Victory Day holiday that marks the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. Ukraine | At least five people were injured after Russia launched a wave of strikes on Kyiv and across Ukraine. UK news | A blood test designed to measure whether a driver who has caused an accident was impaired by lack of sleep could be available within two years, making it easier to legislate against sleepy drivers or their employers. Investigators believe it may have been an intentional attack. US news | Seven people have been killed and 10 others were injured after a car plowed into a crowd outside a shelter serving migrants and homeless people in Brownsville, Texas. NHS | Long waiting lists that prevent patients from accessing NHS services in a timely manner has meant that people are getting sicker and feeling “helpless and forgotten”, Britain’s top GP has said. I spoke to Rick Cleveland, a television writer best known for his work on the HBO series Six Feet Under and NBC’s The West Wing, about the strikes and what they mean for the future of entertainment. Many are pointing the finger at streaming services who have separated writers from the production of shows and refuse to pay more than minimum rates regardless of experience or success.īut as Wall Street starts to pile the pressure on Hollywood to turn an ever-increasing profit, the companies say they cannot afford to match union demands.

Pay has gone down in real terms, job security is non-existent, and working conditions are worsening. But the situation has deteriorated so much for writers in recent years that many feel they have been left with no choice. The last strike in 20 lasted for 100 days and cost the industry over $2bn.

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