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 2008

December 23
 William Blinn to Receive WGAW’s 2009 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television 
Veteran television writer William Blinn will receive the Writers Guild of America, West’s 2009 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television honoring lifetime achievement for outstanding television writing... more»

December 8
 2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced
The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East today announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, radio, news, promotional writing, and graphic animation... more»

November 26
 Tyler Perry Studios and Writers Guild Announce Agreement 
Tyler Perry Studios and the Writers Guild of America, West today announced that they have come to an agreement following more than five months of negotiations... more»

November 19
 Conglomerates Not Making New Media Payments to Writers 
Studios and networks not complying with new media provisions of contract they agreed to nine months ago. WGAW files for arbitration against AMPTP companies... more»

November 14
 American Idol Not in Tune with Free Speech 
A group of Writers Guild of America, West staffers were handcuffed and subjected to “citizen’s arrest” yesterday morning at the Hollywood & Highland shopping complex... more»

November 10
 Linda Woolverton Receives AWC Animation Writing Award for Lifetime Achievement 
The Writers Guild of America, West’s Animation Writers Caucus (AWC) has named writer Linda Woolverton as the honoree of its eleventh annual Animation Writing Award for lifetime achievement... more»

October 4
 WGA Creators, Showrunners, and Executive Producers Submit an Open Letter to the Producers of Tyler Perry's House of Payne 
This season, scripted television programming will consist of about 150 shows employing 1,200 writers... more»

October 2
 Writers at Tyler Perry Studio to Take Strike Action – Will Picket Grand Opening and Ask Invited Guests Not To Attend 
The Writers Guild of America, West is taking on the fight for justice of writers who were fired when they tried to get a union contract with Tyler Perry’s production company... more»

September 23: Writers Guild of America, West Announces 2008 Board of Directors Election Results 
The Writers Guild of America, West has announced the results of its 2008 Board of Directors election... more»

September 16: Writers Guilds Call for Submissions for Second Annual Videogame Writing Award 
Recognizing writers as a primary creative force in today’s gaming industry, the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced... more»

September 11: WGAW and WGAE Kick Off 2009 Writers Guild Awards Season with Call for Documentary Screenplay Submissions 
With an eye toward the upcoming 2009 Writers Guild Awards, the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have launched... more»

August 19: Pressure Builds on FremantleMedia as American Idol Truth Tour Makes Final Stop in New York City 
Facing a growing number of serious violations of wage and hour laws, the pressure is building on FremantleMedia... more»

August 18: American Idol Truth Tour’s Final Stop is the Big Apple 
The American Idol Truth Tour will be stopping in midtown Manhattan at the New York headquarters of FremantleMedia... more»

August 12: American Idol Truth Tour: Next Stop Jacksonville, FL Co-sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE)... more»

August 1: Puerto Rico Next Stop on American Idol Truth Tour 
Co-sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters... more»

July 22: Writers Guild of America, West Announces Final Candidates for 2008 Board of Directors Election 
The Writers Guild of America, West has announced the final list of candidates for its 2008 Board of Directors election. more»

July 17: Telling The Truth About American Idol 
Calling on American Idol producer FremantleMedia to do the right thing and provide industry-standard pay... more»

July 17: American Idol Truth Tour Comes to Cow Palace in Daly City Today 
Co-sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Idol Truth Tour will arrive today... more»

July 16: Congresswoman Jackie Speier Supports "Reality" TV Workers' Union Organizing Efforts 
Congresswoman Jackie Speier has entered the attached statement into today's Congressional Record in support of the union organizing efforts of "reality" TV workers.... more»

July 15: The Truth Hurts: Writers Guild and Teamsters Launch American Idol Truth Tour 
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, “reality” TV workers... more»

July 14: San Francisco Board of Supervisors to Introduce Resolution Calling for Fremantlemedia to Provide “Reality” TV Workers with Industry Standard Benefits The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will introduce a resolution calling for FremantleMedia to improve working conditions... more»

July 11: Former Writers Guild Foundation Executive Director Patricia Rees Cummings Dies at 76 
Former Writers Guild Foundation Executive Director Patricia Rees Cummings died in Bristol, England, on July 8, 2008... more»

June 26: WGAW Responds to FCC's NPRM on Product Integration, Calls for Real-Time Disclosure 
In response to today's decision by the Federal Communications Commission to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on product integration... more»

June 25: Writers Guild, West asks FCC Chairman Martin to Help Protect Creative Artists and Audiences from Product Integration, Calls For “Real Time” Disclosure and End to VNRs 
In a letter sent yesterday from Writers Guild of America, West President Patric M. Verrone to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin... more»

June 23: First-Ever WGA Silverdocs Documentary Screenplay Award Goes to Writer-Director Anna Broinowski for Forbidden Lie$ 
The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East have named writer-director Anna Broinowski as the winner of the first-ever... more»

June 20: Writers Guild of America, West Announces Candidates for 2008 Board of Directors Election 
The Writers Guild of America, West's Nominating Committee has announced its initial list of candidates for the 2008 Board of Directors election... more»

June 16: Rewriting the Divide: Hollywood and the Muslim World 
Sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West, The Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, One Nation for All Foundation, Gallup, and Unity Productions Foundation... more»

May 19: Writers Guild, West Gay & Lesbian Writers Committee and GLAAD to Co-Sponsor Panel Exploring LGBT Characters’ Journey From Margins to Mainstream 
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) Gay & Lesbian Writers Committee in association with Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will co-sponsor an important forum... more»

May 15: TV and Screen Writer Zekial Marko Passes Away at 74 
Veteran writer and long-time Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) member Zekial Marko died on Friday, May 9... more»

May 12: Writers Guilds, West and East Support U.S. Senate Resolution 28, Continue Efforts to Curb Media Consolidation 
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have expressed public support... more»

May 6: Writers Guild, West Steps Up Fight for Internet Freedom 
The Writers Guild of America, West continues to take a strong stance on the principle of “net neutrality”... more»

April 22: Writers Guild of America, West Weighs In On Internet Freedom: President Verrone Voices Strong Support for "Net Neutrality" at U.S. Senate Hearing 
The Writers Guild of America, West is speaking out to preserve the free flow of information over the Internet. WGAW President Patric M. Verrone signaled his union's support of the principle of "net neutrality"... more»

April 21: On The Waterfront Screenwriter Budd Schulberg to Receive WGAW's 2008 Screen Laurel Award 
Acclaimed screenwriter Budd Schulberg will receive the Writers Guild of America, West's prestigious 2008 Laurel Award for Screen... more»

April 17: Veteran Writer Don M. Mankiewicz to Receive WGAW's 2008 Morgan Cox Award for Guild Service 
Veteran television writer Don M. Mankiewicz is set to receive the Writers Guild of America, West's coveted 2008 Morgan Cox Award... more»

April 15: Oscar-Winning Writer-Director Brad Bird to Receive WGAW's AWC Animation Writing Award 
The Writers Guild of America, West's Animation Writers Caucus (AWC) has awarded its tenth-annual Animation Writing Award... more»

April 10: Award-Winning Comedy Writer Seaman Jacobs Passes Away at 96 
Award-winning television comedy writer Seaman Jacobs, a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America, West, died of cardiac arrest... more»

April 10: Screenwriter Tom Schulman to Receive WGAW's 2008 Valentine Davies Award 
Award-winning screenwriter and Writers Guild of America, West Board of Directors member Tom Schulman is set to... more»

April 8: CA Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Fair Market Value Bill 
The California State Senate Judiciary Committee today passed Senate Bill 1765... more»

April 8: Reality TV Workers Demand Fair Pay 
A dozen workers from some of TV's top reality shows, including American Idol, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?... more»

March 26: Sopranos' Creator-Writer David Chase to Receive WGAW's 2008 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television 
Acclaimed television writer and The Sopranos creator David Chase will receive the Writers Guild of America, West's coveted 2008 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television... more»

March 20: Award-Winning Television Writer Raymond Goldstone Passes Away at 88 
Award-winning television writer Raymond E. Goldstone, a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America, West... more»

March 19: Great Debaters ' Robert Eisele and Jeffrey Porro to Receive Writers Guild West's 2008 Paul Selvin Award 
Screenwriter Robert Eisele and his story collaborator Jeffrey Porro are slated to receive the Writers Guild of America, West's prestigious 2008 Paul Selvin Award, celebrating written work that embodies the spirit... more»

February 26: Writers Guild Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract 
The members of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) today put their final stamp of approval... more»

February 25: New Bill Takes Aim At Hollywood Accounting 
California State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) has introduced Senate Bill 1765, the "Fair Market Value Bill," to end the practice.... more»

February 12: Writers Guild Members Vote to End Strike 
The membership of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) today voted overwhelmingly in favor of lifting the restraining order... more»

February 12: WGA to Announce Results of Membership Vote to Lift Restraining Order and End Strike 
Tonight, WGAW President Patric M. Verrone will announce the final results of the joint WGAW and WGAE membership vote to lift the restraining order... more»

February 10: Writers Guild Press Conference – Sunday, Feb. 10, 12pm 
The Writers Guild of America will hold a press conference today, Sunday, Feb. 10, 12 Noon, at WGAW headquarters to update the media... more»

February 9: 2008 Writers Guild Awards Winners Announced 
Marking the 60th Anniversary of their annual awards, the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced the winners... more»

February 4: Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to Join WGA Picket Line 
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) will join the WGA picket line in support of striking writers tomorrow at Fox Studios. more»

February 3: New York City Indie Film Community Signs Interim Agreements with Writers Guilds 
The New York City independent film community will once again be a thriving community. Some of the city's leading independent film companies... more»

January 31: Writers Guilds Reach Interim Agreements with Intermedia and the Film Department 
The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East are pleased to announce they have reached interim agreements with The Film Department and Intermedia. more»

January 30: BandAid Concert to Benefit Industry Support Fund 
BANDAID is a special musical tribute to benefit the Industry Support Fund, created by Writers Guild members to aid non-writers affected by the strike. more»

January 28: WGAW Grants Interim Agreement for Grammy Awards 
The Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) has agreed to grant an interim agreement for this year's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. more»

January 25: RKO Signs Interim Agreement with Writers Guild 
RKO Productions, Inc., a subsidiary of RKO Pictures, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced... more»

January 24: Writers Guild of America and Marvel Studios Announce Interim Agreement 
Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced today that they have reached an interim... more»

January 24: Lionsgate Signs Interim Agreement with Writers Guild 
Leading independent filmed entertainment studio Lionsgate is the latest company to sign an interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America. more»

January 24: Writers Guilds of America - CBS News Employees Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract Agreement 
CBS News employees, who are members of the Writers Guilds of America, East and West (WGAE and WGAW), have overwhelmingly ratified... more»

January 22: Statement of WGA and AMPTP 
On Wednesday, January 23, the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will begin informal discussions... more»

January 18: Writers Guild Foundation Establishes Industry Support Fund to Benefit Non-WGA Members 
The Writers Guild Foundation has established an Industry Support Fund to assist members of the industry who are in financial distress... more»

January 17: WGA Statement on DGA Tentative Agreement With AMPTP 
Now that the DGA has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP, the terms of the deal will be carefully analyzed and evaluated... more»

January 17: Director Doug Liman Forms New Production Company “Jackson Bites” 
Director and producer Doug Liman announced today the formation of a new media company, “Jackson Bites,” which will create television-style programming for alternative distribution. more»

January 16: Australian Workers' Union National Secretary Paul Howes Joins WGA Picket Line In Support of Striking Writers 
Paul Howes, national secretary of the 135,000-strong Australian Workers' Union, joined striking writers on the picket line in front of Fox Studios... more»

January 16: WGA and Spyglass Entertainment Announce Independent Agreement 
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a comprehensive independent agreement with Spyglass Entertainment. The company finances, produces, and distributes theatrical motion pictures... more»

January 15: Leader of Australia’s Largest Blue Collar Labor Union to Join Striking Workers on Fox Picket Line 
Paul Howes, National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), Australia’s oldest and largest blue collar labor union, will join the WGA picket line... more»

January 15: WGAW Statement on Grammy Awards 
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) has received a request for an interim agreement for the Grammy Awards... more»

January 15: WGA Will Sign Interim Agreement for NAACP Image Awards 
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) announced today at a press conference that it will sign an interim agreement with the NAACP... more»

January 14: WGA Announces First-Ever Videogame Writing Award Nominees 
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced nominations for the Guilds' inaugural Videogame Writing Award... more»

January 14: Writers Guild of America and MRC Announce Interim Agreement 
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and MRC, the independent film, television, and digital studio, have reached a comprehensive interim agreement... more»

January 11: The Weinstein Company and the Writers Guild of America Announce Independent Agreement 
The Weinstein Company (TWC) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced today that they have signed a comprehensive independent agreement. more»

January 11: Actors and Writers Respond to Directors Commencing Negotiations 
We wish the DGA well and hope that they achieve a fair deal that incorporates principles that will benefit all creative artists. more»

January 11: WGAW Statement on Golden Globe Awards Press Conference 
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced that instead of the usual televised three-hour gala on NBC... more»

January 10: WGAW Statement on 2008 Writers Guild Awards 
The Writers Guild of America, West will be announcing the 2008 Writers Guild Awards winners on February 9. more»

January 10: 2008 Writers Guild Awards Screen Nominees Announced 
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen during the 2007 season... more»

January 9: Writers Guilds of America and CBS Reach Contract Agreement for Newswriters 
The Writers Guilds of America, East and West (WGAE and WGAW) and CBS have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for the WGA-CBS employees... more»

January 7: Writers Guild of America and United Artists Announce Independent Agreement 
The Writers Guild of America and legendary United Artists Films have reached a mutually beneficial independent agreement. more»

January 4: WGAW Statement 
The Board of Public Works approved the permits with the recommendation that the striking writers be given the opportunity... more»

January 4: Statement From WGAW President Patric M. Verrone on Golden Globe Awards 
We are grateful to our brothers and sisters in SAG for their continued solidarity and support. more»

January 3: Contract 2007 Negotiations Statement 
A discussion took place today between Jay Leno and the Writers Guild to clarify... more»

January 2: WGAW Updated Statement on Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee's Scheduled Appearance on The Tonight Show 
The Writers Guild is disappointed that Mike Huckabee crossed the WGA picket line today at NBC. We welcome the statements of support... more»

January 2: WGAW Statement on Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee's Scheduled Appearance on The Tonight Show 
Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told The Associated Press today, “I support the writers, by the way. more»

January 2: WGAW Statement on Golden Globe Awards 
Dick Clark Productions is a struck company. As previously announced, the Writers Guild will be picketing the Golden Globe Awards. more»