When Writers Strike
Friday, January 04, 2008 Filed in: Media
Members of the Writer's Guild of America are on
strike. That's why there are no fresh television
shows. Is that so bad?
Maybe not. Granted, a two month strike is substantial and can put a dent in anyone's annual income, whether you're a writer who wants to feed a family, or you're a television show producer who wants to produce a show.
Oh, there's all those television show employee's family members who need to eat, too.
When television writers strike there are two things that happen. One is economic, the other personal. One is negative, the other not so much.
A strike means that strikers don't get paid, so a two month unemployment period for striking writers means less money for mortgages, car payments, and dinner out. It also means more time for those of us hooked on watching television shows.
More time? Yes, we'll even watch reruns, but usually we watch reruns of older shows, not reruns of shows that were first aired back in September or October. So, we either watch something else, or find something else to do.
Our cable television connection has somewhere around 500 channels. In the best of times, there are times when we have 500 channels and nothing on. With the writer's strike in full swing, we still have 500 channels and nothing on, so nothing has changed.
Try this. Don't watch television. Read. Take a walk. Fix something that's broken. Go see a friend or family member.
Whatever you do, try something different than just watching more of what's already there, though no longer fresh, exciting or funny.
When writers go on strike they make less money. Eventually, they'll settle and go back to work. In the meantime, you have an opportunity to do something worthwhile with the time you once gave them.
Maybe not. Granted, a two month strike is substantial and can put a dent in anyone's annual income, whether you're a writer who wants to feed a family, or you're a television show producer who wants to produce a show.
Oh, there's all those television show employee's family members who need to eat, too.
When television writers strike there are two things that happen. One is economic, the other personal. One is negative, the other not so much.
A strike means that strikers don't get paid, so a two month unemployment period for striking writers means less money for mortgages, car payments, and dinner out. It also means more time for those of us hooked on watching television shows.
More time? Yes, we'll even watch reruns, but usually we watch reruns of older shows, not reruns of shows that were first aired back in September or October. So, we either watch something else, or find something else to do.
Our cable television connection has somewhere around 500 channels. In the best of times, there are times when we have 500 channels and nothing on. With the writer's strike in full swing, we still have 500 channels and nothing on, so nothing has changed.
Try this. Don't watch television. Read. Take a walk. Fix something that's broken. Go see a friend or family member.
Whatever you do, try something different than just watching more of what's already there, though no longer fresh, exciting or funny.
When writers go on strike they make less money. Eventually, they'll settle and go back to work. In the meantime, you have an opportunity to do something worthwhile with the time you once gave them.
