#WriteInclusion: A Call For Inclusion & Equity in TV Writers Rooms

For years, Hollywood has acknowledged the importance of reflecting America’s rich cultural diversity. Recently, successes such as Black Panther, Wonder Woman, Crazy Rich Asians, Pose, One Day at a Time have further underscored the benefits of inclusion and equity on-screen and behind-the-scenes.

A new report, Behind-the-Scenes: The State of Inclusion and Equity in TV Writers Rooms, from the Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity (TTIE), a consortium of working TV writers, digs deeper into the issues experienced by a broad spectrum of diverse TV writers (Women, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities). TTIE’s report identifies three main areas that most affect diverse TV writers:

• Token inclusion at the lower-levels.

• Barriers to promotion and advancement to the mid and upper-levels.

• Lack of viable resources and outlets to report harassment and discrimination.

As members of the television writing/producing community, we recognize diverse writers’ contributions are valuable not only when a show’s content calls for a specific POV, but across the board. A variety of perspectives generates more authentic stories and, often, higher profits.

The television community – especially networks, studios, production companies, representatives, showrunners, upper-levels, non-writing producers, guilds/unions – must marshal resources and work together to create an inclusive, equitable, and safe work environment. Here are three recommendations that are further detailed in the report:

• Inclusion and equity data for writers rooms needs to be collected, tracked, and shared for periodic review.

• Reevaluate existing inclusion/diversity programs for ways to improve. Add additional incentives to support the promotion/advancement of diverse TV writers at all levels.

• Employers need to provide education, establish an independent, third-party reporting system, and formalize sanctions for offenders to combat bias, discrimination, and harassment.

We stand with TTIE in their call to increase inclusion and equity in TV writers rooms.

endorsed by

5050by2020
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