The Internet is not only one of the core stumbling blocks of this entire dispute, it's also fast becoming a major aide in enabling the writers to inform their audience of the true nature and root causes of the strike, thus balancing the self-serving, slanted portrayal currently used in all the news shows broadcast by their opponents.
The WGA has a hugely popular channel on YouTube that shows interviews, celebrity supporters, information videos and other items to clarify why so much of television is now even worse than usual. The sad part is, most people don't even know it's there. The vast majority of the audience form their view of the situation based on the big 3's TV “news” shows, and consequently garner a very one-sided perspective. But the message is still reaching a significant audience. And it's growing. The Screen Actors Guild and the Teamsters are already on their side. And it's pretty hard to make any television without those people in your team.
During the last strike in '88 the Internet was a glimmer. Now it's a fire. And the irony that the very medium at the core of the Strike is now turning the entire viewing audience inexorably against their case cannot have escaped the attentions of those at the Nets; Even people imbued with the intellectual simplicity of the AMPTP must be awake and inhaling a little Cappuccino by now??
They have bullied, prevaricated and spread hearsay, and are now resorting to contractual fine print to give hundreds of staff - and soon the Writers themselves – the Christmas present of a brand new pink slip. The one act in which they are seemingly unwilling to indulge is discussion.
This strike must end; And to enable that, positions must change. If the Nets spent half the time talking to the Guild that they do lying to the viewers about its cause, this dispute would already be history. It must be obvious, even to people of the limited cognitive capacity so amply demonstrated by those in charge that your reputations are dropping, as are your ratings; And with those go your precious profits. One of these things must matter to you, so stop spreading rumors and start resolving this ignorantly self-inflicted crisis.
Update: The two sides are now scheduled to meet again on Nov. 26th.
* Winston Churchill
The WGA has a hugely popular channel on YouTube that shows interviews, celebrity supporters, information videos and other items to clarify why so much of television is now even worse than usual. The sad part is, most people don't even know it's there. The vast majority of the audience form their view of the situation based on the big 3's TV “news” shows, and consequently garner a very one-sided perspective. But the message is still reaching a significant audience. And it's growing. The Screen Actors Guild and the Teamsters are already on their side. And it's pretty hard to make any television without those people in your team.
During the last strike in '88 the Internet was a glimmer. Now it's a fire. And the irony that the very medium at the core of the Strike is now turning the entire viewing audience inexorably against their case cannot have escaped the attentions of those at the Nets; Even people imbued with the intellectual simplicity of the AMPTP must be awake and inhaling a little Cappuccino by now??
They have bullied, prevaricated and spread hearsay, and are now resorting to contractual fine print to give hundreds of staff - and soon the Writers themselves – the Christmas present of a brand new pink slip. The one act in which they are seemingly unwilling to indulge is discussion.
This strike must end; And to enable that, positions must change. If the Nets spent half the time talking to the Guild that they do lying to the viewers about its cause, this dispute would already be history. It must be obvious, even to people of the limited cognitive capacity so amply demonstrated by those in charge that your reputations are dropping, as are your ratings; And with those go your precious profits. One of these things must matter to you, so stop spreading rumors and start resolving this ignorantly self-inflicted crisis.
Update: The two sides are now scheduled to meet again on Nov. 26th.
* Winston Churchill
