Nov. 6th, 2007

alivemagdolene: (Will Work For Social Change)
Call me simple. Actually, please don't. But I am of a generation that loves it's media: music, television, the internet....

Now let's talk about those last two. There's a doin's a'transpirin', as some may have noticed.
The Writers' Guild of America is on strike. That means your favorite shows aren't going to be shown for awhile. Fuck.

It's no secret that two of my favorite shows (and basically, in this age of DVD box sets, the only reasons I watch TV) are The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Not seeing them regularly (and thusly keeping up with what's going on in the world) is seriously chapping my already chapped ass. Apparently, Sumner Redstone, who owns Viacom, which owns most of the damn media in general, and his cronies can be reached, and we can do something other than just be pissed that our shows are off the air/in constant reruns. Sumner Redstone is a big player in the media world obviously, and his decision(s) will effect how the rest of the big players react to the strike. A trusted insider (a Daily Show staffer over at No Fact Zone) has said the best course is this:
"Want to get us back on the air? Do the following two things:
1) Do NOT (and spread the word not to) watch whatever they put in ours and Colbert's time slots next week - the last thing we need them holding over us are comparable ratings.

2) E-mail Sumner Redstone, at Viacom's website. Demand that he come back to the table and negotiate a fair Internet and DVD rate for writers. And pass it on to like-minded others."

[livejournal.com profile] smilesawakeyou and [livejournal.com profile] wishflower4 have drafted a form letter which I have tweaked:

To Whom It May Concern:
As a frequent viewer and consumer of the media you produce and in light of the current WGA strike, I feel it necessary to ask that you and your associates continue to negotiate with the WGA in order to reach an agreement that would be better suited towards accurately crediting the writers for the work they produce. In a world in which 'New Media' is rapidly becoming a staple in American culture, it is not only fair business practice, but expected that writers are fairly compensated for their work. It should be common sense to negotiate with the WGA and come to terms seen as fair by both sides.

Until the strike is resolved and the writers' requests are met, I as a consumer WILL NOT consume. I am participating and will continue to participate in the growing boycott of both Viacom and it's affiliates, including and especially it's web sites. The hours of joy these shows have given me urge me to urge you to give their writers the respect they deserve.
I hope you take the time to consider my (and our) concerns.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Send these every day! Flooding the e-mail boxes shows we mean business.

* * * * * * * * *

So what have we learned, kids? Like your favorite shows? Any of them, not just The Colbert Report and The Daily Show? Wanna see 'em back soon? E-mail Sumner Redstone! Use the form letter above or make your own; it doesn't matter. But the sooner this shit is over with, the sooner we get back our beloved media. We are a generation that has our own mass media at our fingertips, it's time we started goddamn flexing our muscles. If you're confused about what this strike is about, what's going on, et cetera, here is a helpful video:



Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] smilesawakeyou, [livejournal.com profile] favabean05, [livejournal.com profile] gaiafaye,[livejournal.com profile] wishflower4, and [livejournal.com profile] stellar_dust.

About the Authoress

alivemagdolene: (Default)
Madame Mxgdxlxnx Lxvxs, esq™

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