For the past four months, television and movie writers have gone on strike, which ended today after 92.5 percent of writers voted in favor of it Tuesday night.
The Writers Guild of America voted to pass an three-year agreement to renew a contract that it obtains from the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers, ensuring each writer’s job was secure, which the AMPTP voted in favor of as well.
But union members still have to decide on its ratification, according to the New York Times.
The strike for an increase in payment and a boost in notoriety began Nov. 5 after several arguments over compensation and disagreements over settlements.
Because of the strike, on Jan. 7, it was announced that the Golden Globe awards would not be broadcasted live like it has been for 65 years, but rather given in the format of announcements from different presenters from various networks — a decision that disappointed some students.
“I feel as if the Golden Globes were not enjoyable to watch,” Lauren Bowen, a sophomore in parks, recreation and tourism management, said.
Tom Wallis, English lecturer, said the problem was not as apparent as it could have been.
“I wasn’t into the whole Golden Globes issue,” he said. “I feel like had it been the Oscars, however, it would have been a problem. The Oscars have historical importance.”
According to Wallis, this issue was having such an impact on the nation because American society has become a media-driven culture.
“So much of our social lives revolve around television and movies that everyone notices when they become threatened,” Wallis said.
Because of the strike, several shows were only showing reruns, which some students said has become a problem.
“Although I don’t watch a lot of television, each and every one of the shows that I do tune into have been canceled due to the strike,” Emily Currier, freshman in English, said. “Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives have both been canceled and I’m not too happy.”
But Bowen said the solution seems simple.
“I feel like [the AMPTP] should give the writers what they deserve, or else our economy is going to lose another billion dollars,” Bowen said.
Some people in the industry claimed the writers’ picket lines became a site of violence in some instances.
“Speaking from personal opinion, I wonder if there have been any incidents regarding said violence,” Wallis said. “If not, could that suggest that the industry has generated a fear because of less sympathy for the strikers?”
According to Wallis, this strike has shed light on previous strikes like the ones in 1988 and 1960 that were not as well known, which ended in success for the writers as this one is perceived to do.
