pencilsharp
11-23-2001, 08:17 PM
Something that I've been watching with growing dismay is the recent whizzing match that has grown between Nickelodeon and the Writer's Guild of America. It seems that writers from six of the network's most popular toons, namely Spongebob, Hey Arnold, Invader Zim, Oddparents, Jimmy Neutron, and Constant Payne (?), have asked the Guild's western division (WGAw) for collective bargaining representation. Those writers passed a secret ballot that has been ignored by the PTB at Nick, followed by allegations that Jimmy Neutron's writers were chucked off Nick's payroll for supporting the union, resulting in their loss of health insurance benefits.
Well, now WGAw has started an ad campaign claiming that Nick is putting profits ahead of kids. You can read Animation World Network's article as well as the ad here (http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=cat&category1=Business&newsitem_no=6034).
Please read up on this before you form an opinion, but kids, I'm really starting to worry here. Viacom's Nick unit and Warner's CN and Kids WB are the only options for toons of a decent quality. Personally, I'm quite open-shop, but after following this issue for a while, Nick is really starting to develop a malodorous odor. Creators should be rewarded for their success, and I don't just mean a paycheck. The very words "Work-for-hire" will get you a dirty look from just about any writer or artist in the comic book field, and I can't blame them, or Nick's writers, in the least.
"Of course that's just my opinion; that means it's wrong..."
Audi!
~pS~
Well, now WGAw has started an ad campaign claiming that Nick is putting profits ahead of kids. You can read Animation World Network's article as well as the ad here (http://news.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=cat&category1=Business&newsitem_no=6034).
Please read up on this before you form an opinion, but kids, I'm really starting to worry here. Viacom's Nick unit and Warner's CN and Kids WB are the only options for toons of a decent quality. Personally, I'm quite open-shop, but after following this issue for a while, Nick is really starting to develop a malodorous odor. Creators should be rewarded for their success, and I don't just mean a paycheck. The very words "Work-for-hire" will get you a dirty look from just about any writer or artist in the comic book field, and I can't blame them, or Nick's writers, in the least.
"Of course that's just my opinion; that means it's wrong..."
Audi!
~pS~