Ebr717’s Weblog

After three long months, the Hollywood writer’s strike could end as soon as Monday. This Saturday evening, it has been reported that guild members will gather in Los Angeles and New York to discuss contract terms and hopefully reach a conclusion to the strike. The members of the WGA began striking back in early November. DVD residuals and programs distributed over the Internet have formed the central issues behind the strike. If the members of the WGA show support for the deals discussed, many of our beloved TV shows might return for a couple more episodes. Additionally, the Academy Awards might not suffer the same fate as the Golden Globes.

Everyone from writers, actors, directors, crew, media, and the general public have felt the repercussions of the strike. Publicists and media relations specialists have also been affected by the strike. Pre-strike, PR specialists represented the entertainment industry as a whole. They represented the networks, television shows, producers and actors as one. They were the link between the entertainment industry and the media. They are still that link but since the strike started the news content they provide has changed.

They have become teachers as they attempt to educate the general public of the inter-workings of guilds, networks and contract negotiations. And not only that but now, they represent two divided clients: the networks and the writers. Whereas before the strike they represented a united client and industry, they are now the representation of two opposing forces. Their role as publicists and media relations specialists has dramatically shifted in the past three months. What their role will be post- strike is yet to be determined but come Monday we will have a better idea of what to expect from publicists and public relations specialists.