members got fewer jobs and less pay last year than they did in 2020, according to the guild’s 2022 Annual Report, which found that 5,951 writers reported employment in all work areas in 2021 – a 6.1% decline – while total writer earnings reported for dues purposes declined 7.7% to $1.55 billion. That’s the fewest jobs since 2016, and the lowest earnings since 2017.
Reported earnings among 134 writers employed in news, promotion, informational and interactive programming declined of 21.6%, with earnings of $11 million down 5.2% from 2020. • Although it dropped 5.5% from last year, foreign television residuals remain the second largest category for television after new media at $42.95 million.
• Domestic syndication continued its decline with a 23.5% decrease from last year to $22.4 million in residuals. Network prime time residuals dropped 18.5% from last year to $20.23 million. • Pay TV receipts, although the guild’s third largest dollar category at $33.58 million, saw a 15.6% drop from 2020.
“This year’s financial report comes as the Guild and the industry begin to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic,” the committee members wrote. “While the pandemic is not over, and its full effect will take years to assess, there are signs of a return to normal. The Guild Theater reopened in March. In May, Guild staff returned to in-person work on a hybrid schedule.
maybe also bc production was down so that might be a factor. 😜
Ouch!