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Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Bill O'Reilly, strikebreaker?

Writers Guild of America member Steve Young complains that Bill O'Reilly is continuing to make a living off the back of striking writers during their labor dispute. On the Huffington Post, Young, whose column runs in the Los Angeles Daily News on Sunday next to O'Reilly's, complains that during a mail segment on "The O'Reilly Factor," he explained he was the sole writer of the show. That, Young opined, explains the quality of the writing, but it doesn't explain how he is allowed to continue writing the show.
"I'm not sure if he is a paid up WGA-ite, but he should be. In the very least he should honor the strike," says Young.
He explains that O'Reilly sold a novel to fellow WGA member Mel Gibson. Says Young, "The sale to a WGA signatory production company had to fall under WGA precepts and, in affect, brought Mr. O'Reilly into the WGA fold. If not the fold, at least near enough to benefit from the minimums the WGA has fought and died for.*"
Secondly and more important, says Young, "the WGA strike affects those writing television fictional drama and comedy. Certainly judging which of the two Bill's work falls under might be in question, but that he serves up plenty of fiction is not. That in itself should fall under Guild jurisdiction. Whether Fox News is a signatory network shouldn't be of matter."
He says, "The WGA must call for him to cease and desist. In addition, every WGA writer should contact the SRCC or call the WGAW STRIKE TIP HOTLINE at (323) 782-4898 to report O'Reilly."
He concludes," Whether fictional news is on the Comedy Channel or Fox News, it cannot continue during the strike."
We agree.

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