(6/5/2020)

The WGAW’s Inclusion and Equity Group has released its third Inclusion Report to call attention to the lack of inclusion and equity in the entertainment industry, providing detailed data on the status of writers from historically underrepresented groups.

This year’s Inclusion Report expands significantly on the information provided in previous reports. In addition to up-to-date data on the 2019–2020 TV season, it includes data on the motion picture industry, documenting experiences of screenwriters from underrepresented groups. It also includes an examination of credits received by writers from underrepresented groups and an evaluation of how various studios compare in the inclusive hiring of writers.

Findings from an analysis of the data include:

  • Writers from underrepresented groups have made some gains. In TV, women and people of color held 5% more jobs than in the previous year. In motion pictures, women gained 4% and people of color gained 2%.
  • In spite of this progress, systemic discrimination against writers from underrepresented groups remains pervasive in the entertainment industry.

“At a painful time in our nation’s history, we must be determined to put an end to practices, policies, and systems that prevent any one group from progress,” said WGAW Director of Inclusion and Equity Tery Lopez.

The WGAW urges all studios, showrunners, producers, executives, agents, and managers to use the information provided in this report to adjust their business practices to work toward solutions. The report’s conclusions also underscore the urgency of the Guild’s proposals to the AMPTP on furthering inclusion and equity.

To read the full Inclusion Report, click here.

The WGAW’s Inclusion and Equity Group is a member group that works in conjunction with the Guild’s Inclusion and Equity department, spearheading WGAW efforts to educate industry professionals and champion hiring practices that will create an entertainment industry that directly reflects the nation’s diverse voices. Members include Co-Chairs Glen Mazzara and Shonda Rhimes, as well as Doug Atchison, Nazrin Choudhury, Leo Chu, Jennifer Crittenden, Eric Garcia, Terri Kopp, Aimee Lagos, LaToya Morgan, Y. Shireen Razack, Melissa Rosenberg, Allison Schroeder, David Slack, and Ligiah Villalobos.

The Inclusion and Equity Department supports the following member-led committees: Asian American Writers Committee, Career Longevity Committee, Committee of Black Writers, Committee of Women WritersDisabled Writers Committee, Latinx Writers Committee, LGBTQ+ Writers Committee, Middle Eastern Writers Committee, and the Native American & Indigenous Writers Committee.

Writers from historically underrepresented groups can be found using the WGAW’s Find A Writer directory as an industry hiring resource, as well as the WGA Platform, which provides increased access and opportunities for Guild members.