SUMMARY
Writers and the major studios reached a tentative deal after nearly five months of striking. In the coming days, members of the Writers Guild of America will vote to approve the new contract, which includes pay increases to keep up with streaming and protections around the use of artificial intelligence. Geoff Bennett discussed the deal and the ongoing actors' strike with Janice Min of The Ankler.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM UP QUESTIONS
- Who has been on strike as described in this story?
- What were the demands of the striking writers?
- When did the strike begin?
- Why are writers and actors concerned about artificial intelligence?
- How might this agreement change the entertainment industry going forward?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
How do you think artificial intelligence might change the ways movies, shows, and other popular media is made? Do you think writers and actors are right to ask for protections, and if so what protections do you think would be appropriate?
Media Literacy: Why do you think the producers of this show only interviewed writers (and not studio representatives) about the deal?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
FOR MORE
What students can do: The writers strike is just one of many significant labor actions that have taken place this year. Read this article on CNN and as a class, discuss — why are so many strikes happening now? What are some common demands of the strikes?
Strike signs await striking SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo/File Photo
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